Why won't Drogo eat (much)? Roaches?

[Cnochur]

2 weeks ago, I introduced my man to dubias. He loved 'em. He ate over 10 the first day. The next couple of days, he continued to enjoy them a few at a time.

Now, he doesn't seem to be eating any. He'll give them a little lizard lick and walk away. He also doesn't eat much veggies, especially considering how little protein he's eating.

His temps, humidity, UV, etc. are all normal. He's starting to worry me. He isn't particularly lethargic (in fact, he's a nut who runs around trashing the viv at least once a day). I've had to force feed him pedialyte before when he was sick, and I'm starting to think I might have to again.

Has anybody had this experience when switching to roaches? What else could it be?

Drogo is about 7 months, about 17 inches, about 350-370 grams.

 

[Luthien]

Some beardies have preferences of food just like us humans do. My Beardie LOVED Roaches for about a week and then went no thanks Just try leaving the Roaches alone for a bit and go to something simple like Crickets for awhile

 

[Cnochur]

Did yours ever go back to eating roaches? Please say yes, 'cause I hate crickets and these roaches are just...lovely.

 

[Luthien]

Sorry to say no my beardie never went to roaches, she has decided that she likes crickets and that's what she's going to eat

 

[Cnochur]

Eff my life. Roaches are so much more manageable.

 

[Luthien]

To save on the hassel of feeding the food You could always try pre-killed food like I do.
Freeze Dried Crickets have the exact same nutrition as live crickets,
I use Exo Terra canned crickets for babies and Fluker's Freeze Dried crickets for juvies and older

 

[Cnochur]

Pre-killed food will turn my dragon soft. If he loses his lust for killing, none of the other suburban pets will respect him.

 

[Luthien]

It doesn't really matter since you shouldn't be housing other pets with your beardie anyway And believe it or not no matter how much you feed already dead food to your beardie they never loose the drive or skill to hunt. It's like us and riding a bike, once you learn you never forget.

My one beardie has been eating dead food for 3 years now and yesterday for a treat I gave him a couple of live crickets, he hunted them down and ate them as if he never stopped hunting.

 

[ButterflyGirl89]

I never even considered something like this. :shock:
I've sort of just started up a little roach colony.. But I haven't actually given any roaches to my beardie... because I read a few people say that once their beardie ate roaches they refused to go back to crickets. :S
A little worried now. >_<

 

[Cnochur]

It's really annoying. He will eat crickets like there's no tomorrow, and just occassionally eat a roach or two. I'm gonna try to ween him onto roaches full time. But I'm not sure how.

 

[ButterflyGirl89]

Probably less and less crickets over time, even when you know your dragon's hungry, and offer more and more roaches over time correspondingly instead. I've heard of people using a similar technique to get their beardie's to eat salad. The theory is "It'll get eaten eventually once they're hungry enough!" And then hopefully they'll actually start to like it.

I love your Dragon's name, btw!!! My little girl's name is Daenarys. Haha

 

[Carnivorouszoo]

If I only give one feeder at a time, Mojo will only accept that kind for a fe days then stop eating them for a while so I offer a variety each day and try to limit how often only 1 kind is given. I offer turkistans, dubia and supers. Occasionally mealies (now that she's bigger) butters, reptis, and waxies. AS a treat I got a hornworm cup and can't wait to order that again, she loved them!