Finding Crickets that Beardie Missed

[neacail]

I did the monthly strip down and clean of my beardie's enclosure yesterday. I pull everything out, clean everything, then put everything back in starting with the tile flooring.

After putting the tile back in yesterday, I decided to put Orion back in the enclosure and feed him his crickets. Normally, if I'm going to feed him crickets, I don't do it in his enclosure. I do it in a big, transparent, plastic container. But, as his enclosure was empty, and he's an excellent cricket hunter, I figured it would be fine.

Nope. 5:30 am this morning as I'm making my coffee I hear chirping coming from his enclosure.

I don't know where that thing could have hidden! I certainly didn't see it when I put all of the furnishings back in his enclosure. Hoping to drown the thing, I put a small dish of water in the enclosure.

Does anyone have any other suggestions as to how I can eradicate it?

 

[CooperDragon]

I would look on the underside of furniture and especially in cracks of wooden furniture. I'd check under the tiles and around backgrounds if you have them. They can fit in pretty small spots. I've found it easier to feed only a few bugs at a time in several batches because I can track them around the tank easily and ensure none are left.

 

[neacail]

I've got the bug trapped. I couldn't get it out, as it is wedged in the tiny space where the tile floor meets the wall of the enclosure. I tried wedging a little dustpan in there to kill it, but the dustpan was too thick. I laid a row of tile on top of the crack to keep it trapped it there. It may be noisy for a couple more days, but it shouldn't turn my beardie into a midnight snack.

 

[CooperDragon]

I used to chase them out of cracks and into view using a small piece of paper or an index card. That may be worth a try.