Pica ?? Stop eating that !!!!

[little leaf]

not sure if this would go here, health or food- one of my Jax girls ( 9 mo old red one ) is becoming obsessed with eating ( well, chewing) odd things- the things she seems to go for are brown - leaves, bark, even the mantis ooth she tried to chew up so I had to remove it ( I hang them so they can hatch and the cames feed free will on them ) - she is in a HUGE f/r - all live safe plants, she gets a wide varied diet , I tried to hang some romaine in there for her- no, she wants to pull off and eat the dead leaves ??? or anything brown colored - any idea why anyone ? I follow the sup/ schedule recommended here - so I dont think its that , but she will go to the bottom of the f/r - pick up a dead leaf, carry it all the way to the top, and just chew it up- spit it out- so far I do think she has EATEN anything - she is well fed, so I do not think it a hunger issue either - I know last summer I would catch Oliver eating grass ? I would really hate to remover her from the f/r - but she is starting make me nervous any ideas?

 

[Kath44]

No ideas sorry. Do chams teethe? Kath.

 

[Psychobunny]

A few ideas, she may be lacking something in her diet and is craving veggies!?

Try breaking off little pieces of greens and hand feed it to her.

Maybe part of nesting behavior? Digging and moving debris out of the way to
make a nest?!

What are you feeding her?
Could she be thinking what she is chewing on is a bug?

Does she try to swallow it, or just chew it like a dog bone?

 

[little leaf]

A few ideas, she may be lacking something in her diet and is craving veggies!?

Try breaking off little pieces of greens and hand feed it to her.

Maybe part of nesting behavior? Digging and moving debris out of the way to
make a nest?!

What are you feeding her?
Could she be thinking what she is chewing on is a bug?

Does she try to swallow it, or just chew it like a dog bone?

I did try to give her some romaine , but she did not want it- so I placed some around the f/r - I dont think is nesting - they are live birth- and she def/ is not preg - lol
she eats EVERYTHING - dubia,banana roaches, flies, snails, crix, meal worm beetles ( not the worms tho ) silks , horns, sticks, and mantis when I have them- in about a weeks time she will get a few of each of these items, so her diet is pretty varied I think - or not- ?? and my gut load is Sandra's menu - so I know its good- I have not seen her EAT them, just chew them up - but as soon as I hear any leaf noises, I go look in , and if she has anything, I take it away form her- but I have to pull it out of her mouth - I will say tho- she does a pretty good job of chewing it up - to say she has NEVER eaten any of it- I am not sure about that - but she poops fine she is kinda like the little panthers who chew on their branches - maybe its a phase thing all juvi go threw? IDK- I just don't want any harm to come to her. Her sister also does this, but not near as much -

 

[Katrinaa]

What are you giving for supplements? I know that in horses if they're missing vitimins or minerals they'll start eating bark and even dirt!

 

[little leaf]

What are you giving for supplements? I know that in horses if they're missing vitimins or minerals they'll start eating bark and even dirt!

yes, I had horses too I just sold my last 2 a few weeks ago- it will be the first time in 30 yrs I have not had a horse in my barn
cal/ LIGHT dusting 3 X a week, D3 & multi vit/ once a mo- maybe there is no reason? why do chams put us threw such things !!