I'm rather confused at the misconception, Random, I did say that unlesss medically necessary, on more then one occassion. And, I feel that I've been taken out of context in your reply. Nevertheless, I've read so many posts and articles, and talked with so many with adult beardies that have said that their bearded dragons love their vegetables. The problem you describe lies more with bearded dragons who were never introduced to the vegetables and therefore it is now a challenge for them to become accustomed to them. Yes, many have a difficult time introducing juvenile bearded dragons. Most often, I'm hearing that they are just not ready for them, as their primary diet at this age should is live staple, not vegetable.
You've quoted one portion of my post, but for some reason, I think you missed the intent of the OP and the entire concept.
I suggest you review that, please.
I've never heard of anyone withholding vegetables in order to get them to eat vegetables?
Bearded dragons, in the wild if you will, are constantly on the run from predators. I would not say that they are "normally" dehydrated and malnourished
And, my point was that in the wild they can choose to find food or not. They cannot choose to get out of a viv to get food. To sit and eat yourself, and not want to be bothered to feed them is quite distressing.
I do not agree that everyone is entitled to their own form of care. Food is not a choice - it's a need. Leaving an animal to live a life time in a viv is cruel. Not feeding an animal daily is cruel and unnessary (unless medically necessary). Adult bearded dragons need vegetables. And, in my reply to Jess I stated that there was no reason to withold vegetables.
If you don't want to feed them each day, if you don't want to clean their viv when the defecate, if you don't want to give them attention (of course we all have days when we can't take them out and play with them for a length of time - but to not take 20 minutes out to feed them is inexcusable), to not provide a source of
hydration - these are not a choice.
How you chose to decorate a viv, that is a choice. Lighting, food, UVB, exercise, care, attention,
hydration... these are not a matter of choosing how to care for a bearded dragon. Choosing crickets or dubia, those are choices. Choosing collard greens over mustard greens, those are choices. And, IMO, even those choices may vary depending on a bearded dragons NEEDS (e.g., one may prefer to eat another vegetable, so the caretaker must be considerate of those needs.).
Why would anyone WANT to deny their bearded dragon food for a day? The only reason beyond misconception is laziness. They are not ornaments. They are living breathing beings.
Again, please review the entire context.
As for judging, I enjoyed the support others have given me on this thread and off of the thread. If you've seen my posts, I am very supportive of people when mistakes are made - we all make them. *My* thread was created for the support of others
I'm deeply distressed by the notion of denying something as simple as food each day. And I'm finding MANY people who are TELLING others (NOT on these forums) to NOT feed their bearded dragons, that they are overfeeding them, that they do not need to be fed daily. Someone actually had the audacity to tell my husband that we were "over feeding" our 2.5 month old too many crickets at 50-65 per day? He's growing fabulously - and I'm very appreciative of the people here whom I've spoken with on the forums and off, who advised ME that MY beardie's appettite should be better! Because of that help, he's growing leaps and bounds
I'm also appreciative of the dubia suggestion. I was not thrilled with the idea, but I want what is best for our beardie, and I've now come to very much embrace the idea and look forward to the switch
I'm deeply saddened for the beardies, and the people who love them who do not know better, when they are denied daily feedings.
I know not of what general consensus you speak of. I do see many loving bearded dragon "human parents"/"cartakers"/"slaves" on these forums
And I find it a bit sad that they may seem "extreme" in some way. Rather, I see them as greatly improving the lives and care of these critters - where they otherwise would not receive what they need.
For example, I can also find all over the net where people claim the coil bulbs had no problem. Why would one want to take the risk? The same for bedding on sand. And, I see people providing suggesting daily feeding and chioces in food - these are wonderful suggestions
When I go to youtube, and I see what the pet shops are telling people, it is very disturbing. People actually think they are overfeeding their bearded dragons on staple food. People are denying them food daily. I've seen many come here distressed because they've done all they can and have tried so hard, but because of misinformation, their beardie wasn't growing as well as he/she could have been growing. And, it hurts them deeply because they were trying so very hard to do the best they could.
Anyone who takes in any animal should love that critter and want to provide the best they can. I am a firm believer of treating children and critters the way I would want to be treated
I do not see roaches as "the new vogue," but rather an option that has been discovered to be nutritious and for some preferrable. Some are bothered by roaches, some by crickets.
New information on options develop that provide more nutrition, or equal nutrition with more variety. A feature I prefer about roaches is that they will not bite. That is an option. Feeding is not
Please be very careful at suggesting that it would be normal to starve a bearded dragon for a month
Every option should be tried before resorting to such an extreme measure.
Happy feeding
randommonks":1dv0gv2z said:
Actually if you look at the photos of wild bearded dragons, they are normally skinny and dehyrated. That normally tells me that in the wild, food is scarce.
I've not really read that an older dragon prefers plants to insects. In fact, most people with adults have trouble getting their adults to eat veggies. Like Jess said earlier, it takes a week or so of eating nothing before they cave and eat some veggies. I've even read that someone's beardie ate nothing for almost a month and didn't cave.
Everyone is entitled to their own forms of care for their animals. What works for one may not work for the other. A few years ago, mealworms were used for baby beardies but, today, roaches are the new vogue. There is a general consensus here, but I would refrain from judging someone else too harshly for having a different opinion.