Feeding

[Phantom]

i don't know if it is just me but as I am reading the caresheet, it seems like a pain in the butt to feed them. I am so worried that if I get one that I won't be able to find all the stuff on the list. Is it really hard to feed them (meaning finding the right things in right amounts) or am I just weird?

[mewzic-7123]

i say RELAX! everythins all rite, they r pretty easy to feed, just buy a variaty of greens, u do not hav to feed it everythin on the list, just make sure its not harmful to the skink and is healthy.

[applepiebald]

Personally, I do things like save my own food. For example, McDonalds (amazingly) serves salads with mixed greens. I'll take what's not Iceberg or Romaine and save it for the skinks. (Sans dressing of course.) Although steamed or boiled veggies aren't as good as raw food, you can use them so long as they're not salted or otherwise seasoned. Fresh fruit is even easier. If you eat an apple, save a slice for your skink. Using cat food is really useful as you don't need to dissect a chicken to give you skink protein. Eggs are another easy food.

Also, make sure to buy a good quality reptile vitamins and calcium supplement. I use Rep-Cal and Herptivite mixed into every meal.

A few things to remember: ham and lunch meats as well as other "processed" meats are no good, along with dairy (although some people do agree with feeding yogurt.) Seafood is also a no-no. Reptiles and citurs also do not mix. If the food is no good for you (ie. cookies, chips, candy) it's DEFIANTLY not good for your skink.

The list given is a guide. It's to show you the variety there is and all of the options you have. You don't need to feed every item on the list every time you feed your skink.

(Experienced members: Please correct me where I'm wrong!)

[kris21]

Is freezing food bad?
Like making a mix of meat and vegetables and freezing it in meal size proportions for defrosting during the week?

Kris

[LittleFoot]

Is freezing food bad?
Like making a mix of meat and vegetables and freezing it in meal size proportions for defrosting during the week?

Kris

Nope I do that alot. I make some chicken, give him a chunk and I'll freezed little individual portions for him for the week.

[Zach]

Is freezing food bad?
Like making a mix of meat and vegetables and freezing it in meal size proportions for defrosting during the week?

Kris

Not usually, although freezing greens in particular is generally advised against because some of the nutrients leak out (thiamine).


And no, feeding is not difficult. We just have so many options listed and so much info it seems overwhelming. Take a deep breath!

[KyleWeiss]

Feeding blue tongues is only slightly harder than feeding fish. You buy fresh, probably from the same store you buy your groceries, buy right, which costs pennies a day to feed them (lean meats and good greens) and I use my freezer all the time to freeze portions of chopped meat to mix with fresh veggies. It takes all of 30 seconds to feed Rollie every other day.

KW

[kris21]

Ahh good to know, thanks

[mom22wins]

few things to remember: ham and lunch meats as well as other "processed" meats are no good, along with dairy (although some people do agree with feeding yogurt.) Seafood is also a no-no. Reptiles and citurs also do not mix. If the food is no good for you (ie. cookies, chips, candy) it's DEFIANTLY not good for your skink.

I recently purchased a canister of something called Vita Terra Reptil Gammare from the pet store. It is essentially Small Shrimp. Is it okay to mix in with her food?

[NomadOfTheHills]

Some think seafood is not a good idea, and I havn't tried it, but gammare are basically small freshwater river shrimp, not a stable food, but a nice protein source.


My old indo went nuts over them and krill.

[mom22wins]

That's good. I was worried I was going to have to trash them. I figure if I put vitamin/calcium suppliments on her crickets or any other foods then she'll still get some nutrition, right?

I think I need to go skink food shopping for some more stuff...

[NomadOfTheHills]

As long as you gutload crickets, they are a very healthy food, just not a good stable (low P:Ca ratio, low protein)

Think of the generations of bearded dragons and leopard geckos raised solely on crickets. They can't be that bad.

[Phantom]

As long as you gutload crickets, they are a very healthy food, just not a good stable (low P:Ca ratio, low protein)

Think of the generations of bearded dragons and leopard geckos raised solely on crickets. They can't be that bad.

you mean "staple"?

[NomadOfTheHills]

Clearly, lol :-p

[Leigh]

As long as you gutload crickets, they are a very healthy food, just not a good stable (low P:Ca ratio, low protein)

Think of the generations of bearded dragons and leopard geckos raised solely on crickets. They can't be that bad.

Agreed but also look at the state of some of them, they're not intirely healthy, nor is it fair to only feed one sort, my dragon got so *ticked off with crickets only{before I knew better} that she wont give 'em a second glance now.

Also over gut loading can lead to gout and kidney problems, this happened to my chameleon, not to scare you ,but you should be aware

[Lucifer_Spades]

One of the easiest sources for me of fresh greens is to go outside and pick my own dandilions and lord knows everyone I know of has easy access to a yard full of em as long as you know nothing has been sprayed on em they're free, plentiful, a great bluey food source and you onlu need to pick the amount you need for each feeding so no waste.

[mom22wins]

Luce,

I have a question: when they say Dandelion Greens do they mean to cut off the flower? Same with Turnip Greens. Do I chop up the turnip with the leaves on top or just the green part?

Don't mind me I know not.

[Lucifer_Spades]

I sometimes include the flowers though it's usually just the leaves and with the turnips I also just use the leaves but then again I buy mine without the turnip attached appearently they are good people food too for that matter dandilions make good people food as well...any way If you wanted to add turnip with the greens I'm sure your baby would like that too veriety is the key so you can toss in the veggies and flowers along with the green leafies.

[KyleWeiss]

Natural food stores have things like dandelion greens and other not-so-common things in case picking one's own isn't an option...

KW

[aggiegirl]

Don't try to feed a ton of foods each meal. Just vary the combos.
I always try to buy at least one extra green leafy (collard/turnip greens, etc) and one squash-like vegetable in addition to what I buy for my family. If we are having veggies, I take out some for our skink before I cook or season them.
When we have burgers or chicken, I prepare the skink's meat before I season it. I have a nifty egg poacher that prepares one egg in the microwave within 30 seconds. I keep Spot's Stew or another high quality cat food on hand in case we are eating processed meat.
Fruit is never an issue at our house because I keep some frozen melons/berries to use in case we eat all our fresh fruit.
I have a garden and I grow organic fruits, veggies, and dandelions. This is great because I can always find something extra to add.
I make a meal by trying to balance approx. 1 part greens, 1-2 parts other veggies, 1 part fruit, and 1 part protein source. I remove all stems (more important with babies!) and stick the mix in my mini-chopper. I use half on the first day and leave the other half in the cannister to be refrigerated til day 2. That means I only have to prepare foods/wash dishes half as often! Some foods (like bananas) get gross overnight but I've learned to add these right before feeding. My bluey is way easier to feed (and more appreciative than my crested gecko!)
I love feeding live prey too but now ya'll have me worried about endoparasites!
Good luck. Once you get a routine, it is really a matter of just changes out the types of foods each week.