No matter what, no greens!

[beardielove10]

I have two boys. Sheldon will maybe take a bite of greens, then leave the rest. Gizmo looks at it, then leaves it and won't even touch it. Even if I try to wiggle it, he looks away. I have tried mustard, collard, kale, turnip..I add mint in there and Sheldon picks out the mint but leaves the greens. I slice apple, grapes, carrots, peppers, blueberries etc. and mix it in with the greens. Gizmo still won't touch it, and Sheldon will pick out the blueberries. I have even tried putting some baby food on the greens and they lick it, look up at me like I am crazy, and then walk away.

I have a roach colony, and they will go days and days without touching greens and then eat a ton of roaches. They are adults, and I know that they need to be eating more greens than bugs but no matter what I can't seem to figure out how to get them to eat them!

Help! I want my boys to be healthy. I feel like I have tried everything.

 

[CooperDragon]

It's often a matter of finding what suits their mood. It takes a lot of patience and trial/error to get some of these guys to start eating more veggies. I'd keep offering a variety as you have been but don't worry too much if they don't dig right in. Just keep switching it up until they see something they'd like. You can try withholding feeders for a while as it sounds like you have, but the best bet is likely just patience.

 

[KarenInCA]

my little Rin is only 7-8 months old, but I mixed in some escarole (a new green for him) and he plowed through them today.
Have you tried any of the squashes on top of the greens? When my young guy does eat greens, he likes certain squashes sprinkled on top. Also, have you tried not putting any calcium on top of the greens? Or if you DON'T dust the greens currently, maybe dust the greens so they taste more like live feeders that have been dusted? Or tossing a couple of feeders (maybe phoenix worms or a horn worm) sticking out of the greens? Just kind of thinking out loud here.

 

[CooperDragon]

I second the squash idea. Cutting squash (yellow or zucchini) into small strips to look like worms and put on top of the salad sometimes does the trick.

 

[beardielove10]

I like the calcium idea, I always sprinkle calcium powder on the greens, and I haven't really tried it without. Gizmo used to LOVE squash and would eat it like it was never coming back. Now though, he must be sick of it cause he doesn't touch it. I tried cooking spaghetti squash and acorn squash and putting it on top and he didn't touch it. Maybe a different kind? I could try cutting it like worms…do you guys cook the squash? Maybe that's the problem is that I cook it.

The problem with my beardies is, if they like something I put on top of the greens or mix in, they will pick it out and leave the greens. :evil: haha it is so frustrating!!

It's just so weird because they used to eat so well…and now they just wait days for bugs. I'm seriously so worried my boys aren't getting the proper nutrition because they don't eat their greens. I'm about ready to force feed
I guess I just have to take your suggestions and just keep trying until I hit the jackpot...

 

[CooperDragon]

Coop liked yellow squash and zucchini. I didn't cook it, just cut it up into little pieces and added it to the greens.

 

[YodaChoda87]

It could be they don't know it's food. If you can get them to accidentally eat a little of it, they might start eating it. You can force starve them for almost 2 days and see if that works.

My 3 year old (got it at that age) went from refusing to eat greens to eating them very readily.

 

[beardielove10]

Okay I will have to try it without cooking it. Yoda, how did you get yours to accidentally eat it? Cause like I said, mine pick stuff out of the greens. I have gone five days without bugs and just offering greens. Still, nothing. I'm going to keep trying..I wonder if it would be best if I just don't offer bugs for a while and just keep trying the squash idea and see if I can find what they like.