Beardie refusing to eat cockroaches

[phobosdthorga]

Hello all! I don't know if this is the right board to post in for such a topic, so I apologize in advance. But ever since my Iggus became quite ill some weeks back, as seen at link [ 1 ] below, he now refuses to eat his cockroaches no matter how much I try and encourage him. Right now, he only eats mealworms, superworms, blueberries and a tiny bit of greens (mostly boiled green beans and peas that were all snap-frozen). I've been trying for weeks now to get him to eat cockroaches, so what am I doing wrong? And what can I do to get him to eat them once again? He also no longer drinks any water when having his baths every few days, and I'm forced to give it to him by syringe (without the needle, of course) whenever he becomes quite wrinkly and obviously dehydrated in his poo. This, as you can imagine, has the risk of him inhaling some of the water every time I do such.

Any advice would be dearly welcomed, thank you.

[ 1 ] - https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=240198

 

[CooperDragon]

I would try cutting back on the worms. He may be getting hooked on those and prefers them so just waits for those to be delivered and ignores roaches. I would try offering some other hydrating veges like summer squash, bell pepper, chopped up green beans etc and see if you can get him some healthy alternatives and hydration via veges too.

 

[phobosdthorga]

I would try cutting back on the worms. He may be getting hooked on those and prefers them so just waits for those to be delivered and ignores roaches. I would try offering some other hydrating veges like summer squash, bell pepper, chopped up green beans etc and see if you can get him some healthy alternatives and hydration via veges too.

I've done that and he is most definitely addicted to the meal/super-worms. I controversially tried not feeding him for a few days but broke down after only a single day of no food, immediately giving him his worms and blueberries back on the second until he was full once more. This was after first offering cockroaches which he refused and only showed partial interest in. He refuses to eat them whtasoever now.

Next time I go shopping, I'll get some squash (one of his past-time favorites at least), capsicum, and fresh green beans then. That'll be this Saturday (Australian EST). But my main worry is what protein source should I offer, that he would eat? He's said to be a year old now, maybe a few months more, but he still needs to have protein every second day from what I understand.

EDIT: I'm out of any worms now so for the meantime, as of today, he is not getting any protein. There are only cockroaches to offer which as I said, he refuses to eat! Any advice would be really helpful, thank you.

 

[CooperDragon]

He should be OK for a while just on veges. Keep offering the roaches every few days and if he needs the protein he'll go after them.

 

[phobosdthorga]

He should be OK for a while just on veges. Keep offering the roaches every few days and if he needs the protein he'll go after them.

Oh thank you, that's one less worry at least! The advice is sincerely appreciated ^_^