Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I like to use them sometimes. My favorite one is the Spring Mix they got out. I was wondering if they are good to use, and what are the ingredients in it? I know it says endive and raddicho for sure, but it also say baby lettuces and grenns. What are the baby lettuces and greens they use in it?

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Lizard Smoke

1.0 Veiled Chameleon - King George 4yrs old (RIP buddy, you'll always be my first)
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Frank Beardie 2yrs old

This sounds like something you should email Dole about.

Dole packages are okay. In the spring mix, you have to watch because there is baby spinach. Spinach can block the absorption of calcium, so I normally stay away from it. I used the romaine hearts package and add other goodies in it (squash, zucchini, etc.).

baby lettuce most likely means leaf lettuce, such as Boston lettuce. Not all that good for dragons due to lack of nutrients. Baby greens can be any type of greens, but spinach and romaine are probably popular ones.

I really don't like these pre mixed salads. I find they go bad must faster than buying the greens i need individually. Most often the Boston leaf lettuce or that purple stuff, whatever it's called, will rot first and cover everything in the bag with rotted purple blobs which are a pain to wash off the rest.

I typically just buy 1-4 staple greens, (endive, collard greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, escarole, chicory, etc) and add other greens, such as romaine, bell peppers, zucchini, other vegetables and occasionally some fruit. Some times I add some kale to the mix, but never as a staple, due to it's high oxate count as well.

I always try to rotate greens monthly, so I am; not always serving the same stuff, this way my dragon doesn't get spoiled or picky on one type of green. Also, not all greens good for dragons is available constantly.

If you are worrying about alot of waste, there are a few ways to keep the greens fresh as possible (washing and laying between paper towel and storing in a container or bag), could always buy more bearded dragons so you have more to feed and thus less waste going to rot. Or buy other green eating animals, such as blue tongue skinks, iguanas, uromastyx, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.

Or, just eat it yourself. Add a bit of salad dressing and hold back the insects, and a bearded dragon salad is an excellent source of fiber and nutrients for us.
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PHLdyPayne

ya i definatly don't like that boston leaf lettuce it does rot quickly, i pick that and the baby spinach out. Everything else he really enjoys eating. I kinda swiched over to those bags because of their cheapness and it'd seemed easier. I thought about getting another dragon because that's very true about having alot of waste of greens and that another would eat for free basically. I'll have to try storing greens your way. You must get what like a week out of them? Oh ya also do you know what green that is in the srping mix that is shaped like the spinach leaf but has a reddish/purplish stem and reddish/purplish veins? My beardie really likes that one.

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Lizard Smoke

1.0 Veiled Chameleon - King George 4yrs old (RIP buddy, you'll always be my first)
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Frank Beardie 2yrs old

no clue on what that leaf is from. Another reason why I don't like the salad mixes. I am no expert at identifying plants, which is why I buy them separately.

I can keep greens in the fridge anywhere between 1-3 weeks, depending on the freshness of the greens themselves.

www.reptilerooms.com/Sections index-req-viewarticle-artid-98-page-1.html

elmo.missionmedia.net/fireandicedragons/food_chart/food_chart.html

The above two links show pictures of various greens. This should help identify what you have in that mix.
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PHLdyPayne

It's probably red dandelion. Sometimes it is called Italian Dandelion and comes either with red or green stems depending on whether it is red dandelion or green dandelion. These are actually a form of chicory and will get the purple chicory flower rather than the yellow true dandelion flower. Both, as well as true dandelion, are popular items with my dragons and I grow both colors in pots on my patio in season.