Hi everybody

I have a chinese water dragon which is 6 monthes old and I want to know if he's old enough to eat fruits (I am thinking of trying with oranges).

As I have always heard that juveniles mainly eat insects, I am not sure that at 6 monthes their stomac is mature enought for fruits and vegetables.

If there is any risk, and if it is more secure to wait until it's 1 year old, please tell me.

Thanks in advance,

See you,

Cyril.

At six months he is still a juvie. ARe you offering veggies as well? Here is a link to the WD Food section of the caresheet.

Chinese Water Dragon Caresheet - Part 5 - Reptile Information - Caresheets Database


and here is a section from Tricia's WD page...

FRUIT AND VEGGIES:

FRUIT AND VEGGIES: Some dragons will eat fruit and veggies when it's offered, but many dragons will not take fruit and veggies at all! Keepers that have success with this find fruit is preferred. Unfortunately fruit tends to be very high in phosphorus and very low in many other nutrients with the largest benefit being additional fluids and vitamins.

Fruit that have good calcium content include figs, raspberries, cantaloupe, strawberries and blueberries ... starting to slide now on the amount of calcium ... I think mangos and papaya's are ok too?

Veggies that have an adequate calcium to phosphorus ratio: Greens such as collards, dandelion (flowers edible too), and mustard greens. (Kale, spinach and other greens of this variety are high in oxalates which bind to calcium making it unusable) leafy veggies of the lettuce family have almost no nutrients thus are very low in value other than for their water content. Yellow squash, sweet potato, parsnips, green beans, and occasionally carrots ... Veggies such as broccoli contain oxalates and as stated above that binds to calcium rendering it unusable.

Please NOTE that all of the well balanced fruit and veggies listed above can be used when gut loading your insects!

__________________
MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

I would stay away from oranges and other citrus except maybe as a very once in a while treat.
Too acidic!

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Hello Merlin,

Thank you for the advice, you are rigth, it can damage its stomac, especially as it's only
6 monthes old.

Freindly yours,

Cyril.