How do you get a dragon to eat veggies?

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Spikeshuman

Juvie Member
So.. Spike just turned one year old last month. I have offered her greens every day of her life here with me. She absolutely refuses to eat them. She used to eat a bite or two from my hands.. but she has NEVER eaten veggies willingly. I have tried every beardie friendly vegetable there is. I have even tried fruit. I still put greens in her house every single day.. but she just lets them crunch up. I have even put bugs IN her salad.. and no luck. The vet says I have to get her to do it soon because an all bug diet is eventually going to put strain on her organs. Any help, tips, advice, tricks are appreciated. Thanks.
 
I have the same issue as you, except my dragon is still a baby. I don't know what to do either. I've tried putting Reptiworms in with his greens, but he hates the reptiworms! Sometimes if I can get a cricket in there he'll incidentally ingest a bite of greens, but like yours, never willingly. Some people say you can try not feeding for a couple of days to make the dragon very hungry, then offer him veggies, but I can't bring myself to do this...
 

Spikeshuman

Juvie Member
Original Poster
I sort of did that.. not intentionally. I went to orlando for spring break and my neighbor wouldn't touch crickets. So she got veggies only for 12 days. My poor baby starved! And just like a human.. her little tummy must have shrunk or something because she then refused to eat anything for 2+ months. I syringe fed her baby food to get her appetite back up. It worked for a bit but now she's not eating much again. Maybe 2-5 crickets a day and of course no veggies.
 

patron17

Member
My little guy wont eat any vegitables either! Ive put them in his cage but he lets them dry up. Ive tried feeding him by hand and he still wont try it. I wouldnt want to starve him and force him to eat veggies though. So please let me know if you find a solution.
 

nursejones813

Juvie Member
I've only had my baby a little over 2 weeks and had the same conserns. I read a post where someone put their BD's veggies on the place where he basks. I put some butternut squash on Slick's, it worked. That's the only place he/she will eat the veggies. And so far has only eaten the squash and some broccoli. But, I've read broccoli isn't the best for them. So you may try that as a start.
 

Spikeshuman

Juvie Member
Original Poster
I have tried hand feeding.. I have tried placing it up where she sits. I have even force fed her some that I had put through the food processor. I have put bugs in her salad, I have syringe fed her squash baby food.. but she eats none of it willingly. Insects are all she wants... she also dives face first at small rodents (mice.. small hamsters) I have never let her eat one though.. never will.. I can't imagine that's very good for them.
 
lol Spikeshuman, that sounds a bit funny but very frustrating. How long have you had her? It is amazing she would starve herself to death before eating greens. I mean, how do these creatures survive in the wild, they seem so picky! Maybe she wants her greens to wiggle? I guess you could try putting phoenix worms in her food bowl if you haven't already. They tend to burrow under the greens and it makes them appear to undulate. It might make her curious; maybe she'll get a bite when digging for the worms. Some people say they sprinkle vitamins or other things on top of the greens to get their beardie to eat it. I'm going to try some Nature Zone bites on top of my dragon's food as suggested on my thread...

http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?route=product/product&path=71&product_id=107
 

Spike1etta

Hatchling Member
Are you chopping the veggies fine or just pulling from bag?
Mine have no trouble with bite sized pieces and I fed 20+ in the rescue.
 

nursejones813

Juvie Member
I did fail to mention that I did actually try all different kinds of greens on his basking spot and fruit to no avail. It wasn't until I put the broccoli and squash on his basking spot that he ate them. And now I have to put some squash on his basking spot and some in his dish with greens. And I'm not so sure he does more than drag the greens around. But, he does eat the squash. Maybe they're just super picky?
 

Spikeshuman

Juvie Member
Original Poster
I have tried every dragon friendly vegetable there is. I have tried putting phoenix worms in the veggies. I always break them up into bite sized pieces. I have tried hand feeding her larger pieces. I am at the point where I want to poke her in the eye with the veggies!!! I adore her tho.. and If a syringe is the only way she will eat veggies.. then I guess that's what I have to do.
 
I'm sure you've done this but...the only time I can get mine to even eat a bite or two is right after he's had a meal of crickets; that point where I can tell he's getting pretty full. But that's the best I can seem to do.

So what's your dragon's behavior like overall? Does she act like a normal healthy dragon aside from wanting to be a strict carnivore?

So I'm no herpetologist, but I've been thinking about it, and I wonder is it possible to stimulate foraging tendencies by somehow simulating their natural environment better? I don't really know how they forage in the wild, but I'm sure it's not out of a bowl, so I have to wonder if there are live edible plants you can place into their enclosure. If you have live plants around, maybe it's possible the dragon will eventually nibble on it as she explores her cage? I don't know if it makes a difference to see plants dangling overhead as opposed to cut up in chunks in a bowl. Or have you tried that to?
 

Gail

BD.org Addict
Let me start by saying that I tried to stay away from this thread because most people don't like my advice but your dragons need help. I may say harsh things, its not to be mean or put anyone down. I lost my first dragon at 2 years of age due to insect heavy diet. It could have be prevented if someone would have told me about dragon "tough love".

Most dragons that don't eat greens either do not recognize them as food due to not being introduced to them early enough (I mostly blame breeders for this) or they prefer the taste of insects which is understandable. Who doesn't prefer to eat tasty food over boring food? Regardless of the reasons, we need to do what is in their best interest which means getting them to eat a healthy diet.

Their is no trick, topping or magic additive that will get a dragon to eat their greens consistently. Plain and simple, hunger is what they need to get them to eat what they don't want.

A healthy adult won't stave themselves to death. Stop feeding insects and offer greens daily, some dragons have been known to not eat for over 2 weeks but eventually they do. You aren't starving them or being mean, they are the ones deciding not to eat. Make sure they drink during this time and try handfeeding the greens to encourage them to try. Weigh every 2-3 days, a little weight loss will be ok but if they start to loss too much, go ahead and offer a few insects once a week.

For babies, instead of stuffing them with insects first thing, just give a light meal of insects then offer soft, bland greens like endive or romain. I find babies don't care for tougher, bitter greens. Make sure to chop everything pretty fine. try handfeeding or putting small worm in the greens, this will at least encourage them to go to the bowl and maybe accidentally eat some along with the bugs.

The practice of stuffing out dragons with as much as they want twice a day is wrong. I know its common practice and has been the standard for years but so has picky non green eating dragons. We are killing our pets with love and the crazy idea that we need to get them to grow big and fast. Having a big fat dragon isn't healthy, growing them slower is much better for them.
Babying them with constant handfeeding or baby food also doesn't do them any good. Baby food or pureed foods should only be used in emergencies when a dragon is ill. Catering to them like they are delicate little divas does them no good. If you have a dragon that won't eat anything, not even its favorite food, it needs to see a vet.
Reptiles are made to go without food during hard times. Unless they are loosing weight, don't force feed, ever.

EDIT: I think the natural foraging behavior is part of the reason they get addicted to insects. In the wild, finding protein is a hit or miss so instinct tells them to eat insects when ever they can, as much as they can.
Of course they aren't getting insects every day so they eat greens instead. In captivity, they learn that insects are coming everyday so they wait for that instead of eating the greens. Thats why some can be so stubborn about eating greens even if thats all they are offered. They are conditioned to expect insects and they are waiting for that. Sooner or later they will give up waiting and try the greens.
 
My dragon is 7 weeks old and the reason I hesitate to make him hungry is because he is growing rapidly at this age and I'd wouldn't want him to go without nourishment for two weeks. But it is a good point that they need to eat it to be healthy in the long term. So I don't know what I'll do.
 

Spikeshuman

Juvie Member
Original Poster
I tried to starve her out. She didn't eat for over 2 months. Right now.. she only gets 2 small crickets late in the evening. The only food she is offered all day long is her greens. Collard, mustard, turnip, dandelion, orange bell pepper, butternut squash. I am not currently giving her baby food. I did that because she lost a significant amount of weight not eating for over 2 months.

She has been to the vet.. has had everything checked over twice. There's nothing wrong with her. There's nothing wrong with her temps.. I check them a few times a day. She has never ever been a very active dragon.. she walks from place to place in her enclosure.. mostly sits on her hammock or hides.

When I take her outside she does often bite off a piece of grass. Usually just one bite. You don't need to worry about offending.. the reason I made this post is because she just turned one and I know that her growing stage is more or less over.. and that she really needs to eat the greens now. Although I kept greens in her house every day for the past year.. I never worried too much until now.
 
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