Need help with a stubborn feeder

[burmer]

Hey I wanted to see if someone could give me some advice on a stubborn feeder. I've had my male dragon since he was a baby. He is two years old. He eats ok but wont' eat many different things. The only thing he will eat regularly is meal worms. Crickets he might eat 2 or 3 out of a dozen. Veggies once in a while. He does like pinkies alot, but I don't give them to him very much. The veggies I usually give him are mustard greens, collards, dandelion greens when I can get them. He is fat and looks good and is healthy. I just wanted to get a bigger variety of food into him.

[eyespy]

Once a dragon is that old and has become a picky eater it can be tough to get him to readily accept a broader menu. Here are a few suggestions:

Mealworm burrito: wrap greens around mealies with them sticking out and wiggling to invite a feeding response.

Sweet stuff: find a type of fruit baby food he likes, peach or pear often works. Smear a little on more nutritious foods, then smear some on his snout for him to lick, then offer the flavored food.

Raise the basking temp so he gapes. When his mouth is open, pop in the food of your choice and he will probably eat it. I often use this technique for introducing new foods to hatchlings and it works quite well. Once they figure out they can eat it they are more willing to take it from their salad plate. Whether it will work on a stubborn adult is iffy.

And of course, feed every nutritious food you can to the mealworms so at least he'll get those foods via gutloading.

Good luck and let us know if any of that has worked out for the two of you.

[burmer]

I will, thanks for the info.