pogismom
Hatchling Member
Okay, I get it. Beardies need to eat veggies when they are young since their diet becomes greener as they get older, right? But not all beardies 'like' to eat veggies. Like my Pogi. I realize it has only been a couple of weeks...and he is still recovering from a bout of pinworms...but I get concerned that if he doesn't start eating any veggies soon...then he will never eat any in the future...and he will be struck with some kind of disease because of it. Is that true????
I have mashed up his shredded zucchini's and mustard greens so it has a thicker consistency than baby food but mushier than chopped veggies. I have tried placing his feeders in his veggie dish to help entice him over to his greens. And although I am not watching him 24/7...I think he just picks the feeders out and doesn't bother with the veggies. I even put the feeders in a smaller dish in the center of his veggies and created a 'moat' of veggies that he would have to cross or come in contact with in order to get the feeders. I have also tried to feed him only veggies during the day, and then offer a few feeders late afternoon to see if hunger will drive him over to his veggie stash. I have even made it into a pile in the center of the dish so I can tell if he has been there by seeing if any parts have been altered.
Now, he WILL lick a syringe with baby food squash. BUT I have heard they can become very accustomed to that, and can be easily spoiled. I have heard of other beardies who will ONLY eat veggies if hand/syringe fed. I am trying not to make syringe feeding him his baby squash a daily habit. For there will be days I may be away and would not want to expect a pet sitter to syringe feed him his veggies everyday.
So, what if they do not eat veggies? Can they develop some kind of disease or illness because of it? I will still offer veggies to him daily. I just want some insight as to why they don't like them, how long can they go without veggies, and what would happen if they will never eat them?!
On a positive note on feeding...after a few days on his worm medicine he took up his interest again on some feeders I had gotten him...especially the Phoenix worms! Very happy about that. Though a little pricier than other types of feeders, I do like that the Phoenix worms are low maintenance and offer complete nutrition for the beardies.
I have mashed up his shredded zucchini's and mustard greens so it has a thicker consistency than baby food but mushier than chopped veggies. I have tried placing his feeders in his veggie dish to help entice him over to his greens. And although I am not watching him 24/7...I think he just picks the feeders out and doesn't bother with the veggies. I even put the feeders in a smaller dish in the center of his veggies and created a 'moat' of veggies that he would have to cross or come in contact with in order to get the feeders. I have also tried to feed him only veggies during the day, and then offer a few feeders late afternoon to see if hunger will drive him over to his veggie stash. I have even made it into a pile in the center of the dish so I can tell if he has been there by seeing if any parts have been altered.
Now, he WILL lick a syringe with baby food squash. BUT I have heard they can become very accustomed to that, and can be easily spoiled. I have heard of other beardies who will ONLY eat veggies if hand/syringe fed. I am trying not to make syringe feeding him his baby squash a daily habit. For there will be days I may be away and would not want to expect a pet sitter to syringe feed him his veggies everyday.
So, what if they do not eat veggies? Can they develop some kind of disease or illness because of it? I will still offer veggies to him daily. I just want some insight as to why they don't like them, how long can they go without veggies, and what would happen if they will never eat them?!
On a positive note on feeding...after a few days on his worm medicine he took up his interest again on some feeders I had gotten him...especially the Phoenix worms! Very happy about that. Though a little pricier than other types of feeders, I do like that the Phoenix worms are low maintenance and offer complete nutrition for the beardies.
