Is this a good diet?

[Shaggraa]

Just wondering if this is a good diet for my growing BTS.

Collard greens, spaghetti squash, green beans, and Wellness 95% chicken dog food. I put it all in the food processor then serve 2-3 times a week.

As a treat I have can-o-snails.

[Rachael t]

Sounds pretty good to me if you can get live snails they love them!

[Fatal_S]

A 95% chicken food is not ideal unless it has enough calcium added to balance it. My mostly chicken diet led to MBD, and then to death in several of my first skinks. Check the type of food to see what the Calcium:Phosphorus ratio is (2:1 is good, 1:1 would be okay with the other food, less would be bad). I'm not sure if the 95% is the same, but I use a 99% chicken every once in a while. It says right on the can that's it's meant as a treat, and is not a balanced diet.

All that food is actually good, but not the same meal every time. The next week, use a different mix. The more variety, the better chance your baby gets everything it needs.

[Shaggraa]

Do you have a preferred dog food or meat that you use?

[Fatal_S]

Pedigree beef was suggested by breeders I really respect, so that's my main dogfood. I also use lots of chicken dogfoods, other dog/cat food that's on sale, and other meat sources (chicken, liver, egg, beef). I mix it up a lot. I also mix up my veggies. I use lots of greens (collard, mustard, dandelion are main ones) and squashes, but I've tried pretty much every veggie. Many meals are as simple as Pedigree beef dogfood with frozen veggies mixed in. Topped with a dash of calcium + D3. Technically that meal would be enough to keep them healthy alone, but I love mixing it up and providing variety. I only feed weekly, so my skinks are not picky about what they eat.

Last week's meal was actually ham fat. My mom got a huge spiral-cut ham for a work function and trimmed all the fat off. She asked if I wanted it. I've never used it before, but we ground it up, added squash and greens, and handed out huge gobs of it. The skinks LOVED it. They licked their plates clean. And then they wandered over to their basking spots and slept happily for days. It was bliss to have them all so full and happy. Now they're scratching at the tanks begging for food again. I'll need a healthier meal this time...

[Shaggraa]

Hahaha! Hopefully my Indo becomes that friendly. You have a lot of reptiles! I may need to get a 2 bedroom apartment just to have a reptile room!

[Fatal_S]

I literally have about 50 animals living with me in my bedroom right now. It's cramped and noisy. Admittedly, my room is probably 2x the size of a normal room (half a small basement), but it's still cramped. I gave up everything except my bed to make room for the animals. I definitely need to move out; working on finding a small house now.

[Sarikazam]

I literally have about 50 animals living with me in my bedroom right now. It's cramped and noisy. Admittedly, my room is probably 2x the size of a normal room (half a small basement), but it's still cramped. I gave up everything except my bed to make room for the animals. I definitely need to move out; working on finding a small house now.

I would like to see pictures of your room!

[Shaggraa]

I literally have about 50 animals living with me in my bedroom right now. It's cramped and noisy. Admittedly, my room is probably 2x the size of a normal room (half a small basement), but it's still cramped. I gave up everything except my bed to make room for the animals. I definitely need to move out; working on finding a small house now.

I would like to see pictures of your room!

Ditto