Refuses to eat greens

[Azymondias&Ryn]

I really need help with getting Zym to eat his greens. He used to be tricked into eating it but now I fear he’s gotten too smart. For insects, I offer dubias, superworms, silkworms, and the occasional hornworm but some days he eats better than others. For veggies and fruits, he loves blueberries and will usually accept them but I don’t want to give him too many because of its sugar. I’ve been trying to feed collard greens because they’re good for calcium but to no success. I’ve also tried kale, celery leaves, bok choy, arugula alongside butternut squash, yellow squash, bee pollen, Arcadia’s dragon fuel botanical food sprinkle, and flavored calcium powder. He still won’t touch any form of greens with any toppings and if I do trick him into eating some with his bugs, he’ll spit it out. I’ve tried smoothies but he gets bored after a few bites, red bell peppers on top (it gave him diarrhea), hiding bugs or blueberries underneath, everything that I’ve seen people recommend. I’m also trying to get him to lose some weight and hydrate more (I take him outside to run around almost daily but he ends up finding a place to lay down after some time). Help me please!!

 

[Claudiusx]

Stop feeding him bugs all together and put a fresh salad in his enclosure every day. Once he gets hungry enough he will eat. He won't eat his salads as long as he knows holding out means you will give in and give him bugs.

Once he starts eating his salad you can start slowly reintroducing bugs.

-Brandon

 

[Azymondias&Ryn]

Stop feeding him bugs all together and put a fresh salad in his enclosure every day. Once he gets hungry enough he will eat. He won't eat his salads as long as he knows holding out means you will give in and give him bugs.

Once he starts eating his salad you can start slowly reintroducing bugs.

-Brandon

I’ll have to try this. How long of doing this would be considered “too long”?

 

[Claudiusx]

Usually, 1 to 2 weeks is what it takes for adults. But I've seen it take some people a bit longer.

As long as the dragon has proper husbandry and was generally healthy prior, it won't starve itself to death when food is present. Just make sure that you're offering a fresh salad daily.

-Brandon

 

[Chris.]

Stop feeding him bugs all together and put a fresh salad in his enclosure every day. Once he gets hungry enough he will eat. He won't eat his salads as long as he knows holding out means you will give in and give him bugs.

Once he starts eating his salad you can start slowly reintroducing bugs.

-Brandon

100%
Also for Adults, I feed them bugs only one to two times per week. Most people overestimate their need for protein in the adult stage.

 

[Sue E.]

Yeah, I did what @Claudiusx says, and Kai now eats greens! On bug day, I dont hand feed them or put them in a seperare dish, I dump the worms right onto the greens, and he will eat a mouthful of greens along with the worms. But I only feed him insects 3x a week, and only 4 or 5 superworms 2 of those days and something else, like 7 medium roaches (3/4") or 6 medium silkworms on the day in between. They have to be a bit hungry to be less picky. He gets a bowlful of a mix of fresh greens daily but some he wont do (like kale...he hates kale). Mine likes turnip greens and arugula the best.

 

[Spike's Mommy]

Stop feeding him bugs all together and put a fresh salad in his enclosure every day. Once he gets hungry enough he will eat. He won't eat his salads as long as he knows holding out means you will give in and give him bugs.

Once he starts eating his salad you can start slowly reintroducing bugs.

-Brandon

I'll give that a try. Spike won't eat ANY plant matter so I have been giving him Repta-Boost supplement once a week. He loves baths and drinks like a camel. Maybe I'll bury him in a veggie salad!
-Vicki

 

[Sue E.]

I'll give that a try. Spike won't eat ANY plant matter so I have been giving him Repta-Boost supplement once a week. He loves baths and drinks like a camel. Maybe I'll bury him in a veggie salad!
-Vicki

Ive found it also helps to walk away. Some dragons (like mine) wont eat greens if they know you are watching. I have busted him at the greens dish eating, although when he sees me he tries to pretend that he would never eat that horrible stuff!

 

[Chris.]

Ive found it also helps to walk away. Some dragons (like mine) wont eat greens if they know you are watching. I have busted him at the greens dish eating, although when he sees me he tries to pretend that he would never eat that horrible stuff!

100%
Also my boy will eat more of his greens if I do not give him as much water to drink. He would drink quite a lot and even daily if I'd offer but after reducing this to every other day or every third day, he eats more greens.

Some dragons will eat their greens better than others regardless, though. My girl for example will even jump if I tease her with some field letuce. My boy would just look at me like I'm crazy

 

[Sue E.]

100%
Also my boy will eat more of his greens if I do not give him as much water to drink. He would drink quite a lot and even daily if I'd offer but after reducing this to every other day or every third day, he eats more greens.

Some dragons will eat their greens better than others regardless, though. My girl for example will even jump if I tease her with some field letuce. My boy would just look at me like I'm crazy

Hmm...interesting point. I moisten my greens and now Im wondering if I get them too wet.