Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey Chupacabras babies hatched on friday! I have five cute little critters, my question is about them eating, they have all eaten a little bit. Today I put in their crickets and they all ran from them!! They were terrified of the crix. Is this normal?
They all ate some of those wingless fruit flies, and I saw some of them eat crix before. They seem to be fine, not really eating veges yet, running around like little loons.

They're so cute, I'll post pics when I'm not feeling so lazy
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DogStar

"Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." --Antoine de Saint Exupery

Are they 1/4" crix? You might try putting them in a shallow dish so the babes can come to them.
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TheClassyLizard

Congrats on your babies! Mine wouldn't eat greens right away either. They'd kinda pick at them but for the most part they wouldn't go for it. They did however, after 2 or 3 days start pounding crickets with no fear.... Maybe the crickets your feeding are too large for them. I use 1/4" untill they are about 8 to 10 weeks old then go to 3/8". Even though they don't eat the greens now it is still best to offer even a small amount each day. Also make your first feeding of the day calcium dusted crickets for maximum growth. then add some greens later before your next cricket feeding. Hope this helps.

Robert

Sometimes when you throw too many crickets in the cage at a time it freaks them out! Its like the attack of the crickets to them. Throwing in fewer crickets, until they eat those and then putting more in as they eat them is a good idea and has always worked for me.

Also I agree with the other 2 posters that 1/4" are best size for hatchlings. The 1/4" are small enough not to cause paralysis, nor scare the babies for the most part, plus they arent as jumpy and fast as bigger crickets and are still large enough to spark the dragons interest etc.

Offer finely chopped greens and veggies daily as well as they do munch on them. Gets them in the habit of having them and makes it easier to get them to eat greens as sub adults and adults (in my opinion).

Try putting fewer in at a time, see what happens! Goodluck, LM