charmedbyekkie
New member
Hello! Two parts to this ekkie diet:
1.
We've been switching Cairo over from Zupreem to fresh chop. He's deciding on his favourite fruits and veggies (which seems to mean more blueberries for the humans). But right now, it's just that - fruits and veggies, based on the various lists of what is most nutritious for them.
I know other people cook and put in lentils, rice, and other starchy foods. Is this mandatory (ie, am I depriving him of something beneficial to him?) or is this just a good-to-have but not necessary for his well-being?
2.
His previous family used to just leave a cup of Zupreem in his cage, so he would just eat anytime. He seems to expect this from us as well and gets very agitated when this free-flow doesn't happen. I think his agitation stems from the fact that he doesn't eat all in one sitting, but prefers to eat at it with several sittings over the hours. I did try removing the bowl from his cage and placing it back empty, but worry that his hunger and unmet expectation makes him angsty.
How can we switch him to two set meals (breakfast and dinner) without upsetting him so much? I do try to make sure he has a snackable during the day (food in the form of toys - bok choy and coconuts), but it's not possible every day since I work.
3.
On the note of Zupreem, I might have been too aggressive in switching him off it. Need your guys' expert input. His first night, I mixed into full pellets with his food. The next day, I sprinkled crushed pellets in. Then the following, I completely did not add any Zupreem (largely because I noticed a bit of leg kicking). So he almost went cold turkey with pellets (but his leg kicking stopped).
Now I do expect him to be a picky eater (aren't we all?), but should I have at least kept with sprinkling the Zupreem, so he's more interested in all types of fruits and veggies? I still have a lot of Zupreem left, but it's so disgustingly sweet smelling I worry about him.
1.
We've been switching Cairo over from Zupreem to fresh chop. He's deciding on his favourite fruits and veggies (which seems to mean more blueberries for the humans). But right now, it's just that - fruits and veggies, based on the various lists of what is most nutritious for them.
I know other people cook and put in lentils, rice, and other starchy foods. Is this mandatory (ie, am I depriving him of something beneficial to him?) or is this just a good-to-have but not necessary for his well-being?
2.
His previous family used to just leave a cup of Zupreem in his cage, so he would just eat anytime. He seems to expect this from us as well and gets very agitated when this free-flow doesn't happen. I think his agitation stems from the fact that he doesn't eat all in one sitting, but prefers to eat at it with several sittings over the hours. I did try removing the bowl from his cage and placing it back empty, but worry that his hunger and unmet expectation makes him angsty.
How can we switch him to two set meals (breakfast and dinner) without upsetting him so much? I do try to make sure he has a snackable during the day (food in the form of toys - bok choy and coconuts), but it's not possible every day since I work.
3.
On the note of Zupreem, I might have been too aggressive in switching him off it. Need your guys' expert input. His first night, I mixed into full pellets with his food. The next day, I sprinkled crushed pellets in. Then the following, I completely did not add any Zupreem (largely because I noticed a bit of leg kicking). So he almost went cold turkey with pellets (but his leg kicking stopped).
Now I do expect him to be a picky eater (aren't we all?), but should I have at least kept with sprinkling the Zupreem, so he's more interested in all types of fruits and veggies? I still have a lot of Zupreem left, but it's so disgustingly sweet smelling I worry about him.
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