Not Eating??

[joshuaseidman94]

Hey Guys,
So i have an 8-9 month old panther ambilobe. I got him about 4-5 months ago and things have been going great. Recently however I noticed he doesn't quite like crickets as much as he used to. Whenever I used to put crickets in his cage he would quickly turn around and shoot for them. I know that it is important to give them variety so I bought some butterworms. Additionally, I do research at my college of terrestrial isopods and so every once in a while I give him a pillbug (which he LOVES!). Lastly, I would give him 2-3 super worms every once in a while.
My problem is that lately he refuses to eat crickets (at least it seems that way). I will put in crickets and he will barely give them a look. After a few days I got worried and offered him worms and pill bugs and he shoots for them in seconds ( I tried hornworms but he only likes them every once in a while).
Anyways, does anyone have any advice? Do I have to worry about him starving? Or if I keep giving crickets will he eventually just eat them because he is hungry and needs to survive?
I plan to switch to dubia's in the next two weeks in hopes that they make a difference (plus i herd they are a lot easier then crickets).

Thanks guys I appreciate all the help!

 

[junglefries]

They can become worm addicted easily. Sometimes you have to starve them for a couple days, before they will return to crix. If truly desperate, you can feed silkworms to keep him healthy while figuring it out. They are expensive, but SUPER healthy. Especially high in needed Calcium. Flying insects is a great way to coax a response also. Moths, butterflies, bumblebees [minus stinger] or even try praying mantis. Good luck.

 

[Psychobunny]

I am having the same issue with a 5 month panther, I put the cricks in his feeder, and he just sits there are stares at them.
He does get around to eating them, but he doesnt 'dig in' as soon as I put them in the cup, like my other guyz do.
He also loves superworms, but I am trying not to get him addicted so that he refuses the cricks.

I think they all have their own habits, your cham may be eating them okay, maybe he is like my guy, waits, put slowly pics them off in his own sweet time.

If his poops look healthy, then he is doing fine.
Sometimes they like to wait until we are not watching them to eat.

 

[Fogerty]

My 9 month Veiled is on a Superworm addiction I am afraid he may need re-hab, yesterday I removed the paper at the bottom of the cage and found about two dozen crickets hiding underneath, that I thought he had eaten ,which has resulted in me giving him his Super-treats, I can picture him when I am not looking lifting up the paper and sweeping the cricks underneath knowing that he will get his worm, kind of like a kid hiding his broccoli under the mashed potatoes so he can get dessert.

 

[mowryrd]

my veiled gets stuck on worms too. I let him go a few days with no food and then let him eat crickets untill he seems to lose interest, I then let him have an equal amount of worms. so if he eats 3 crickets he gets 3 worms, if he eats no crickets he gets no worms.

 

[Psychobunny]

My 9 month Veiled is on a Superworm addiction I am afraid he may need re-hab, yesterday I removed the paper at the bottom of the cage and found about two dozen crickets hiding underneath, that I thought he had eaten ,which has resulted in me giving him his Super-treats, I can picture him when I am not looking lifting up the paper and sweeping the cricks underneath knowing that he will get his worm, kind of like a kid hiding his broccoli under the mashed potatoes so he can get dessert.

How did you know I did that with my broccoli??!!

 

[joshuaseidman94]

Thanks so much for the advice guys! Seems like this is a pretty common occurrence with chams..Nice to know that I am not alone and that he is probably just a worm addict. Thanks again guys =)