Cham won't eat dubias?

[PabloTheCham]

I have been trying to feed my cham dubias, but he won't eat them. They don't move around, so maybe that's why he isn't interested? I was wondering if anyone has any tricks to get him to eat them?? I tried cup feeding already, and they just sit in a corner.

 

[JacksJill]

I do two things to get mine started on dubia 1) I use a shooting gallery feeder they climb up the screen and get picked off instead of just crawling around on the bottom of a cup https://tkchameleons.com/products/shooting-gallery?variant=30018608595032 Pro tip: put in a bunch and just one super worm or other treat feeder insect. If a dubia gets picked off in the melee you are off to a good start. 2) if your cham will hand feed put a dubia upside down in a plastic spoon the waving little legs will get your chameleon's attention. Don't do a metal spoon because of the reflection.

 

[PabloTheCham]

I do two things to get mine started on dubia 1) I use a shooting gallery feeder they climb up the screen and get picked off instead of just crawling around on the bottom of a cup https://tkchameleons.com/products/shooting-gallery?variant=30018608595032 Pro tip: put in a bunch and just one super worm or other treat feeder insect. If a dubia gets picked off in the melee you are off to a good start. 2) if your cham will hand feed put a dubia upside down in a plastic spoon the waving little legs will get your chameleon's attention. Don't do a metal spoon because of the reflection.

I will try those methods. Do the feeders climb the shooting gallery or do the dubias just stay in their spot? It also seems pretty easy for feeders to escape? Just wondering if its worth the money.

 

[JacksJill]

I don't even have many crickets escape. They tend to hang out under the overhang on the screen. I've never had anything that doesn't jump escape. I had dubia in it for months while I was getting my wild caught to accept them. Dubia will roam the corners near and on the screen and the screen itself.

 

[Kaizen]

Make sure the dubias are warm when you feed them (90 degrees) . Put lots in the cup. 4 dubias stop moving quick, 20 don’t. Not that you should feed 20, just let him has his fill then chuck the rest back in the bin.

 

[PabloTheCham]

Make sure the dubias are warm when you feed them (90 degrees) . Put lots in the cup. 4 dubias stop moving quick, 20 don’t. Not that you should feed 20, just let him has his fill then chuck the rest back in the bin.

Thanks!
Another issue: The smell.
Everyone says crickets smell bad, and dubias don't smell, but I have 50 dubias and they smell PUTRID. I tried cleaning the bin and changing everything, but a nauseating smell still comes from the bin when I open it. Any way to fix this?? I am starting to become very tempted to exterminate the whole colony with some axe spray XD.

 

[Kaizen]

Thanks!
Another issue: The smell.
Everyone says crickets smell bad, and dubias don't smell, but I have 50 dubias and they smell PUTRID. I tried cleaning the bin and changing everything, but a nauseating smell still comes from the bin when I open it. Any way to fix this?? I am starting to become very tempted to exterminate the whole colony with some axe spray XD.

Dubia should not smell. Is there standing water?

 

[PabloTheCham]

Dubia should not smell. Is there standing water?

no, but there are water crystals.

 

[Kaizen]

no, but there are water crystals.

I don’t know what to tell you. I have a colony of about 1500 in a sterilite bin that I haven’t cleaned in a year. There’s hardly any detectable smell. There’s at least an inch of frass at the bottom.

 

[Kaizen]

@jamest0o0, any idea why a colony of dubias would smell awful?

 

[JuniorC]

Thanks!
Another issue: The smell.
Everyone says crickets smell bad, and dubias don't smell, but I have 50 dubias and they smell PUTRID. I tried cleaning the bin and changing everything, but a nauseating smell still comes from the bin when I open it. Any way to fix this?? I am starting to become very tempted to exterminate the whole colony with some axe spray XD.

Yeah I have had around 50 in a bin for about a month or two with water crystals and vegetables and have not had a any smells either. The wife would not allow them if they smelled really bad and was just saying the other day how right I was about them not smelling.

 

[PabloTheCham]

Yeah I have had around 50 in a bin for about a month or two with water crystals and vegetables and have not had a any smells either. The wife would not allow them if they smelled really bad and was just saying the other day how right I was about them not smelling.

That is really weird..

 

[PabloTheCham]

I don’t know what to tell you. I have a colony of about 1500 in a sterilite bin that I haven’t cleaned in a year. There’s hardly any detectable smell. There’s at least an inch of frass at the bottom.

My bin is really warm. Maybe that is related to it.

 

[JuniorC]

That is really weird..

Maybe a picture for the more experienced people to chime in? Idk if that would help lol just trying to help

 

[Kaizen]

I keep my bin at 87.

 

[Kaizen]

Do you have tons of dead ones? Fungus? Are you feeding anything with meat/meat byproduct?

 

[PabloTheCham]

Do you have tons of dead ones? Fungus? Are you feeding anything with meat/meat byproduct?

no. All if have in there is some newspaper, some egg crates, some water crystals, and some fruits an vegetables like mangos, and leafy greens.

 

[Kaizen]

no. All if have in there is some newspaper, some egg crates, some water crystals, and some fruits an vegetables like mangos, and leafy greens.

I’ll let an expert take this because it doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[PabloTheCham]

I’ll let an expert take this because it doesn’t make sense to me.

an expert? XD
on dubia cleanliness???
XD XD XD

 

[Kaizen]

an expert? XD
on dubia cleanliness???
XD XD XD

XD?