Switching from crickets to Dubia

[Galyion]

I bought some Dubia at a local reptile show to see if my Leo's would eat them. I put 3 in and the one tried chewing one but spit it out. Now it's been 24 hours and they haven't touched them. Any pointers on getting them to eat them. I put small ones in that were the right size to feed them. If I put a cricket in it gets eaten in seconds.

 

[BadKelpie]

Sometimes it takes them a little while before they realize how yummy they are. One trick is to put them in a bowl with mealworms. You can also try offering a freshly molted one.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Some geckos simply refuse to eat them, kind of like how some geckos refuse to eat superworms, or silkworms, etc.. They can be picky. But one thing you can try is to drop a cricket in there, let them eat a cricket and get excited about eating & hunting. Then drop a dubia roach in there. Sometimes they'll go for it without thinking because they expect it to be another cricket. This trick works well for picky eaters no matter what feeder you are introducing.

Also make sure they aren't too large. I've seen some geckos don't like big large roaches, but they would go for a smaller one.

 

[jenibo]

It could be that they're just being picky! My Leo is SO picky! Started her on mealworms and introduced crickets, so then she refused mealworms and only wanted the crickets. Now that we've introduced Dubias, she won't touch the crickets! I would just keep offering them and quit offering any other type of insect for a few days, eventually she'll figure it out and either adjust or flat out keep refusing them. I've also noticed my Leo will pick them up and spit them out if they're too big or she's not hungry.

 

[Galyion]

I think in giving up on the Dubia. My female seems to like killing them and not eating them. If I put one in she will bite it a few times and spit it out. She has done it to 6 of them. I even tried dusting them with the calcium she likes. If any one is in the pittsburgh area you can have my roaches. Guess I'm stuck with crickets

 

[Quantumhigh]

You can also try to crunch the dubia a bit so guts are coming out while offering. Ive had this do the trick before.

 

[ReptileWorld]

i normally dont feed for a few days and then i feed small ones and work them up in size. i feel if their small they dont hesitate much to eat them.

 

[Galyion]

Spook ate her first Dubia today

 

[Fatal_S]

Yay, success story!

 

[Galyion]

Fed again today. She ate them no prob but still can't get him to eat any. He doesn't eat very often though. Seems like only once a week. But other than that he is very healthy.

 

[Rooster]

I just switched over from crickets to dubia myself. ALL 18 of my leos LOVE the dubia. Now when I go in there and they hear me making noise in the roach bin, they get all excited and stare out their aquariums waiting/watching.

 

[SORROW89]

Fed again today. She ate them no prob but still can't get him to eat any. He doesn't eat very often though. Seems like only once a week. But other than that he is very healthy.

Something has to wrong with your setup if he only wants to eat once a week. Or if you're only feeding one type of bug he might be having food boredom. Check the temps and try different bugs to see.