Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My cham is not eating roaches and he is not eating crickets. The only thing he will willingly eat right now is mealies. How long does it take for them to start eating feeders that they have gotten tired of? I have some more mealies and silkies on the way but they won't be here until next week. Meanwhile, my roaches are reproducing like crazy. Picky little $h! .

By the way, is anyone interested in trading feeders? This is for future reference, but I am sure I will need to get rid of some roaches in the near future.

thanks,
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Matt

I've found that if I feed the same types of feeders for a few days in a row and then switch it seems to keep boredom under control. However, what I want my chams to eat and what THEY decide they want at any one time is not always the same. Remember that in the wild insects often "bloom" and become very common for specific periods and then almost disappear from the menu. It won't hurt your cham to refuse food for a few days, and if you also switch to feeding larger meals on one day and mere snacks the next it can help appetite (unless this is a really young juvenile). It is unnatural for any herp to have unlimited food in front of them every day.

Your cham is big enough to skip a day eating. If he is only picking mealies (which are high in fat) he is not getting the right nutrition. They soon learn to hold out for a favorite food, which can be a bad thing. Try offering only greens 2 days a week. Also start not letting him eat his fill every day. Feed heavy one day and very light the next. At about six months of age I feed only 6 to 8 adult crickets a day. At adulthood I feed every other day. If they get too spoiled they will make you their slave. Also what kind of roaches? I may be interested in trades. Especially when I get in hornworms or silkworms. If you get to a wooded area where they don't spray grab a couple of grasshoppers or locusts and watch them go nuts for it!
Sonia

As I mentioned earlier, give your cham a piece of banana. Or try giving it a small piece of a pear, my cham loved it! Greens are also a best alternative, you will be suprised how they love greens. Make sure you dont just feed your cham worms and cricks.