Is Butternut Squash a good daily staple feeder?

[Russell84]

I have a baby bearded dragon, coming up to 10 weeks old. He loves his crickets and has an amazing appetite. As for greens, he hasn't really taken to leaves much yet. The only thing he really seems to like to eat is butternut squash. I hand feed him lots of grated pieces for his breakfast in the morning. he won't take from the bowl himself, but is quite happy to be hand fed

I recently read on a nutrition website that butternut squash is very good and can be fed daily, here's the link http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html, so naturally I was quite happy when I read this. However I have now heard conflicting information! My vets website has a care sheet and it says butternut squash (amongst some other things), is higher calorie and very nutritious, BUT, can reduce calcium availability and should only be fed in limited amounts.

Can anyone put my mind at rest? Am I doing the wrong thing by feeding him up on butternut squash daily?

 

[Russell84]

I do add other leaves as well, but at the moment he doesn't eat greens/veg from his dish. He will only take greens/veg if you hand feed and so far seems only keen on the squash!

When i feed him crickets though I do mix them with greens in a bowl and he gets quite a few pieces by accident . I hope its enough!

 

[Mustashio]

If your beardie is only 10 weeks, I wouldn't worry about him not eating too many greens. Sometimes it takes them awhile before they figure that out. As long as he is eating crickets or other proteins and you are using the proper dusting schedules with calcium and vitamins, then he should be fine.

Tashi is currently on hiatus from vegi's (insert my sarcastic enthusiasm here ), but when he was younger he barely ate vegis at all. I just continued to keep a fresh bowl of salad in his viv every day. When he was about 4 months old or so he finally discovered the greens. I would mix collards, grated butternut squash, purple cabbage and red bell pepper, (very bright and colorful!) and Tashi would literally pick out the butternut squash first, then eat the rest after that. Sometimes he would eat 2 bowls of salad a day! I have tried other kinds of squash, but he seems to like the orange butternut the best...or at least he did when he was eating his vegis!!

 

[hoeseG]

My girl inka loves squash but it tends to make her poop smell a bit stronger u can give her catus pad if u live in az texas or california they sell them in the 99 cents only stores for a buck also butternut squash I haven't had any issues with her since eatings that guide is great I have used that as my beardie bible for food so ull be good

 

[Russell84]

Thats an awesome action shot! I really like it . It would probably make a lot of beardie owners jelious, the ones who have beardies who don't eat veg :lol: Your Inka has really nice pastel colours too!

That website on nutrition seems very good and reputable. The problem is I also trust what my vet says so its given me a bit of uncertainty over the butternut squash

 

[Mustashio]

My girl inka loves squash but it tends to make her poop smell a bit stronger u can give her catus pad if u live in az texas or california they sell them in the 99 cents only stores for a buck also butternut squash I haven't had any issues with her since eatings that guide is great I have used that as my beardie bible for food so ull be good

LOVE IT!!!

Here's one of Mustashio when he actually was eating vegis!

And one now, when he is completely turning up his nose!

 

[Russell84]

awesome pics! I'll have to see if I can get one of my Tidus taking a bit of butternut squash by hand!

 

[Russell84]

Anyway I did a bit of reading and research and I think the vet's caresheet might be wrong about butternut squash! Substances that reduce calcium availability are oxalates and high phosphorous content. Butternut squash has neither of these

 

[Russell84]

However I will double check and ask when I go next

 

[hoeseG]

You guys will be good as long as ur giving him his calcium as you should you will be goo

 

[Russell84]

Niveus - How long have you had him for? Is he losing weight/getting thinner? Are his poos looking normal? Do you bath him?

By the way are those meal worms in his dish? If so its highly recommended that you stop feeding them those as the tough shells are hard for a baby beardie to digest.

 

[Russell84]

hoeseG - My little Tidus has his crickets dusted with calcium/vitamin powder. Then I make him a lovely nutritious cricket salad
He tends to pick out the crickets, but always manages a few leaves too!

I'm also going to try him on small calci-worms. I've never bought these before but heard such great reviews about both calci and silk worms! Thought I'd give them a go!