Won't eat Veggies but loves Superworms

[NateS]

I am hoping somebody can help me here. My Beardie (19" adult) will not eat her veggies. I have only had her a few days but anytime I put in her veggies she isn't interested. I am giving her a mix of collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens. She will sit there and star at them for awhile, but will eventually just walk off.

When I give her superworms, however, she gobbles them up QUICK. She ate 8 of them last night and I only gave her one so far tonight because I don't want her to fill up on worms when she needs to eat her greens.

So...what should I do here? SHould I let her eat only superworms or should I not give her any worms and "starve" her until she eats her greens?

 

[oldfossiltree]

Why don't you try mixing them somehow?

 

[NateS]

Why don't you try mixing them somehow?

I did this and she ate a few small pieces of greens with some of the superworms, but not much. I think I read that she should be getting about 1/4 cup of veggies a day? I have no idea how many superworms she should get per feeding and how often I should feed them to her.

She refused to eat the veggies again, and since I didn't want to starve her, I gave her some superworms again tonight. She ate 12 before I cut her off.....I think she would have eaten a lot more if I had let her. I could really use a bit of guidance here as I'm really not sure about some of this.

 

[Jess]

She could just have relocation stress, since you recently got her. Hopefully she will show more interest in her salad soon.

My adult gets salad daily, and either 7 superworms every 2 days, or 12 crickets every other day. As adults, they don't need protein every single day, and if you spoil them too much they will hold out for bugs and completely ignore their salads. IME it works best to give them bugs 2 or 3 times a week, so that they work up enough of an appetite for salads inbetween.
And by not giving her bugs daily, you are not starving her. Since they are reptiles, it won't hurt them if they don't eat every single day (As long as they are healthy and stuff). If she absolutely refuses veggies though after she is settled in, she might need some tough love: No bugs until she eats her salad! My beardie was pretty stubborn, and he lasted about a week before he caved and finally took a bite of veggies. He eats his veggies almost every day now, though.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

feed the superworms greens a day or 3 before you feed them to your dragon.

 

[NateS]

She could just have relocation stress, since you recently got her. Hopefully she will show more interest in her salad soon.

My adult gets salad daily, and either 7 superworms every 2 days, or 12 crickets every other day. As adults, they don't need protein every single day, and if you spoil them too much they will hold out for bugs and completely ignore their salads. IME it works best to give them bugs 2 or 3 times a week, so that they work up enough of an appetite for salads inbetween.
And by not giving her bugs daily, you are not starving her. Since they are reptiles, it won't hurt them if they don't eat every single day (As long as they are healthy and stuff). If she absolutely refuses veggies though after she is settled in, she might need some tough love: No bugs until she eats her salad! My beardie was pretty stubborn, and he lasted about a week before he caved and finally took a bite of veggies. He eats his veggies almost every day now, though.

Thanks for the help. It looks like tough love may be what is required. She was previously on the pellet dragon food and barely ate, so I guess I'm being overzealous in hoping that she would just start eating normal right away. I just didn't want to starve her so it's good to know they can go awhile without eating if needed.

feed the superworms greens a day or 3 before you feed them to your dragon.

Is this what is called gutloading? I assume I can use the same greens that I'm feeding my dragon? Thanks for the tip.

 

[EmilyRussom]

Tiki (one spoiled dragon) likes to eat her salads when she's out of her house. I also make them "dance", as in, pick them up and drop them back on the paper towel - she think they're alive and devours them. I don't mind - she eats a ton of greens, and it's less than five minutes out of my day - besides, it's bonding time

 

[NateS]

Tiki (one spoiled dragon) likes to eat her salads when she's out of her house. I also make them "dance", as in, pick them up and drop them back on the paper towel - she think they're alive and devours them. I don't mind - she eats a ton of greens, and it's less than five minutes out of my day - besides, it's bonding time

I left some greens in her cage this morning. If she hasn't eaten any when I get home then I will try your method. I know that she won't eat the super's if they don't move so your idea makes sense. Thanks for the tip. She did get a taste for the greens last night as she got quite a few mouthfuls with her superworms (I had the worms in her greens). Maybe now that she's tasted them, they will interest her today...we'll see.

 

[EmilyRussom]

Always happy to help

Does your dragon love something in particular? I'll put her blankie on the widow ledge and she'll watch cars, people and dogs forever. She doesn't like it when birds fly by -- anyway, I'll sit her greens there too, and she'll munch along as she people-watches.

I think she gets tired of the taste of regular mustard and collard greens, so I occasionally mix in basil and cilantro. She is crazy about cilantro!!!! It is a safe green, and super cheap (besides, I cook with it all the time, so it's always in the house). Try that, too!

 

[NateS]

I haven't had her for long enough to see what she really enjoys but she does seem to enjoy sitting on the back if the couch and looking out the window. I will try feeding her there if nothing else works and will definitely try some cilantro too.

 

[oldfossiltree]

Tiki (one spoiled dragon) likes to eat her salads when she's out of her house. I also make them "dance", as in, pick them up and drop them back on the paper towel - she think they're alive and devours them. I don't mind - she eats a ton of greens, and it's less than five minutes out of my day - besides, it's bonding time

Yeah I do that, too. Make her chase it. I use to do it with meal worms, but it got too gross.