Afraid of crickets

[evilsnoflake76]

When we first got our dragons 6 weeks ago, all three ate the crickets willingly. But the last 3 weeks one of my dragons has been afraid of the crickets. I've been putting him in the feeding tank with only a couple crickets and he always runs away from them. He has been eating the greens that we've made available and the dried mealworms. Should I be worried that he's not eating the crickets?

 

[stephenrose06]

Draco has had issues with crickets too; he might try for one a few times but tends to not want to try. I am switching to Roaches, which you can actually turn on their back make it easy for him to get them, plus the roaches don't jump around. If you are not ready to switch to Roaches then you can put the crickets in the freezer for a bit to slow them down, or break their legs.

 

[RioReptiles]

My first dragon wouldn't eat crickets at all. After 3 weeks of trying everything, he loved roaches. I got a new baby last week who wasn't eating much unless coaxed, I figured relocation stress. Tonight I thought I'd try a few roaches.... she ate about ten. I don't know if they can see them better, that they run fast and they like to hunt/chase them, or they just like them that much more. I think they like them more to be honest. I look at insects like this for my dragons.

Meal Worms - hot dogs (not good for you but still eat them on occasion)
Crickets - hamburgers (not bad if you only have them once in a while but can't eat every day)
Phoenix Worms - chicken (pretty good and good for you and can eat quite often)
Silk Worms - pork tenderloin (good, could eat more often but expensive)
Roaches - steak (will eat pretty much anytime its put in front of you)
Greens - salad (should eat every day at least once and more when you get older)

 

[patrickb]

When we first got our dragons 6 weeks ago, all three ate the crickets willingly. But the last 3 weeks one of my dragons has been afraid of the crickets. I've been putting him in the feeding tank with only a couple crickets and he always runs away from them. He has been eating the greens that we've made available and the dried mealworms. Should I be worried that he's not eating the crickets?

It may just be that he is stressed out about being in the feeding tank. Sometimes it takes some training to get them used to being in a separate tank for feeding. Not sure if you put the beardie in the feeding tank before or after you add the crickets, but change it up from the order you have now. Also try offering a cricket in his regular tank and see if he exhibits the same behavior. Chances are he will eat the cricket up. If he doesn't, then he truly wants nothing to do with crickets and it is just causing him undue stress. You could try a different feeder such as roaches as previously mentioned.

 

[nesta's mommy]

My first dragon wouldn't eat crickets at all. After 3 weeks of trying everything, he loved roaches. I got a new baby last week who wasn't eating much unless coaxed, I figured relocation stress. Tonight I thought I'd try a few roaches.... she ate about ten. I don't know if they can see them better, that they run fast and they like to hunt/chase them, or they just like them that much more. I think they like them more to be honest. I look at insects like this for my dragons.

Meal Worms - hot dogs (not good for you but still eat them on occasion)
Crickets - hamburgers (not bad if you only have them once in a while but can't eat every day)
Phoenix Worms - chicken (pretty good and good for you and can eat quite often)
Silk Worms - pork tenderloin (good, could eat more often but expensive)
Roaches - steak (will eat pretty much anytime its put in front of you)
Greens - salad (should eat every day at least once and more when you get older)

seadooz, that's such a cute little menu you have there!!!

 

[3beardies1cup]

When we first got our dragons 6 weeks ago, all three ate the crickets willingly. But the last 3 weeks one of my dragons has been afraid of the crickets. I've been putting him in the feeding tank with only a couple crickets and he always runs away from them. He has been eating the greens that we've made available and the dried mealworms. Should I be worried that he's not eating the crickets?

I had this same problem with one I've purchased, try putting in 2 crickets at a time and fi it works, gradually increase althoughhh, if he still runs, try one, if he still runs, take one and pull the crickets legs off (sorry crickets!!) and if he STILL runs, try another bug such as roaches =)

 

[evilsnoflake76]

Thanks for the advise. I think I'm going to try a different bug with him.