Anubis won't eat if he misses?

[Vampiresswolf]

When I put Anubis in his feeding tank, he immediately goes for the crickets, but as soon as he misses one, he won't even try to eat another, and I worry because he will do this even when it's the first cricket. He just gets super stressed and franticly glass surfs until I reach in to remove him, at which time he rushes into my palm, hunkers down and closes his eyes, and I have to pry him off to get him to let go when he's back in his habitat. I've tried hand feeding but he refuses to eat that way, except for his veggies, and when he misses a cricket it's impossible to get him to eat anything, including veggies. I'm concerned and not sure how to get him to eat when he always gives up if he misses? I tried removing legs so the crickets couldn't move as fast but then he doesn't want anything to do with them, and I tried dubias but he absolutely hates them. I really don't want him to starve and sometimes he won't eat the remainder of the day when this happens. I got him just under two months ago so he's probably about fifteen weeks old. Anything I could use to help him would be amazing. Thanks!

 

[CooperDragon]

Dundee would get frustrated like that and give up too. I'd have to wait for a while before trying again. I think it stems from frustration. He won't starve himself so I'd just try again later. If you can get some Phoenix Worms and put them in a bowl in the tank he may go after them once he gets over it. Those are easy to put in a dish and just leave unlike with crickets.

 

[ofcourseilikepasta]

I would either pick an insect that doesn't move as fast or try putting him in a smaller place to see so that the crickets can't get away as far, like a smaller plastic enclosure... like a plastic storage bin. Something along those lines. You could also try actually removing a leg or two off the crickets so they can't get away as fast if that doesn't gross you out too much, haha.

 

[anastasia6988]

Also I noticed it helps if you shake the crickets up. I put mine in a plastic bag to dust them and shake them up really really good, the crickets get very dizzy and tend not to run or jump around much at first. I put about 5 in at a time then repeat. I noticed this method helped a lot with my beardie. I think he use to just get overwhelmed and would lose interest as well.

Good luck to you. And as suggested pheonix worms are a good idea too.