I need to know the easiest, cleanest, best live insect to feed my dragon. Had a bad experience with crickets....lost money because the die too easily. They stink no matter how often I cleaned their cage. They are noisy and easily escape. I need an easy live insect to feed.
That's kind of a loaded question and lot depends on your particular situation. I can tell you what works for me. It's not the cheapest option, but the most convenient.
I feed dubia and BSFL ordered online. My baby is only 3 months old so still feeding smaller dubia, and they are kept in a shoe box size tub with holes drilled in the top. I put the egg crate they come with inside, add some Pangea roach food made into gel, and a few of whatever fresh veg I have. I switch out the veg every couple of days, and completely clean and turn over the setup whenever i get a new shipment of roaches (usually about every 10 days). Feeding them is as easy as picking up a piece of egg crate and shaking some off into a cup to shake with calcium powder.
For the BSFL, I keep them in the cup they come in, and place them in a lunchbox cooler with a frozen water bottle. It helps them keep a little longer. They have to be rinsed before feeding. I use a mesh strainer, dump them on a paper towel, pat dry and dump in his bowl, hand feeding a few just because I can.
I order both from dubiaroches.com
i have found this is easiest and most efficient for me. I feed the dubia in the morning and the BSFL at night when i have a little more time. Night time is also salad time.
I feed crickets that I have a special cage for. I bought the cage at the pet store and it has shoots that you take out (crickets like to hide in them) shake them out into a cup and shake them with calcium or vitamins (depending on the day) and so far no escapee. I just put an order in for Dubia's and BSFL. I didn't know about the rinsing. Good to know for when they come in. Not sure how I am gonna store the Dubia's this is a first time for me.
You can buy one of those plastic or Sterlite shoe boxes. You can get them from the dollar store too. You can cut out a piece of the lid and hot glue some screen on or just find a way to cut some small holes. They don't need any substrate just egg crate or toilet paper cores to hide in. Feed them some veggie/fruit.
No experience with dubias because theyre illegal where I live but I just picked up some BSFL at an expo and theyre super clean and easy to feed, and my guy loves them. They just come in a little cup and you can keep them in there. No need to feed them. I don't rinse mine i just kind of rub all the dirt off with my fingers but maybe i should get a strainer.
You can also rotate in silkworms, hornworms, butterworms and superworms depending on how big your guy is. All are very clean