Scared of his feeders... What should I do?

[ohmybandit]

Okay so My boyfriend and I just bought a pretty sick bearded dragon a little over week ago. I've been feeding him the carnivore/critical care mix with liquid calcium and acidophiliz and baby food.

He is literally terrified of his feeders and as soon as he sees movement from them he takes off and runs away. If he's in his hammock and I put one by him, he will flop right off (he's pretty bendy and soft from mbd)

Now, I love him already but I don't think we have the time to hand feed him for the rest of his life. How do I get him to eat live feeders? Idk if he was traumatized or bitten by bugs or what but bandit and bailey attack their feeders like there's no tomorrow and he runs from them...

He's also not showing much interest in greens though he has nibbled at them slightly.


Now, what else should I be doing?
Any good ways to get him to TRY a feeder ?

 

[sweetpea1981]

maybe try a different feeder, something like phoenix worms that can be put in a bowl.

 

[JulieGeek]

Dubia roaches are also nutritious, wiggly, confine-able, and easy to keep.

 

[ohmybandit]

I use dubia worms and supers. They claimed they used to feed him crickets and supers. Ill try Phoenix but I don't want to spend all that money on larva if he won't even look at something that wiggles.

 

[Spikey92]

You can put the feeders in the fridge/freezers for a few minutes/seconds .theyll slow down and some dont move at all for a few minutes until theyre warmed up again.
But thats just an idea.

 

[Harley]

You could try some small hornworms. The color may help him be a little more interested.
http://www.lindasgonebuggie.com/page/425297584
I got a couple of the small hornworm cups right on top and each one had 30 in it. Could try that. Its only 10 bucks and if it works that would be a good start.

 

[ohmybandit]

He's pretty much scared of anything that moves, or wiggles besides humans and ferrets. If it's bigger than him he doesn't flinch, if it's smaller than him, he takes off.