BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Now I know everyone here talks about giving cat food to the skinks. But I have also read, Low Fat dog food. Could that really be used? I mean, i guess it could be the same but I don't want to take any chances. I did ask the guy at Petsmart one time about dog food and he said "That's what we use for our blue tongue skink here."

So do you think it is a good choice?

low fat dog food would be fie to, the difference is that if you feed a cat dog food it will die. cats need a higher nutrient food and therefore making cat food a better choice.

oh ok! That does make sense though. So cat food it is. I want the best for my bluey

One of the best breeders of blue tongues in the states feeds his blueys dog food.

Dog food is widely used to feed blueys - both dog and cat food are fine. Difference is with dog food - you are more likely to get better quality meat than cat food however there are more added nutrients to cat food - Like taurine - which is not needed by blueys. So at the end of the day both are just as good.

oh, well maybe I'll try both out then. See which one my bluey likes best

that's what i did. They liked dog food but went right off it - so i tried some cat food, and they eat that - so That's what i use. However my Kimberly seems to like dog food. *sigh* I think i need to change that!

Ihad to feedchuckie dog food today because we ran out of cat food. went straight for it, i dont think he even noticed the different. except generally theres alot of this jelly crap in the dog food which can make it a bit runny

the jelly in the dog food is the fatty part - it's where all the flavour is.

oh right lol. so should i let him have the jelly part? or just scoop around it

give it all to him!

EDIT - I will also say - make sure you feed a varied diet - it's what most people on here suggest - although it's debatable whether it really matters - but better safe than sorry.

As long as you have some fruit and veg in with the meat - you will be right.

oh yeah ofcourse. He also gets bok choi, grapes, squash, banna on occasion, cockroaches & snails (when i can find some snails...)

Cat food has added folate, basically better dog food with an additive.

There seems to be a general concensus not to use fish based ones though. Not sure of the rationale for that.

Scott

I have feed my skinks both. I sometimes do a mix. They really don't care and really does not matter which one you pick. As long as has the added veggies a fruit you will be fine!

I use dog food when I need to give chomper some meds...just make a little pool pour some in it and cover it up.(I'm talking like nickle size) and then handfeed it to him. does the trick lol

Idont use any,i'd sooner give him live feeders or bits of chicken,each to his own and all that...

Question

Dizzy is eating well. As ya know in the petshop he was only given adult singed locusts and slices of apple for the past 2 years.

Since i have rehomed him, i have fed him scrambled eggs, he loves it, and mince, he again loves that, and dog/cat food, he loves it.

Hes gettin fatter =] i love it haha.

BUT he wont touch veggies or fruit. Any suggestions on how i can get him to eat them.

ALSO i have to avoid putting fruit in the viv right now as i have just noticed the substrate wood chips that i am using came with a free ants nest. iv managed to scoop the main bulk of ants out but there are still a few running about and little baby ones.

Will they harm him??

I'd replace the substrate personally. I hate ants - they get everywhere!

In regards to the food - you can try blending up the vegies into a paste and mix it in with the dog/cat food. That's what most people do - that or just chop it up really finely.

Give it a go and see how it goes down. Chances are if you mix it well enough - your bluey won't even know it's eating vegies!

Dont bother feeding him for a week or so until he bahaves, and gets hungry enough to eat the GOOD healthy greens and veg/fruit you're offering, dont think you're a bad owner by not feeding all the time,they can go months without a meal, and will hold out on you for what they are spoilt on.

well last night instead of giving him his meaty dish that he gets in the evening i gave him a plate of Kale and grapes.

10minutes later i sit back down in the living room and see Dizzy stalking his plate dish like he usually does for five minutes, then he dives in and munches happily away =]

Thats good, mine fights me all the way on the green/veg issue.