Fire Skink only eating crickets

[Craiga 01453]

Thanks in advance for any info you can share.

I have had my African Fire Skink for a few months now, and he seems to be doing well.
I do have one concern though. He is eating very little aside from crickets, which he eats like a champ.
I have tried a few different leaf greens, bananas, berries, eggs, and a few other vegetables. He either completely ignores it and it gets thrown away after 18 hours or so. Or he will barely touch it. I haven't noticed anything that he "prefers" or eats readily each offer.

He even ignores meal worms and grasshoppers. I have some frozen bloodworms for my fish I was considering offering...

I would like to get his diet more balanced to avoid any potential health issues.
Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

Thanks!!!

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk

[Leonbp]

I haven't read anything about fire skinks needing fruits or veggies to complete their diet. Aside from that, variety is something you can offer now and again, but as long as he is eating (dusted) prey items I would not be too concerned.

In any case, switching foods can be difficult sometimes so be patient. This is a great way for you to spend time with your skink, offering him interesting prey items while he glares at you

Hope this helps!

[Craiga 01453]

I haven't read anything about fire skinks needing fruits or veggies to complete their diet. Aside from that, variety is something you can offer now and again, but as long as he is eating (dusted) prey items I would not be too concerned.

In any case, switching foods can be difficult sometimes so be patient. This is a great way for you to spend time with your skink, offering him interesting prey items while he glares at you

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the reply. From what I've read fruits and veggies aren't the staple, but a good addition. I saw that a protein only diet can lead to metabolic bone disorder. Obviously, calcium dusting will also help with that.

I'm more than happy to spend the time with him and offer new items. Any tips on getting him to eat other items?

[Leonbp]

Lizards eating mechanism is activated by small things moving. It's almost a reflex. I use tongs to hold the prey item and make it love in small jerky motions to imitate the bug moving, and activate the reflex.

That's the best way in my opinion.

[JodanOrNoDan]

I got my daughters dragon eating greens by moving them like prey. Once he took a bite and realized it was food he was good to go.

[Oxylepy]

To avoid mbd invest in uvb lighting. With the crummy compact florescent ones it won't increase the temperature by much, but will provide some uvb to help the lizard. Better types of uvb can replace lights used for heating (the higher end ones need replacing every 1 - 2 years which can save some money on bulbs).

Motion is key, as was stated above.

[Craiga 01453]

Thanks all. I'll try some different foods "crawling and hopping " with the tongs and see what happens.
Anybody have certain fruits or veggies that seem to be "favorites" for your lizards?

[John1982]

I have tried a few different leaf greens, bananas, berries, eggs, and a few other vegetables.

Feed that stuff to your crickets.

[Leonbp]

Feed that stuff to your crickets.

Absolutely. If it goes into your feeders, it goes into your eaters.

As for the best veggies I would do some research on what is good and bad for that species. I know there are a lot of lists for bearded dragon floating around.