Won’t eat anything but large meal worms.

[rdrzman]

My adopted female panther is not taking crickets and only wanting a couple Super Worms a day, fed by hand. She came with both crickets and super worms but the crickets just remain in the enclosure until eaten. Has anyone else faced this? I assume it’s due to the last owners feeding habits.

Suggestions on how to get her to take crickets.

Yes I know she needs a varied diet.

 

[Lucas00-]

My adopted female panther is not taking crickets and only wanting a couple Super Worms a day, fed by hand. She came with both crickets and super worms but the crickets just remain in the enclosure until eaten. Has anyone else faced this? I assume it’s due to the last owners feeding habits.

Suggestions on how to get her to take crickets.

Yes I know she needs a varied diet.

Just went thru this with my veiled. I got him hooked on super worms due to me having an excess and running out of other bugs. It took about 4 days without any food but yesterday and today he has been eating them lol. I had to give him no other option for a little bit and he got pretty hungry. Hopefully this helps a little bit.

 

[Rango_TheManEater]

As Lucas said, sometimes tough love is the way to go with Chams. I would offer your cham only different types of bugs (NOT mealworms; offer dubia, silkworms, crickets, etc). If she doesn’t eat them, then just don’t feed her for the day. Your cham should give in eventually and the problem will be solved.

I had to do this with my Rango, too!

 

[rdrzman]

Thanks guys

 

[MissSkittles]

When a male panther that I was given did the same as your girl, a vet visit proved he was healthy with the exception of a parasite (pinworm). Once treated for the parasite, his appetite lost all limitations and he eats everything now. So, start with a vet visit and parasite check. I also advise increasing variety of feeders and as stated, practice some tough love…no more supers. Many on line feeder vendors offer variety packs. Also, for her age, she shouldn’t still be getting fed daily - decrease her to every other day. If she’s being overfed, she may not be terribly hungry and is just eating the ‘candy’ bugs (fatty superworms are like reptile candy).

 

[rdrzman]

Thanks for the advice, she’s captive born and a very healthy eater so I’ll pass on the vet at this point as I believe it’s simply habit over health in this case. I was able to speak to the past owner and it was his habit to take her our twice a day and take a walk around his neighborhood. During these walks he fed her 3-4 super worms each time. She’s simply spoiled lol