Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my young beardie for a couple of months and have yet been able to just hold him with out him gap and/or attempting escape. I don't know if its just the lack of trying to hold him or what but I don't want a 18 inch mean beardie. He is a real good eater, but will not eat greens. I have put the Zoo Med beardie food (in a can, soft)in his mouth when he gaps, but he will not eat it on his on. He won't even open his mouth after the first taste. I've done this with greens, but experience the same thing. He will eat nearly a dozen or more crickets a day (and mealworms when I give him them). What do I do?

About all you can do is handle him as much as you can so that he gets used to you. What you might try also is holding him in the late evening when it is a little darker out because they tend to become sleepy and don't get as excited if you try to hold them. That is what I did with mine but just keep working with him and he will get used to it. To get mine started on greens and stuff I would kind of move it around in front of them because for a few of my guys unless the food is moving they have no interest in it. Just be careful with the wax worms because they are like candy to the little guys and I had a hard time getting one of my beardies to eat anything other than wax worms so I had to stop giving him any and forcing him to eat what I was feeding him. He went on strike for a few days but then started eating what is much more healthy for him. Hope this helps.

you got some good handling suggestions. as for the greens, just keep offering them every single day, leave them in from morning to night, add things with color like squash, strawberries, something to attract him, some sweet potato might be a good idea also, im sure he will come around and eat them, it just takes time with some of them also what kind of dish are they in? they usually take better to them when offered in a shallow if not totally flat dish, it keeps them on eyelevel...
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reiko
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