Suggestion to those making "veggiecubes"

[skeetersmom]

Hi everyone,

Hopefully, I am making a contribution to the forum here I found the post in the "feeing your skink" about making what I call veggie cubes. Chopping up a variety of veggies, and freezing them in ice cube trays - removing them when they hold their shape, putting in a plastic bag, and putting in freezer.

I am not sure if these are available "down under" but Ziplock makes a vaccum ziplock bag. You seal the bag, and using the hand pump that you get in the starter kit, suck all the air out.

I use these for my feeder rats - keeps them from getting freezer burn = longer lasting=less money spent

But for me, since I only have Skeeter - gives him the variety - but I don't waste food (especially the squashes - the grocery store won't let me cut one in 1/4).

[Rhianimal]

I would be cautious of this--doesn't freezing plant matter destroy some nutritional content? Per the care sheet, it destroys vitamin B1, and that can cause a lot of issues. I would be cautious feeding this regularly. Most vegetables keep very well in the fridge for quite some time, and you can always get the special bags that let them breathe properly. But I also love eating vegetables and my skink is more or less getting portions put aside from what I would normally eat. No real waste.

[mistyx]

Good to know. Thanks Rhianimal for the advice. Guess I'll ask my wife to keep some veggies aside for my BTS rather than freezing it.

[Alioop]

There is no evidence to suggest that BTS suffer from a deficiency in thiamine (B1). From Melissa Kaplan's site, its a known issue in Iguanas, but again, at least to my knowledge, has never been identified in BTS. As per Melissa's site, you can sprinkle crushed B1 on their food once in awhile to ensure that its not an issue. I did this for awhile, but I've talked to breeders who have used frozen veggies for decades and their animals are all healthy!

[Coomassie]

I would be cautious of this--doesn't freezing plant matter destroy some nutritional content? Per the care sheet, it destroys vitamin B1, and that can cause a lot of issues. I would be cautious feeding this regularly. Most vegetables keep very well in the fridge for quite some time, and you can always get the special bags that let them breathe properly. But I also love eating vegetables and my skink is more or less getting portions put aside from what I would normally eat. No real waste.

In most cases it preserves the nutrients better to freeze them than to refrigerate. Plant matter begins to lose it's mineral content as soon as it is removed from the plant (this is why it is best to grow your own stuff). Freezing slows down the kinetics of movement of the minerals down so much, it essentially stops.