I love my little guy, and he eats good amounts overall, but getting him to eat a variety of foods is really difficult. The protein is no problem- if it moves, he'll eat it. But he's at the size and age that we're trying to feed him a higher ratio of veggies over protein, and he just won't eat his veggies that well. The only things we've found that he'll eat are frozen carrots and fresh turnip or mustard greens, but he'll only eat the greens when he feels like it. To add to the problems, our local grocery store only has quality turnip or mustard greens on a rare basis. We've offered him frozen peas, fresh kale and fresh collard greens, trying to get a little something green in him, and he turns up his nose. (We're avoiding anything that should be given rarely, like spinach, broccoli, or lettuce, because when he finds something he likes, he'll stop eating other things that he likes a little less!) We've offered all of them with and without extra water misted on them, hoping that will make a difference. So far the only way to get him to eat his greens on a regular basis is to deny him other food, and of course that's no good. Is there something else we should be trying?

No, you have it right. Think of him as a 2 year old! If all your two year old wanted to eat was McDonalds, would you let him do that? Of course not. If he's hungry, he'll eat it. Its called tough love.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Thats right, lol. Skip a feeding or two of protein and leave his veggies in the tank all day. Eventually he will learn to eat them. If that doesnt work, drop some mealworms under the salad to make it move. Its sneaky but it works.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

If that's what it takes, then we'll give it a try. He probably is a bit spoiled, he usually gets his protein pretty early in the morning. We'll play with his feeding schedule until he learns that he has to eat his greens. Thanks!

I had one in here that was a royal pain, lol. I did the same thing that Venus suggested. Also, I used to take his greens and put a little bit of the Gerber chicken baby food (1st stage) on them and shake them, and wiggle them. He would then stalk them and hunt them. They have a vibrating food bowl that will sometimes work. I found it easier just to shake them at him, not only did he eat, it was also very amusing for me to watch,lol.

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I have sucker tattood on my forehead

Most of us feed the veggies in the morning and the bugs at night.
When they wake up hungry they have the greens to hold them over.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thanks, everyone, for all the advice and tricks. It took a few days but we finally found a method that works! He wouldn't eat even if we denied him his bugs for a while, and when I stuck a couple mealworms under his greens he dug his nose through the salad to get to the worms. But a little bit of chicken-puree baby food finally got him, and he ate more greens than he has in weeks. With a couple worms to top that off, he seems pretty content. I couldn't have done it without you all.

Excellent news! Congrats!

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Good job!!

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!