eating habits/substrates

[jack]

my BTS won't eat any fruit/veg it only eating snails and i need to change my substrate because its sand what should i use?

[jasjmm27]

Well, a good place to start is the Caresheet on this forum.

If you go to the Forum Index it is the fourth topic down.

I would try to use aspen shavings as a bedding or Carefresh. I find the best aspen and the carefresh in the "small mammals" section of the large chain pet stores I go to for them.

In regards to food, there are all kinds of good ways to "trick" blueys into eating greens and fruits/veggies. Some ways are blending, making "skinky quiches", and rubbing their favorite food all over the stuff you want them to eat AND mixing it in well. I am sure the long term folks will have some more detailed and better ideas, but just thought I would pitch in.

Good luck and glad you noticed that sand isn't so good for blueys (or any herps in captivity for that matter, really)...

[rachel]

Firstly-
I wouldn't worry too much about your guys love of snails and dislike of veges! How long have you had him/her? I had alot of trouble convincing my guy(s) to eat vegetables-lots of tricking necessary!! Good luck!!

[shingleback aus]

first of all make sure you read the care sheet it will have most of the ansers to your questions print out the food chart that helps alot all blueys have differnt tastes just keep offering them differnt fruit and veg till you find the one they like also mix some meat with it most blueys cant resist and eat the veg thinking there just eating meat pack it into the meat so it isnt very visible. as for fruit he will definatley eat bannana but do not feed it to them to often because iv found they like it so much they get finiky that also goes with snails. with substrate try shavings just avoid using cedar or treated pine because it canhurt your bluey.

[dragonboy]

Is it ok to use a textured tile with maybe a dig box he can slide/climb into..?[with aspen in iit]

[Bird_Brain]

The thing that I can see go wrong with a dig box is that you will be placing it on either the cool side, the warm side or anywhere in between. Say you put the dig box on the cool side. What if the bluey needs to warm up, but wants to stay hidden? He may choose not warm up due to the lack of burrowing space, etc. This may cause him to not digest his food properly.

What if you put the dig box on the hot side? Will he overheat because he doesnt have anywhere else to burrow?

From my experience, I find a lot of my guys burrowed under both the hot side and the cool side. And I would hate to limit that to just one side.

[Tattoo]

If you give the snails a pass for a few days and your bluey gets hungry he will eat something else. Try switching the meat source and put in some fruit and veg with that. If you make it all small pieces (harder to pick apart) you might be able to change the tide. Favorites in this house ... chicken, turkey, bison, eggs, acorn squash, collards, raspberries, mango, apples. All blueys have different taste so it's just trial and error. Keep trying different ones and you will find something he loves.

As to substrate if you choose something good for burrowing (I use aspen) they can dig in anywhere in the viv and be happy. Good luck and keep us posted!