Chopped veggie size: How does this look?

[skyfishcafe]

I've been trying to figure out how to get Alduîn, our young bearded dragon with MBD and significant mobility challenges, to eat some veggies throughout the day. Occasionally he'll eat a few mouthfuls of finely diced (almost minced) butternut squash if handfed, but usually he just ignores veggies altogether. He is quite young -- probably 4 months old or younger -- but I know it's possible to turn them on to veggies early.

(I'd love to try the "withhold insects until he eats some salad" approach to feeding, but because of his health issues, I use the insects to deliver his medications.)

Anyway, one part of the equation I'm unsure about is how finely to chop the veggies. Here is how I prepared some butternut squash and turnip greens today:

Relative size comparison:

Are these too fine? too coarse? just right?

With thanks,
Aaron

 

[KarrieRee]

The butternut you can always shred--- also sweet potato --- the greens look fine -- I cut mine up
Karrie

 

[daveferns1]

Yea I use a cheese grater for my squash, Ive also seen people microwave squash too but I dunno how long. Greens are about the same size I do mine

 

[Claudiusx]

That looks like a fine since for him.

And I agree, you shouldn't withhold his feeders in this case. That method should only be done on healthy dragons. We want Aludîn to get all the nutrients he can get until hes back on his feet

It's good that he eats some items at least.
You can try finely chopping some, and putting some bigger leaves together in the same salad and see which he goes for.

-Brandon

 

[skyfishcafe]

Karrie, daveferns1, and Brandon, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I'll give shredding/grating a try with the squash, and including a couple of larger leaves with his greens.

Aaron