Darn Crickets

[SaintJimmy]

I drop at least 1 cricket every time I feed my chameleon.

Does anyone else have this issue? They ALWAYS tear their own legs off right when my cham is about to shoot it, then I have to pick it up and usually they jump away again.

I keep my crickets in a fairly large tupperware with 3 sections of a paper towel tube and I gutload with oranges sometimes, and mostly carrots. I don't see how this is necessary to my question, though.

Does anyone have some quick solutions to keep crickets from jumping out of the tube when you try and shake them into the feeder cup/hand feed?

 

[SaintJimmy]

Anybody got cricket advice?

 

[amandagreeneyez]

Lol- I have crickets all over my house! My cats usually take care of them Sorry I couldn't provide any help..but made me giggle to think about all the crickets hopping around our houses!

 

[SaintJimmy]

Lol- I have crickets all over my house! My cats usually take care of them Sorry I couldn't provide any help..but made me giggle to think about all the crickets hopping around our houses!

Yeah I always see them climbing up the walls so I catch them sooner or later.

I guess it is a good thing though, because when I catch them, they're grown up.

 

[Andee]

I shake them into a plastic bag to dust them and then I use my hand to scoop out a few at a time and then violently shake them into the cage. I've never tried cup feeding, but I don't lose the nearly the amount I used too. I don't know if this will help but you can always try a form of my plastic bag method XD I don't know what to do about the hand feeding though D8 sorry

 

[SaintJimmy]

I shake them into a plastic bag to dust them and then I use my hand to scoop out a few at a time and then violently shake them into the cage. I've never tried cup feeding, but I don't lose the nearly the amount I used too. I don't know if this will help but you can always try a form of my plastic bag method XD I don't know what to do about the hand feeding though D8 sorry

Most of the time I dust them in an am-pm cup (I couldn't find calcium other than the liquid kind, so I have to squirt-drown-douse my crickets in calcium goo and scrape them out, get calcium all over my hands.

I just need dust calcium without d3 but stupid petco doesn't have any and there aren't many pet stores around here.

 

[KyleFitzz]

If you're talking about hand feeding them I just grab them from their body in between their legs. They never get away the way.

 

[KyleFitzz]

Most of the time I dust them in an am-pm cup (I couldn't find calcium other than the liquid kind, so I have to squirt-drown-douse my crickets in calcium goo and scrape them out, get calcium all over my hands.

I just need dust calcium without d3 but stupid petco doesn't have any and there aren't many pet stores around here.

Why don't you just order some online then? The prices are very inexpensive and well worth it

 

[tonycannons]

Most of the time I dust them in an am-pm cup (I couldn't find calcium other than the liquid kind, so I have to squirt-drown-douse my crickets in calcium goo and scrape them out, get calcium all over my hands.

I just need dust calcium without d3 but stupid petco doesn't have any and there aren't many pet stores around here.

I dont know what part of Southern California you live in but I live in orange county and was having trouble finding calcium without D3 too but found it at pet supply in Irvine on Culver. No advice for the crickets same thing happens to me.

 

[vydalbabi]

They have calcium powders at reptile island in Stanton. I think they also have a few other locations around so cal if u look them up. I do the same bag method usually but I have put them in a cup before too just make sure it has a lid. I use pieces of egg cartons in my cricket tub and I always make them small just for this purpose. If u leave just 1 or 2 egg dents then crickets hide under them. So I just gently scare off any on the top then lift the egg carton piece up slowly and put it in the bag or cup then give a big shake or tap to make them all fall remove the egg carton piece and close the bag or put the lid on the cup. If u make sure to keep the cup or bag opening above the cricket tub then if the jump out they just go back in the tub works for me. Lol unfortunately my crickets still somehow escape either from their tub or the Cham cage ( I'm not sure which ) lol cuz I always find them loose in my house in the middle of the night chirping away

 

[Psychobunny]

Anybody got cricket advice?

If you are going to hand feed them, you need to hold them by BOTH
back legs!!
They can sacrifice one for self defence, but not both!!

Cricks do get loose and run around all over the place.
One woke me up at 2am a few days ago, it was under my bed!!

 

[nick barta]

Get Calcium w/o D3 online @ Tiki Tiki (sponsor, top right corner).

Build a "Sunny D" feeder cup (use the Search button, top right). If lightly tip the cup you dusted the crickets in, into the feeder cup, they don't jump.....

 

[amandagreeneyez]

In the OC area there is also Prehistoric Pets (I remember I used to get my rabbits there for my albino Burmese and rats for my Colombian red tail). They're in Huntington Beach (possibly Fountain Valley but Im pretty sure HB). They specialize in reptiles..ah nostalgia setting in; memories...

 

[SaintJimmy]

I dont know what part of Southern California you live in but I live in orange county and was having trouble finding calcium without D3 too but found it at pet supply in Irvine on Culver. No advice for the crickets same thing happens to me.

Yes I live in orange county.

Absolutely no powder calcium here, it's frustrating. I'd rather just go buy some than order it because my dad is convinced we don't need anything else, and I drive around with my granparents all the time and they buy me stuff, but alas, no frickin' nond3 powder.

Why don't you just order some online then? The prices are very inexpensive and well worth it

I don't have my own paypal and my dad isn't willing to spend more money. I have $$ but there isn't any regular calcium powder anywhere I live.

If you're talking about hand feeding them I just grab them from their body in between their legs. They never get away the way.

I do that, but some of the brave souls freaking bite BOTH their legs off..

They have calcium powders at reptile island in Stanton. I think they also have a few other locations around so cal if u look them up. I do the same bag method usually but I have put them in a cup before too just make sure it has a lid. I use pieces of egg cartons in my cricket tub and I always make them small just for this purpose. If u leave just 1 or 2 egg dents then crickets hide under them. So I just gently scare off any on the top then lift the egg carton piece up slowly and put it in the bag or cup then give a big shake or tap to make them all fall remove the egg carton piece and close the bag or put the lid on the cup. If u make sure to keep the cup or bag opening above the cricket tub then if the jump out they just go back in the tub works for me. Lol unfortunately my crickets still somehow escape either from their tub or the Cham cage ( I'm not sure which ) lol cuz I always find them loose in my house in the middle of the night chirping away

I have egg cartons... Making them smaller would help.
Thanks

If you are going to hand feed them, you need to hold them by BOTH
back legs!!
They can sacrifice one for self defence, but not both!!

Cricks do get loose and run around all over the place.
One woke me up at 2am a few days ago, it was under my bed!!

I do hold them by both, usually one leg rips off and then the other they remove.. and escape..

Get Calcium w/o D3 online @ Tiki Tiki (sponsor, top right corner).

Build a "Sunny D" feeder cup (use the Search button, top right). If lightly tip the cup you dusted the crickets in, into the feeder cup, they don't jump.....

Good idea but I don't have paypal and can't order online

In the OC area there is also Prehistoric Pets (I remember I used to get my rabbits there for my albino Burmese and rats for my Colombian red tail). They're in Huntington Beach (possibly Fountain Valley but Im pretty sure HB). They specialize in reptiles..ah nostalgia setting in; memories...

I would, but huntington is so far away from where I live.

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[GabeCastro]

Most of the time I dust them in an am-pm cup (I couldn't find calcium other than the liquid kind, so I have to squirt-drown-douse my crickets in calcium goo and scrape them out, get calcium all over my hands.

I just need dust calcium without d3 but stupid petco doesn't have any and there aren't many pet stores around here.

Be careful with liquid calcium...too much of it can be toxic and cause gular edema and a bunch of other problems. Usually you only use liquid calcium if your cham is sick and off his supplements for a long period of time due to not eating. With that, you only give them 1-2 drops per a week. Just stating this because you said you "drench" your crickets in it.

If you ever notice your chams neck look swollen then cut him off from all supplements till it clears up.

As for crickets escaping, I always cup feed and I always pinch their legs off lol. Makes it easier so when i come home at night I don't have to worry about free ranged crickets. Just a pain and very tedious to have to sit there and pop off all your crickets legs

Handfeeding, I just hold them by their weird pointy thing sticking out of their abdomen. And if they drop, they can't run fast haha

 

[SaintJimmy]

Be careful with liquid calcium...too much of it can be toxic and cause gular edema and a bunch of other problems. Usually you only use liquid calcium if your cham is sick and off his supplements for a long period of time due to not eating. With that, you only give them 1-2 drops per a week. Just stating this because you said you "drench" your crickets in it.

If you ever notice your chams neck look swollen then cut him off from all supplements till it clears up.

As for crickets escaping, I always cup feed and I always pinch their legs off lol. Makes it easier so when i come home at night I don't have to worry about free ranged crickets. Just a pain and very tedious to have to sit there and pop off all your crickets legs

Handfeeding, I just hold them by their weird pointy thing sticking out of their abdomen. And if they drop, they can't run fast haha

No no I don't actually drench them, that's just figurative language.

But now I am concerned because I usually do make sure they're covered in it.

The liquid calcium is not entirely white, it's got like.. liquidy stuff with calcium powder in it (not very efficient) so I assumed the clear liquid is just water or something. I do cover the crickets thoroughly..

I have noticed a sort of weird thing under his neck when he puffs up his chin a bit though. Should I share a picture for you on monday when I see my chameleon again?

I just want to be sure.

 

[GabeCastro]

Yeah take a few pics if you can. Usually Gular Edema looks like your Cham has man boobs or a swollen neck when he's resting. Fired up, you can't really tell. All chams have a lump when they're fired up because the lump is their tongue bone (forgot exact name)

Also once Gular Edema is present, there's no cure to really get rid of it. Did a bit of research on it and vets can't give you any meds or drain the fluids. I've seen one member pass Gular Edema from cutting back on calcium dustings and lots of outdoor sunshine. Also made sure their Cham drank lots of water. But there was excess skin // saggy skin from the fluids stretching the chams throat.

If I were you I'd get rid of the liquid calcium and just use the rep-cal brand calcium powders (with D3 // No D3) + herptivite multivitamin.

Don't panic though, I'm sure you're fine. Just wanted to let you know too much calcium for your Cham is toxic.

 

[SaintJimmy]

Yeah take a few pics if you can. Usually Gular Edema looks like your Cham has man boobs or a swollen neck when he's resting. Fired up, you can't really tell. All chams have a lump when they're fired up because the lump is their tongue bone (forgot exact name)

Also once Gular Edema is present, there's no cure to really get rid of it. Did a bit of research on it and vets can't give you any meds or drain the fluids. I've seen one member pass Gular Edema from cutting back on calcium dustings and lots of outdoor sunshine. Also made sure their Cham drank lots of water. But there was excess skin // saggy skin from the fluids stretching the chams throat.

If I were you I'd get rid of the liquid calcium and just use the rep-cal brand calcium powders (with D3 // No D3) + herptivite multivitamin.

Don't panic though, I'm sure you're fine. Just wanted to let you know too much calcium for your Cham is toxic.

Ah okay, man boobs. He's fine then.

I couldn't exactly get him outside if I wanted to anyway.

Thank you.

My grandmother and I (yeah I know grandmother) are buying no d3 on monday

 

[SMCNARY]

Most of the time I dust them in an am-pm cup (I couldn't find calcium other than the liquid kind, so I have to squirt-drown-douse my crickets in calcium goo and scrape them out, get calcium all over my hands.

I just need dust calcium without d3 but stupid petco doesn't have any and there aren't many pet stores around here.

You can order it from LLLREPTILES that's what I do, I use a plastic shaker cup with the bottom cut off and screen over the bottom,just fill the cup with the crickets you need, pour the powder over them,shake it over a Tupperware container and then put in feeder cup or hand feed. No waste of the powder as you can re use it over and over. I can send you some Picts if it will help. Good luck!!!

 

[SaintJimmy]

You can order it from LLLREPTILES that's what I do, I use a plastic shaker cup with the bottom cut off and screen over the bottom,just fill the cup with the crickets you need, pour the powder over them,shake it over a Tupperware container and then put in feeder cup or hand feed. No waste of the powder as you can re use it over and over. I can send you some Picts if it will help. Good luck!!!

If you could show me that'd be great. I'll be patient.

I will order calcium today. I'm so tired of liquid calcium