Leo started refusing dubia roaches

[Miyukiwynter]

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Recently my little girl has decided she doesn't want her dubia roaches anymore and will only eat superworms and mealworms. She would probably still go for hornworms as well I just haven't gotten my hands on some. But when I try to give her dubia which have been her staple since she was a baby (she's about 10 months old now) she turns her head and won't take them.

I've tried waiting a few days between feeding to see if she gets hungry enough to eat them but she still doesn't but the second a put a worm in there she goes nuts.

I personally don't like crickets so I'd rather not have to try those if I don't have to... But I can. Does anyone have any suggestions to get her back on dubia? Is it safe to not feed her for a long time to get her interested in them again?

[Sg612]

Is it safe to not feed her for a long time to get her interested in them again?

Absolutely not. She’s probably fed up with the lack of variety. Could you imagine eating the same thing everyday? The item starts to repulse you. I don’t know if there’s more going on of course. I would try some crickets. It’s not about what we like, it’s what is best for your pet.

[Geecko123]

you can also try mealworms, they don't stink or hop.

[Miyukiwynter]

I have been switching between the dubia, mealworms, and superworms every other day and hornworms when I can get them so it's not that dubia are the only thing she has eaten. I just worry that mealworms and superworms are too fatty and hard to digest so I don't want her to only eat them. I'll try the crickets and see if that helps I just have trouble catching them and I keep her in the bedroom so I don't want crickets escaping into the room.

[Miyukiwynter]

Yeah she is basically in love with mealworms and superworms which is fine but that's all she's accepted over the past month. I don't want her eating only the worms of course, which is why I am hoping for some advice!

[Sg612]

I have been switching between the dubia, mealworms, and superworms every other day and hornworms when I can get them so it's not that dubia are the only thing she has eaten. I just worry that mealworms and superworms are too fatty and hard to digest so I don't want her to only eat them. I'll try the crickets and see if that helps I just have trouble catching them and I keep her in the bedroom so I don't want crickets escaping into the room.

Somehow I missed when you stated she will eat mealworms and superworms, my apologies.

I just worry that mealworms and superworms are too fatty

Concern very valid especially in adults. Add the crickets in as a low fat insects and also for variety. You can always offer roaches later. Sometimes they will avoid insects that may have caused problems. Does she appear well hydrated to you? Wondering about her habits? How’s the humidity in her enclosure?

[Miyukiwynter]

Somehow I missed when you stated she will eat mealworms and superworms, my apologies.

I just worry that mealworms and superworms are too fatty

Concern very valid especially in adults. Add the crickets in as a low fat insects and also for variety. You can always offer roaches later. Sometimes they will avoid insects that may have caused problems. Does she appear well hydrated to you? Wondering about her habits? How’s the humidity in her enclosure?

The only change I've seen in her behavior is that she has been throwing her calcium around the enclosure a lot which she didn't do before. I did switch brands right around the time it started so that could be it but I can't tell if that means she likes it or hates it haha. As for hydration I'm not sure how to tell if she is dehydrated but she spends plenty of time in her humid hide and has perfect sheds. The humidity in the room is pretty low (20-30%) but I spray her humid hide every day or every other day.

[Sg612]

She’s been throwing her calcium around? Don’t think that’s possible

No science behind it but I’ve made some observations over the years.

Leo refuses insect higher in protein. I’ve heard this several times and the majority of times it occurred when humidity is low or dehydration is a problem. The more protein you consume, the more water your body needs.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...in-diet-water/

Refusal to eat and/or certain items may be a way the body protects itself. Best to maintain the cage itself at 40-60%. I wouldn’t feel comfortable keeping calcium in the enclosure. Calcium carbonate should be taken with food.

[Miyukiwynter]

She’s been throwing her calcium around? Don’t think that’s possible

No science behind it but I’ve made some observations over the years.

Leo refuses insect higher in protein. I’ve heard this several times and the majority of times it occurred when humidity is low or dehydration is a problem. The more protein you consume, the more water your body needs.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/3...in-diet-water/

Refusal to eat and/or certain items may be a way the body protects itself. Best to maintain the cage itself at 40-60%. I wouldn’t feel comfortable keeping calcium in the enclosure. Calcium carbonate should be taken with food.

Yeah she just seems to like playing in the calcium. I will be changing it up so that the calcium dish is only in there a few days a week rather than all the time because I did read something about if they have too much plain calcium it can make it hard to absorb other nutrients. I don't think she really licks it that much but I will be changing that up and only leave it in the nights she eats.

That's a good point about the hydration and protein. I did try a couple crickets and she took them but she didn't seem too enthusiastic about them but once a worm is in front of her she goes nuts! I've seen people feed their geckos outside the enclosure to let them hunt without crickets escaping. If I put her right back in her enclosure with minimal handling after would that be a good way to let her hunt crickets without them escaping or accidentally getting left in her enclosure?

I'll probably be getting a new humidifier for the room soon but I can give her cage a light spray in the evening for now and see if that helps.

[Miyukiwynter]

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Here's the mess she made the other night

IMG_20190210_093254.jpg