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My bearded dragon is 13 months old and he has stopped eating as much as he use to like two months ago. About 2 months ago I would offer him a whole big salad with collard greens, butternut squash, carrots, mustard greens, and some bearded dragon bites, but now when I offer him the same he only will eat the collard greens and now some kale instead of mustard greens. He also doesn't really eat every day and soon I'll have some waxworms for him to munch on. Why is he only eating the greens?

My bearded dragon is 13 months old and he has stopped eating as much as he use to like two months ago. About 2 months ago I would offer him a whole big salad with collard greens, butternut squash, carrots, mustard greens, and some bearded dragon bites, but now when I offer him the same he only will eat the collard greens and now some kale instead of mustard greens. He also doesn't really eat every day and soon I'll have some waxworms for him to munch on. Why is he only eating the greens?

Updated On June 24th, 2018

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Answered By Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM

Veterinarian

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Reptiles can be very subtle in showing when they don't feel well, and often a decrease in appetite is the only sign that they will show. Sometimes they will only be willing to eat their favorite items, so that may be a reason that Cosmo is eating certain things. Alternatively, they may be easier for him to eat somehow as well. Another hard part about reptiles is that they take a long time to show that they are sick, so something could have been going on with Cosmo for quite a while and he just hasn't shown you until now. I would recommend having Cosmo evaluated by a veterinarian due to the decrease in appetite. They will evaluate your husbandry and diet for Cosmo, and may make recommendations for them. This may include adjustments in the diet, as the items you are feeding right now have a great deal of calcium oxalates in them. Calcium oxalates can decrease absorption of calcium by the body, and calcium is very important in reptiles. The items that you are feeding with calcium oxalates include kale, mustard greens, and collard greens. These items should be fed a maximum of 1-2 times per week. Protein in the diet (insects) should be fed about twice weekly. In addition to a husbandry evaluation, your veterinarian may recommend blood work to evaluate systemic health, as well as radiographs (x-rays) to ensure that Cosmo's bones look like they have enough calcium in them.

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