Basilisk not eating

[Ivanator]

Sorry. I was having difficulty picturing what you were describing.

[Ivanator]

Thought I'd update you guys. He started eating again and it turns out its because it doesn't like Dubia roaches. It only eats mealworms and super worms and ignores everything else including crickets. It won't touch veggies either :/ how can I get it to eat a variety? I've been mixing Dubia's with the super worms and it picks off the super worms and leaves the roaches. It doesn't even chase after the crickets so they just hide making it impossible for me to find them. I just bought a colony of Dubia's and now it feels like a waste if he won't even eat them. How can I get him to not be so picky?

[UwabamiReptiles]

I didn't read every post so I apologize if I repeat anything that was already said. Now first off I don't have any hands on with these guys but I have good deal of experience with water dragons who are very similar in care. Being a brown basilisk, I'd guess that he is wc. Not a huge deal but can definitely make him a lot more finicky. If you are going to stay with the setup you have with the changes to the screen to keep humidity up, I would also get a background and put a six inch or so barrier around the whole tank to keep him from seeing out. Water dragons, basilisks, and sailfins are notorious for being nervous and running into glass because they can get stressed out and they don't get the concept of glass. As far as the feeding, it could be stressed related. It could just be him being picky. The best thing to do with these guys is to provide variety and be patient. When I had water dragons, mine would other eat certain things during specific times of the year. So if he isn't eating something now, don't stop offering it. Also try to offer it in a different way.

I would also throw some fake plants in the branches you have in your setup if you have it the same way as your picture shows. Basilisks are known for being skittish and nervous animals by nature so anything you can put in his cage to add to him feeling secure would help out tremendously. The best thing to do is try different things and see what makes him the most comfortable. I don't remember the details of your setup picture but you could also have a branch that is right above his water dish. They are known to perch above water so if need be they can dive into the water. Tons of things you can try. Sounds like you are on the right track since he is starting to eat for you. Keep us posted!

[Ivanator]

Thanks for your input! This is NOT gonna be his permanent enclosure. I just needed time cuz I had finals this week so now I have time to actually set up a permanent enclosure. A lot of the info you mentioned was already brought up but I appreciate all input I can get. I realized he wasn't eating bc I was trying to get him to eat Dubia roaches, I've been feeding him super worms, and it turns out he just doesn't like them. He actually won't even eat crickets only superworms and mealworms. I've been trying to feed him veggies as well but he just grabs them then spits them right out. The main concern I have now is trying to give him a varied diet. I've pretty much been making him a bug salad by mixing in earthworms, superworms, Dubia roaches, hissing roaches and crickets and he just picks out the superworms and leaves everything else. It's really frustrating. I don't know how old he is but I have a feeling that all the previous owner fed him was mealworms so I have no idea what to do to get him to eat anything else.