MrChenMan":18f0rbp0 said:
KeyBlu422":18f0rbp0 said:
They sorta smell, they make noise, and they were escaping.
There are ways to avoid these problems but for now I would like to try something else.
Ah, exactly what I thought. Well, if the links above can be used, then there you have a few options to choose from. If you decide that you might want to return to crickets in time, here are some instructions.
Storage and Setup
First off, if you're using a cricket keeper, you're somewhat setup for failure. I used a small one in the past and, while they didn't escape, they did die frequently. Instead, grab an 18 gal plastic storage container(like from Sterilite), cut out some of the lid and possibly some of the sides of the container and cover it with ALUMINUM fine mesh, it can be found for 7-10 bucks at most hardware stores here in the U.S., I cant imagine it's too different in Canada. Grab some toilet paper/paper towel tubes, egg cartons, or egg flats. Stack the egg flats upwards at an angle so that poop falls to the bottom and away from the food and water crystals. If using tubes, either throw em out or dump the poop to the side like you would with the egg flats.
Feeding
Providing a high quality dry diet such as Cricket Crack is good, some online sellers sell some quality diets too. You can also make your own, I can link a few complex ones if you want to make it yourself or you can just grab premade stuff. For the wet portion of the feeding(which I'd suggest, while dry diets are usually fine, veggies are a nice addition every now and then or given each time with the dry diet), you can take some ingredients and blend them up, you can make a complex one or a simple one. Put it into an ice tray, freeze it, and it'll last a few months. Spirulina and Bee Pollen are some natural multivitamins but I don't think they're completely necessary. A simple gutload I will be making will include dandelion greens, carrots, oats, apple, national geographic omnivorous reptile pellets, and some herptivite multivitamin.
Back to the wet portion, you can just give the same veggies as what you feed your dragon as an alternate method.
Water crystals are good for
hydration and people have used them for quite a while with nearly no issue. However, there is something in water crystals that have caused issues in rodents and possibly humans so some avoid them, it's really just your choice.
