Dubias-Not having them

[theresaintucson]

I got a small colony of dubias going. My chams don't seem to be interested in them at all. I put the dubias in a feeder cup but my guys ignore them. I tried just letting the dubias roam around the cage bottom but they hide under the plant saucers and I end up with dead dubias a few days later or a heart attack when I lift a planter and there they are.
At this point I'm ready to give up on the icky things. Any suggestions to get my chams to go for them? Thanks

 

[Leroux2008]

lol I suggest maybe holding one in your hand in front of them?? NOW I wouldnt do that.... scared of those creepy ickies XD Or maybe putting one on the side of the cage.. idk how well their grib is XD.... or grabbing one with some tongs and wiggling it in front of the cham?

 

[radstusky]

How large are your chams? If they're large enough, try to feed one of the males with wings. My adult panther seems to prefer them over the subadults and females. Also if you see a white one that has freshly molted, try one of those, your chams should gobble them up!

 

[Ace]

you can not feed your chams for a few days, and make them eat them without a choice. try different sizes of dubias, use tongs to handfeed..hope this helps

 

[theresaintucson]

lol I suggest maybe holding one in your hand in front of them?? NOW I wouldnt do that.... scared of those creepy ickies XD Or maybe putting one on the side of the cage.. idk how well their grib is XD.... or grabbing one with some tongs and wiggling it in front of the cham?

No way am I holding one of them in my hand. It takes everything I have not to gag just looking at them! I'll try the tongs

 

[theresaintucson]

How large are your chams? If they're large enough, try to feed one of the males with wings. My adult panther seems to prefer them over the subadults and females. Also if you see a white one that has freshly molted, try one of those, your chams should gobble them up!

My chams are all sub adults or adults. I'll try offering them freshly molted ones.

 

[fluxlizard]

You can also try putting one at a time on the wall or ceiling of your terrarium near your chameleon where he can see it crawl. Lots of chameleons that are generally bashful about eating anything will have hunting instinct kick in when they see an insect crawling the walls or ceiling of the enclosure. Try both- some really like the ceiling. Once he knows what they are and that they are edible, he will probably bowl feed them.

 

[PrettyInInk87]

You can also try putting one at a time on the wall or ceiling of your terrarium near your chameleon where he can see it crawl. Lots of chameleons that are generally bashful about eating anything will have hunting instinct kick in when they see an insect crawling the walls or ceiling of the enclosure. Try both- some really like the ceiling. Once he knows what they are and that they are edible, he will probably bowl feed them.

Yes, I had trouble at first too but then I found that they responded the best when I put the roach on the side of the screen or on the "ceiling" of the cage. Also, I put them on a long vine, point them the direction of the cham, and have them crawl toward my Chams.