Feeding schedule question

[thomason]

Hello,
I usually work 10 to 12-hour shifts. Should I make a point to come home for a second meal during lunch, or is it fine to wait that long?

Also, is it okay to freeze butternut squash cubes and thaw some each week to add to salads?

 

[Sue E.]

Hi and welcome to the forum! How old is your dragon? If you dont mind my asking, is your work schedule days or evening/ nights and how many days a week? (Just to get an idea of what might work for you). Freezing the squash is fine, it will keep the nutritional value just fine. It might change the texture though (some veggies become watery after freezing and thawing). You might have to experiment with that or look up ways to best freeze them online that will help keep the texture.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Hello thomason,

I have never fed my dragon multiple times a day.
I got him at an age of three months (now he's almost 2 years) and I just put in all his food for the day in the morning before I leave. (My work schedule is normally early morning to early evening; also 10 - 12 hours. Sometimes it can be longer. Sometimes night shifts, same thing: food in when I'm there, i.e. when I come home from night shifts.) Healthy, happy dragon Also not overeating; that guy won't eat all the insects in one sitting - if he's full, then he's done.

Freezing and thawing the squash is okay and also won't make it watery if it's "winter squash" (pumpkin). For "summer squash" (zucchini), it will get watery but still is fine.

 

[ChileanTaco]

One thing on veggies:
I partially feed my dragon from live plants, such as golliwog (that's a succulent with small leaves, generally recommended for reptiles, scientific name is calisia repens, it is easy to get) and herbs (the usual ones such as basil, oregano...). I plant the golliwog directly into the tank (I use loose substrate) where it grows really well but is kept down by the dragon who eats it a lot. It does very well with the temperatures and high UV in a dragon's enclosure. Other herbs can have a harder time, and I rather leave them in pots, taking them out after a few days because otherwise the high UV kills them.
With this, there is always at least one kind of greens that won't wilt during the day. Also ideal when sometimes not coming home for a day or two, which can be done when the dragon is already older. (I'm a person with a very regular schedule, not prone to spontaneously not coming home, but I work a lot of hours, sometimes also have meetings in other cities, and in the beginning my husband didn't like reptiles at all. Now he also feeds Taco, but in general I looked for a solution when maybe even none of us is at home for a day or two.)
My dragon likes plants such as golliwog and is not eating them just as a "last resort". Especially the golliwog is really his favorite green

And for the insects: I forgot to mention that I always put some veggie into the insect bowl in my dragon's enclosure. Can be e.g. a slice of carrot. That way the insects eat something until they are eaten - also good for the dragon (keyword "gut loading").

 

[thomason]

One thing on veggies:
I partially feed my dragon from live plants, such as golliwog (that's a succulent with small leaves, generally recommended for reptiles, scientific name is calisia repens, it is easy to get) and herbs (the usual ones such as basil, oregano...). I plant the golliwog directly into the tank (I use loose substrate) where it grows really well but is kept down by the dragon who eats it a lot. It does very well with the temperatures and high UV in a dragon's enclosure. Other herbs can have a harder time, and I rather leave them in pots, taking them out after a few days because otherwise the high UV kills them.
With this, there is always at least one kind of greens that won't wilt during the day. Also ideal when sometimes not coming home for a day or two, which can be done when the dragon is already older. (I'm a person with a very regular schedule, not prone to spontaneously not coming home, but I work a lot of hours, sometimes also have meetings in other cities, and in the beginning my husband didn't like reptiles at all. Now he also feeds Taco, but in general I looked for a solution when maybe even none of us is at home for a day or two.)
My dragon likes plants such as golliwog and is not eating them just as a "last resort". Especially the golliwog is really his favorite green
brawl stars online
And for the insects: I forgot to mention that I always put some veggie into the insect bowl in my dragon's enclosure. Can be e.g. a slice of carrot. That way the insects eat something until they are eaten - also good for the dragon (keyword "gut loading").

Thanks for your advice. I got it.