Veiled Watering

[darthink]

So should I keep lots of crickets and stuff on hand? Because I get like 12 at the store then run out pretty fast in like 2 days.

Also, is there a best way to store the crickets?

Lastly, I saw some gelatin looking stuff at the pet store that you can feed crickets, is that good stuff or should I use more natural stuff?

(and is gut-loading simply just feeding the crickets so they stay alive and are healthy and nutritious?)

Thanks

 

[camimom]

So should I keep lots of crickets and stuff on hand? Because I get like 12 at the store then run out pretty fast in like 2 days.

Also, is there a best way to store the crickets?

Lastly, I saw some gelatin looking stuff at the pet store that you can feed crickets, is that good stuff or should I use more natural stuff?

(and is gut-loading simply just feeding the crickets so they stay alive and are healthy and nutritious?)

Thanks

You should, cuz your cham should be eating almost that many every day until they reach adulthood.
to keep cricktes, get a tub, and cut a decent sized hole, and glue aluminum screen on (not fiberglass, as they will eat through it) then put lots of egg cartons in the tub so they have something to crawl on.

you can use the search button up top in the green bar, just type in cricket kepeing, or cricket tub, and see waht you find.

dont use that gelatin crap, its not good.

gutlaoding is fresh fruits and veggies that you feed to the bugs to keep them alive and nutritious yes.

remember, what your bugs eat, your cham eats.

 

[NolaGirl]

So should I keep lots of crickets and stuff on hand? Because I get like 12 at the store then run out pretty fast in like 2 days.

Also, is there a best way to store the crickets?

Lastly, I saw some gelatin looking stuff at the pet store that you can feed crickets, is that good stuff or should I use more natural stuff?

(and is gut-loading simply just feeding the crickets so they stay alive and are healthy and nutritious?)

Thanks

I have a baby Veiled cham. I usually buy about 60-100 1/4" crickets at a time. I bought a large rubbermaid sweater box to put them in. I just cut a hole in the lid, bought some screen and glued it over the hole so they could have some ventilation. I have 3 empty cardboard egg cartons and some toilet paper tubes in the bin. It keeps them from smothering each other and gives them a place to hide. I have 2 medium sized margerine tub lids in there....one with gutload on it and one with orange slices or cricket quencher to keep them hydrated. I also have a small "Cricket Keeper" that I bought from Petco. I fill it every night with gutload, an orange slice(or cricket quencher) and enough crickets to feed my cham the next day.

The gelatin looking stuff is probably "Cricket Quencher". It can be used as a water source, not a gutload. It's better to use fresh produce to keep your crickets hydrated, though. The gutload that you will find at Petco or Petsmart isn't an adequate gutload. There are a few pre-made gutloads that are really good, such as "Cricket Crack" and "Bug Burger". You will also have to feed your crickets fresh fruits and veggies. Remember, what you feed your bugs is essentially what you are feeding your cham. That's why you have to gutload your feeders with nutritious food. Here is an easy to understand guide to gutloading:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ferretinmyshoes/446-basics-gutloading.html

You can buy some really good pre-made gutload from here:
http://tikitikireptiles.com/products.php?id=48
http://www.store.repashy.com/repashy-superfoods/retail/by-product-name-en/bug-burger-en-2/

Here's another helpful guide to cham care:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/jannb/325-info-new-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

Here's a list of safe plants to put inside of your enclosure:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/gerhartrx/523-chameleon-safe-plants.html

I hope that this helps. There is a wealth of info. on here. Don't hesitate to ask for help. The members of this forum are extremely helpful and friendly.

 

[darthink]

Thanks, you guys! I'll try to get a container to hold lots of crickets and feed the crickets those good foods. I read you need to feed them a few hours before feeding the chameleon, is that true? Also, I imagine that the food eventually goes bad, so that sounds about right.

One other question I have is that I've noticed the crickets have a lot of what seems like poop and stuff. The bottom of the container seems gross and unhealthy. Is it really cricket excrement? Perhaps putting a screen at the bottom too would help filter out the crap and allow for getting the crickets easily without any crap that may be with it?

Thanks again!

 

[camimom]

Thanks, you guys! I'll try to get a container to hold lots of crickets and feed the crickets those good foods. I read you need to feed them a few hours before feeding the chameleon, is that true? Also, I imagine that the food eventually goes bad, so that sounds about right.

One other question I have is that I've noticed the crickets have a lot of what seems like poop and stuff. The bottom of the container seems gross and unhealthy. Is it really cricket excrement? Perhaps putting a screen at the bottom too would help filter out the crap and allow for getting the crickets easily without any crap that may be with it?

Thanks again!

i put screen on the top and bottom, for ventlation, and i can go shake the ub a bit over a trash can and the stuff (called frass) falls out.
if you put lots of carboard egg cartons in there, they can climb on it.

you want to have them gutloaded for at least 24 hours before feeding them off, so you can do tiny amounts of good gutload every few hours until you feed.

 

[NolaGirl]

This is a great idea. I'm going to make some this weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlM9RaCBt_M