dusting and crickets escaping

[newbiebeardie]

me again
whats they best way to dust food how often should i ? my hubby and son will freak out if the crickets get out so ought i dust worms instead am getting panicky ill do something wrong so want to know everything and dont trust the pet store

thanks as always

 

[peera]

For dusting crickets I generally scoop some into a tupperware container and throw in a bit of the calcium or vitamins and shake it. This completely coats them. I've also found that some dragons really like calcium and are more inclined to eat their veggies if you sprinkle some over the top. The beautiful dragons site has a chart telling you how often to suppliment for what age of dragon. As for your husband and son... well, try not to let them see you putting the crickets in whatever you're using to keep them or feeding, it's very nearly impossible to not have a couple escapees once in a while.

 

[rottnbull02]

We use the plastic bags that you get the feeders in from the pet store. Do you have your feeders in a cricket keeper? If so, just take the black tube shake it into the bag that already has the calcium in it, close up the top, shake to dust, then shake into the tank with your beardie. We have actually gotten so good that the extra calcium will stay at the bottom of the bag when we shake out the crickets, and we can go on to the next tank. We have 7 so we have to shake fast, then start over. : ) It works well, I dont think we have had an escapee in a while now.

As for how often, I think someone else will have to answer that. I think for adults it is 2-3 times a week, juvies, 4-5, and babies daily.

 

[LunaFierce]

I keep a papertowel tube in my cricket container. When they climb up in it, I take one end and shake the crickets out into a Ziploc bag. Then I throw in whatever dust I am using that day, shake 'em up, and then dump them in the viv.

If you do it this way, shake the bag up infront of the viv where your beardie can see it. When Helix was eating "normal" she would get all excited and do this happy dance till I dumped the crickets in.

 

[zoomommi]

Thanks for asking that question!!
I got Ollie yesterday. This mornings feeding with the crickets was our first. About 5 escaped in the house, but didn't anyone see that. I dusted them and put them in. Ollie is 6 inches and still very clumsy so she only got about 3 of the 7 I put in the viv.
You guys were talking about calcium dusting and then vitamin dustin. I only have the calcium and I thought you dusted everytime you cricket feed.
My little girl is very ravinous and so I am feeding mini mealies and crickets and greens and she is eating everything in site. Beardies are about the cutiest reptile and I can't believe that I am just getting involved with them. I can definately see another one in our future.
Could one of you take a pic of your cricket keeper with the tube? I want to build a cricket house for the garage. We just have a little box from the pet store with a hatch door on top. getting a few out is very hard.
Thanks,
zoomommi