peterjohnson64
Very Well-Known Member
I see a lot of posts where people ask what to feed their blue tongues. This is understandable as blue tongues are probably the best herp for beginners.
I also see lots of replies that concern me a little. Things like "my blue tongue loves dog food" or "my blue tongue loves bananas" etc etc.
Now, whilst these liazrds are very fond of these foods and will eat them till the cows come home it doesn't necessarily mean it is the best thing for them. As an analogy, my children love ice cream and McDonalds and will eat it all day, every day if given the opportunity. Doesn't mean it is the best thing for them either.
Blue tongues in the wild have to walk around looking for food. It is unlikeley that they will get a lot of meat because, well, they just aren't that fast. Of course, they can now get snails if they live at the right place but that is about it. Most of their diet would be vegetables. Fatty foods, when found, are good because you never know when you will get your next dinner. Blue tongues in captivity hardly have to move at all and they know when they are getting their next dinner. Like my pet Beagle, they dont really need any fatty foods.
Anyway, I thought I would take a photo of what I put together today for the blueys and EWD's. It is a mixture fo 80-90% vegetables (peas, beans carrots, mushroom) some dandelions and some dog food. You can make up heaps and then freeze it. For little lizards merely freeze it in ice cube trays.
Now before you go and take a photo of your huge blue tongue and reply with "but look at my blue tongue who only eats dog food" think about the guy who posts a picture of his 75kg 10 year old son and says "look at how big this guy is and he ONLY eats McDonalds"
I also see lots of replies that concern me a little. Things like "my blue tongue loves dog food" or "my blue tongue loves bananas" etc etc.
Now, whilst these liazrds are very fond of these foods and will eat them till the cows come home it doesn't necessarily mean it is the best thing for them. As an analogy, my children love ice cream and McDonalds and will eat it all day, every day if given the opportunity. Doesn't mean it is the best thing for them either.
Blue tongues in the wild have to walk around looking for food. It is unlikeley that they will get a lot of meat because, well, they just aren't that fast. Of course, they can now get snails if they live at the right place but that is about it. Most of their diet would be vegetables. Fatty foods, when found, are good because you never know when you will get your next dinner. Blue tongues in captivity hardly have to move at all and they know when they are getting their next dinner. Like my pet Beagle, they dont really need any fatty foods.
Anyway, I thought I would take a photo of what I put together today for the blueys and EWD's. It is a mixture fo 80-90% vegetables (peas, beans carrots, mushroom) some dandelions and some dog food. You can make up heaps and then freeze it. For little lizards merely freeze it in ice cube trays.
Now before you go and take a photo of your huge blue tongue and reply with "but look at my blue tongue who only eats dog food" think about the guy who posts a picture of his 75kg 10 year old son and says "look at how big this guy is and he ONLY eats McDonalds"
