Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had these dragons for a couple months now (most of you have probably seen the pictures) and about a month ago they both started refusing to eat crickets. Actually, they haven't seemed to care much for crickets since day one, but now it really seems like every single cricket I put in there just ends up committing suicide in the waterbowl.

They chow down on mealworms and waxworms like there's no tomorrow, and absolutely love pinkies, but turn their noses up at greens and crickets. I tried not offering bugs and baby mice for a few days and then offering crickets, but still nothing, except maybe a glare at such a travesty.

So for now I've captitulated, and they're getting their usual diet. I feel kind of like a nutritionist trying to convince people to stop eating big macs.

Any advice on how to convince them crickets are tasty would be appreciated, or if it's not so bad that they're eating pinkies and worm things that'd be nice to know too. Thanks in advance!

The Death Glare (how dare you move me from my knee perch)

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

I seem to recall that most adult dragons are not fans of crickets. Crickets are a "babyfood" I guess. I never had a dragon that would eat veggies either.

Keep offering the dusted worms and things, and your guys will be fine.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
1 little girl born 2/2/06
2 male RES, born 1999
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

Hah, that makes me feel better, thanks. Someone else had told me my dragons had just gotten spoiled and I wasn't sure if there was a way to un-spoil them.

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.2 rescue chinese water dragons (Yoni and Linga)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
1.0 gerbil (Yerbul)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
3.0 horses (Buddy, Sam, and Scout)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

Dragons will tend to get sick of a certain food item if given it mainly for a while. feed it something else for a while then try again. It's no big deal but it happens. i'd just give it a coupole months then try again.

Ya, I agree. I have 2 adult males who will be three in May, and a female who is three and a half. They all eat crix, silkies, mealworms, pinkies and some fruit. (Mostly watermellon and strawberries, if I cut them up into 'wormlike' pieces, lol.) The boyz also enjoy fuzzies and rat pups.

Charlize stopped eating pinkies for a whole year, but I kept offering them once in a while. Now she will gobble up two at once! You just never know.

I like the crx and mealworms b/c I feel that the chitlin keeps their teeth and gums healthy. Also, I would definitely limit the waxies. It is like candy for them.