Fal
Hatchling Member
Just went to look at another lizard store just out of town and they had locusts of ALL sizes! I didn't realise (I don't know why) that you could get small ones (same size as the crix we've been feeding him) and so we decided to buy a tub to try them out.
Well... bit of background. We used to feed Draco his Crix by shoving a few into the viv... nightmare as I'm sure you all know! They'd immediately run to the edge and get under something/anything they could find. Therefore even if the lazy Draco decided to chase one, he often lost it. Also, it scared us that some might try and eat him at night, so we'd spend ages trying to shunt them towards him and then clear out the ones that hid (nightmare and we never managed it, come claning time we were always shocked as to how many were left). Plus I hate the look of the little biting critters. :?
Now... we read somewhere (might have been here actually
) about feeding him one at a time and so, we did, and still do!
It took us a few attempts, (he's about two months old btw) but we started feeding him by tweezer, and were so impressed and pleased when he started running forward and snatching them off us before we got them near him. We've also plucked up the courage to grab the odd one from behind and he's eaten them from our fingers which is GREAT! and seems to be making him even tamer!
We also drop the odd one once it has his attention and he usually chases and gets it although, as usual with crickets, one always gets under something
Now for todays Locusts! We got home and my brother immediately wanted to try one. He noticed that int heir tub, they tend to stay on top of the egg carton rather than under it like crix, so once he managed to skillfully get one out of the tub without it jumping accross the room (my bro's quite good at not letting them escape lol, like Mr.Miagi with chop stick, but with tweezers), he waved it around in front of Draco, who's head started tilting immediately in interest, and then my bro dropped it in Draco's usual feeding place below his basking spot. It didn't immediately run under something like a cricket W000T, but just sat there and slowly started walking... BAM!!! Draco was on top of it and munching merrily away. SUCCESS! We added another in the same way and BAM, again he had eaten in in a second. The third, as he lunged for it, leapt like a super hero accross the viv and into Draco's 'greens' bowl... well 'that's it' we thought, but no, as if to prove us wrong, our usual lazy beardie shot accross the tank and BAM, another locust met it's end (much to my mother and fathers disgust as they think - and I must admit I like them compared to crix - they are beautiful specimins lol, to the extent that both parents have now considered a colony as pets lol, we told them we would encourage that, as long as several are offered up as sacrifices to the dragon)! Muahahaha...
ANYWAY... It made for such good feeding, exercixed him in making him hunt his food rather than giving up when it goes under something or waiting to be hand fed. They also go mad for dandylion leaves (or anything I guess being locusts) and so are easily gut loaded. I am wondering however... are they OK as a staple live feeder??? As they don't seem as fat as crix and therefore I didn't know if they had enough meat/neutrience compared to legs/shell/skin or whatever?? Because if they are, I think we would much prefer to use them over the ugly, vicious lookign and bitey crix that always insist on hiding under everything rather than kindly sitting atop whatever they are near to await being eaten by Draco.
Anyway, essay over, fire away with your usual helpful tips/hints on them as a staple and I will be most gratefull!
Cheers all,
Fal
Well... bit of background. We used to feed Draco his Crix by shoving a few into the viv... nightmare as I'm sure you all know! They'd immediately run to the edge and get under something/anything they could find. Therefore even if the lazy Draco decided to chase one, he often lost it. Also, it scared us that some might try and eat him at night, so we'd spend ages trying to shunt them towards him and then clear out the ones that hid (nightmare and we never managed it, come claning time we were always shocked as to how many were left). Plus I hate the look of the little biting critters. :?
Now... we read somewhere (might have been here actually
) about feeding him one at a time and so, we did, and still do! It took us a few attempts, (he's about two months old btw) but we started feeding him by tweezer, and were so impressed and pleased when he started running forward and snatching them off us before we got them near him. We've also plucked up the courage to grab the odd one from behind and he's eaten them from our fingers which is GREAT! and seems to be making him even tamer!
We also drop the odd one once it has his attention and he usually chases and gets it although, as usual with crickets, one always gets under something
Now for todays Locusts! We got home and my brother immediately wanted to try one. He noticed that int heir tub, they tend to stay on top of the egg carton rather than under it like crix, so once he managed to skillfully get one out of the tub without it jumping accross the room (my bro's quite good at not letting them escape lol, like Mr.Miagi with chop stick, but with tweezers), he waved it around in front of Draco, who's head started tilting immediately in interest, and then my bro dropped it in Draco's usual feeding place below his basking spot. It didn't immediately run under something like a cricket W000T, but just sat there and slowly started walking... BAM!!! Draco was on top of it and munching merrily away. SUCCESS! We added another in the same way and BAM, again he had eaten in in a second. The third, as he lunged for it, leapt like a super hero accross the viv and into Draco's 'greens' bowl... well 'that's it' we thought, but no, as if to prove us wrong, our usual lazy beardie shot accross the tank and BAM, another locust met it's end (much to my mother and fathers disgust as they think - and I must admit I like them compared to crix - they are beautiful specimins lol, to the extent that both parents have now considered a colony as pets lol, we told them we would encourage that, as long as several are offered up as sacrifices to the dragon)! Muahahaha...
ANYWAY... It made for such good feeding, exercixed him in making him hunt his food rather than giving up when it goes under something or waiting to be hand fed. They also go mad for dandylion leaves (or anything I guess being locusts) and so are easily gut loaded. I am wondering however... are they OK as a staple live feeder??? As they don't seem as fat as crix and therefore I didn't know if they had enough meat/neutrience compared to legs/shell/skin or whatever?? Because if they are, I think we would much prefer to use them over the ugly, vicious lookign and bitey crix that always insist on hiding under everything rather than kindly sitting atop whatever they are near to await being eaten by Draco.
Anyway, essay over, fire away with your usual helpful tips/hints on them as a staple and I will be most gratefull!
Cheers all,
Fal
