Avoiding Crickets

[jaymerz]

I still have some time before I am going to be a beardie slave and momma again. (The expected hatch date is April 22, so it will be mid May before he can be shipped safely.) However, I remember how horrible the smell was from the crickets before, and considering I now live in an apartment instead of with my dad I can't keep them in the garage. And I really do not want my apartment smelling like crickets, plus I think the neighbors would eventually hate me. I am considering Dubias for a staple in the future, but I think they will be to big for a couple of months at least. And again the fact that I am living in an apartment comes into play, I'm not sure how the owners would feel about me keeping roaches. My question is, can I use Reptiworms as a main staple and just forgo the crickets? As well as some silkworms, appropriately sized of course, thrown in for variety every once in a while. I have also seen some posts that state all crickets carry parasites that can be given to your beardie when feed. I want to keep Manjenko/Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander (I told the breeder id prefer a male, those are the two names I'm torn between. Is it silly to be picking out a name before its even hatched, lol.) as healthy as possible. I swear I must feel as excited as expectant mothers. Thank you in advance for any tips and advice given.

 

[Bwalter]

I tried crickets when I first got my baby, what a mess then trying to catch them when he wouldn't eat them, I switched to repti-worms and been really nice. I put them in a bowl and leave them all day, he eats when he wants, and loves them. He has been growing really fast, you don't have to dust them, I do the multivitamins 2 times a week. He is very healthy.

 

[jaymerz]

Thank you so much. Guess I will be able to avoid crickets after all.

 

[drgnfly2265]

I felt the same way. I hated crickets and thought I was going to be stuck using them. I was so happy when I heard about reptiworms. I will never use crickets again!

 

[acwood04]

I did the same thing when I got my first beardie... I was keeping crickets and some waxworms from the pet store. After about a month or so of crickets, I switched to reptiworms in one bowl, and butterworms and some waxworms in another bowl. I acquired another dragon too after a friend of mine asked me to adopt a beardie she owned that was also young, well about 10-12 inches...
So having two I started a colony of dubias, and was constantly ordering butterworms, phoenixworms (reptisworms), hornworms and silkworms online.. I did the dubia thing for a while, but my god they multiplied quick and after a while I ended up getting rid of those because they were more work to keep than just cleaning out the horn/silk worm upside-down cups. I've had no problems other than the ones that were due to the megaray issue... I've got two custom made viv's stacked on up, and I like the worms that you can leave in a worm bowl (brown ones with the wall coming in so they cant get out) but some escape. I could never feed crickets now, with all the real rocks I have in the viv and small cracks, they would run and hide and die and or eat away at my beardies while they sleep. I have gone over a year since i've fed Bella and Crupi crickets.. if you have babies i recommend the baby hornworm, silkworms from great lakes hornworm or mulberry farms. I'd also get some small butter worms, they keep forever and are bright orange, my beardies love em.. but they cost a little more..

 

[jaymerz]

Thank you so much for all of your advice everyone. It is so nice knowing I don't have to use crickets as a staple. I bought 3 dozen yesterday because I went to the reptile show, and well, came home with two. They are just to hold me over until the worms I ordered last night get in. I'm thinking 5k reptiworms should hold me over for a little while. Plus i am going to put an order in at mulberry for some silkies as well. xD

 

[leolepolis]

My first post - just joined today.

Dead crickets stink way more than live ones. It's a bit of a pain, but I feed them Total Bites and fruits/vegetables that don't smell after a week without refridgeration: carrots, celery, bok choy stems, apple cores, etc. I keep them under the sink next to the garbage can and the smell is hardly noticeable.

However, I'd never heard of reptiworms until tonight and can't wait to order about 5 trillion of them.

 

[sarah82]

my bearded dragon wont even look at crickets anymore. we give her a few different kinds of worms. phoenix, suppers and silk. she is happier for sure. and so am i. i hate crickets they smell and are noisy!!
i just dont know how many to give her, and i cant figure out how to make a post.