Accidental Oversized Cricket! Please Read!

[oneandoneandone]

So the other day when I picked up some crickets, I got home and noticed that one of them was huge. Like, WAY bigger than the space between Toulouse's eyes. It was honestly intimidating looking. Well, obviously I had no intention of ever feeding it to Toulouse (who, as you might recall, is a baby). Well anyway, I have this cricket keeper that has the black tubes for feeding and a few times I've accidentally dropped this big cricket in (it's hard to tell size based on the silhouettes in those tubes) and it hasn't been a big deal because I take it out quickly. Well, just now, I went to give Toulouse some crickets and the big one dropped in again... but before I could grab it out, he pounced on it and ate it. He seems to be okay, but I'm quite worried. Someone tell me this one time slip up isn't the end of the world, I feel terrible.

 

[Irwinshealth]

Definitely not the end of the world. This has happened to many people. Just keep an eye that he has regular stools for the next few day. If you see a difference just start the impaction protocol. In case you don't know this means.....warms baths, tummy rubs, and if it got bad maybe a tad bit of mineral oil. I honestly don't think you will have to worry about it. It was only one cricket. Toulouse just had a extra hardy meal tonight :lol: You can sleep sound tonight. I'm sure hell be fine

 

[oneandoneandone]

Haha, thank you! I know I'm just being all paranoid and whatnot but I thought I'd check. I do know what impaction protocol is and thankfully his stools have been good and he's eating pretty well too, so I haven't had to initiate said protocol, lol
Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[Irwinshealth]

No problem! Sleep well

 

[Russell84]

The main fear with giving them oversized food is that they suffercate and choke to death when trying to swallow it. If shes still around then all is good

 

[AHBD]

Babies can often swallow a large prey item, the main health risk is definitely impaction, sometimes so severe that it causes hind leg extension, the shakes and partial paralysis, as it presses on the spine. That doesn't happen too often, but it's a definite risk, especially with small babies, under 7 inches. By the time a dragon is over 8 inches, it doesn't seem to be as much at risk, and especially if they are very healthy to begin with, but a tiny 5 or 6 inch baby can easily die when they can't digest a too -large prey item.

 

[krusty46]

Not trying to hijack, but I was just coming here to ask the same question. My local shop seems to lump medium and large together and we seem to be getting 1 or 2 large ones per batch. Gimli makes quick work of them. He is between 8-9'' so not really a baby anymore. I shouldn't really worry and just let him eat? He expresses no interest when I offer him the small crickets.

 

[Esther19]

No harm in tossing the big one outside. I've done that more than once. Do you have a tongs to grab the little devils?

 

[oneandoneandone]

Thanks everyone for the info and the reassurance, haha
Toulouse is fine today. He had his regular poo and seems to be doing great, so he's all good, I'd say.
Just another case of overly-anxious-beardie-slave, looks like.

 

[ArcherBeardie]

Lol I've felt like an overly-anxious-beardie-slave since I got mine about a month ago... I sure love the little guy, but I hope it gets easier!!

Good luck with yours!

 

[oneandoneandone]

I feel like this is an ongoing process. Every time I overcome an anxiety and figure something out, something else pops up that makes me all stressed out again. I think it's because he's still so new and little and fragile. When I was at work today, a lady came in and we got to talking and she mentioned she had a bearded dragon and she said it definitely gets easier/less stressful, so here's hoping.
Good luck with yours too!