Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My URO only likes to eat lentils (that mixed soup)and crickets!He loves crickets and can eat more than 10 a day!Thats true that insects are bad for URO's? How can i convince him to eat veggies?

ONLY give him the greens, beans are high in protein and crickets are also. just give him greens for a while he'll egt the picture
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Lauren
Leos and Uros

Are you sure? He wont starve to death????????

they are not dumb animals. Their instinct is for survival and even if he goes without food for 2 weeks he will still be ok. after he starts eating greens again, do not feed him crickets or beans only but once a week. I am lucky with my guys i always have greens, red lentils/green peas in their tank, they still eat their greens and eat the beans as they please. then once every 2 weeks i feed them 3-6 wax worms each. Although Rico likes to try and eat them all. Try mixing up your greens with many different kinds. Especially try dandelion greens they loves these. also bok choy (spelling??) i keep my guys on this most of the time with kale every so often. If you have the dandelion flower that is even better you can take off the leaves and place them on or within the greens to make them more attracted to it.
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Lauren
Leos and Uros

Your uro will be fine. It is a battle of wills at this point. He's refusing his greens on purpose because he wants to leave room for his crickets. When he finally clues in that there's nothing on the menu other than greens, he'll start eating them again. Ra just loves his juvi iggy pellets and seeds and will avoid eating his greens if it means stuffing his face with his favourite foods. It took him about three days before he started eating greens again. Just be persistant and offer greens daily until he caves in and eats them. Uros will sooner eat something they tolerate rather than go hungry. Don't worry, he'll be fine, trust me
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1 Mali Uromastyx named Ra

Yes...too many crickets are definately bad. They are to be given ONLY as a treat once in awhile (and none is even better). They have no nutritional value really other than the dustings you do that give them some calcium etc. Would be much better getting that from greens.

If that is all your uro is eating....lentils and crickets, you could have yourself a very sick uro soon! He needs to have greens badly not just for the nutrition, but for the much needed liquids. they get all their water needs met thru what they eat.

How to switch him over? Just will have to keep trying and trying all different stuff thats good for him until he eats. I mean think about it, would you rather eat a nice big chocolate piece of cake..or a salad? <G>

Hope you can get him switched soon so he doesn't dehydrate!
Renee

ill try to force him to eat veggies!