Food molding in new Cricket keeper!!!

[m00n1e]

Hey all I recently switched over to feeding in the crickets container instead of putting them in his viv after learning that trick on here, and after a little bit of adjusting, he loves it just surrounded by crickets it is a feeding frenzy. But tonight I noticed the scraps I had put in for the crix last night were molding and there is even mold in the corner. I have only had this cricket set up for 2 days and I've been keeping it cleaned out, but i guess not properly. Does anyone have tips on how they keep their crickets or how to keep them from getting moldy? I won't feed him these but need to know how to keep these suckers!
Here's some pics, A cricket paradise I thought..

 

[m00n1e]

Please Help!!! I don't know what to do I only want to keep my dragon healthy! Anything will help! Thank you so much for taking the time!

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....I don't use cricket keepers, if it has too little airflow, mold will develop quickly. I like the medium or small plastic bins [ like Sterilite ] and you don't even need a lid. [ the crix usually can't get out] If you DO use the lid, just cut a large section out of it, and glue some mesh ...the crix can't escape, you have a lid, and you have airflow. Even then, you must check the food often, and just toss [ especially fruit ] as soon as it looks off. Feed oatmeal, greens, washed banana peels, etc. Keep the wet food away from the dry. But I think a bigger , open top or screened container will solve your problem.

 

[m00n1e]

Thank you so much! I bet the fruit was the issue plus I was just mixing it all together. Am I supposed to dust the crickets with calcium or their food I'm getting more confused the more I read! I'm thinking the picture didn't do the tub justice It is a fairly large sterilite. Not the huge ones but pretty big. You have really helped me I get so worked up worrying over my BD I'm a noob and every BD diserves the best!

 

[BeardieMommy3991]

You should dust the crickets. Yep.

Just don't leave fruit in there too long, and have plenty of ventilation. I don't have a lid on my bin- the crix can't climb plastic.

 

[m00n1e]

Oh that is so neat but I did drill a bunch of extra holes in the top. Can't they jump that high?! I would think they could! Im so scared of them haha

 

[BeardieMommy3991]

I use a 25 gallon plastic bin- there aint no way they are jumping out of there XD

 

[traceyb73]

Since I am new to this too, I will tell you what they told me at the store....I was just there earlier today asking why my crickets keep dying on me. She said to get oatmeal and keep it on the bottom to keep the humidity level down and they eat it. She also said to get regular fish food to put in there. You can get it in bulk at some stores. This place had it and I got a huge bag (the same kind of bag the put the crickets in) that would have cost probably $20 in a regular bottle, but it was $1.52!! Find out who sells bulk! Also I got a bottle of "orange cubes" brand is Fluker's and I got it at Petco. It smells really nasty, dont get too close when you open it! I asked every store I have gone into so far if it's good to use and everyone agrees, which is rare!! I put 2 or 3 cubes in per 100 crickets. Don't need to refrigerate it either which is nice! And make sure you do the "shake and bake"! (Powder with calcium for the crickets, also shake and bake your salad with it that you leave out during the day.) You only need a little bit of the powder for the salad. I found out today that spinach is NO GOOD. It takes calcium out of them. How old is your new baby?

 

[traceyb73]

Oh that is so neat but I did drill a bunch of extra holes in the top. Can't they jump that high?! I would think they could! Im so scared of them haha

Me too. lol It's been almost a week and today was the first day I got brave enough to get them out with those foot long tweezer looking things. LOL (My daughter was made to do it before today. lol)

 

[m00n1e]

Thanks I was going to get the cubes but they were a little to spendy for me right now. I live in a fairly small town in Alaska so I doubt I will find it for bulk but what kind of fish food because this would make things so much easier. I feel like I might not be understanding how to do the calcium properly. How often do you dust or shake and bake (which i like) the same crickets? and I didn't know the lizards are supposed to eat it? My calcium is also Fluker's brand.
I just wish I knew more. I feel like I never know if he is happy or scarred or what have you. I wish he could just talk to me and tell me!! haha

 

[traceyb73]

Thanks I was going to get the cubes but they were a little to spendy for me right now. I live in a fairly small town in Alaska so I doubt I will find it for bulk but what kind of fish food because this would make things so much easier. I feel like I might not be understanding how to do the calcium properly. How often do you dust or shake and bake (which i like) the same crickets? and I didn't know the lizards are supposed to eat it? My calcium is also Fluker's brand.
I just wish I knew more. I feel like I never know if he is happy or scarred or what have you. I wish he could just talk to me and tell me!! haha

Since my crickets seem to not last for more than 2 days, I only do it the first time. I put some into the lid of the calcium container, then dump it into the bag with the crickets so as not to accidentally dump too much in there. Just make sure you leave air in the bag and give it a real good shake if you don't get alot of crickets at a time, which for us newbies, I would suggest no more than 100 at a time if you can get them locally for a decent price (which make be tough in Alaska) and if you only have one baby. How old is your baby? Mine turned 9 weeks old yesterday. I am as proud as if I just had another child. LOL

Oh yes, you need to go with the basics that you can find. You might be able to get the fish food online somewhere (at least cheaper than you can get it at home) but I never heard anyone say it was something absolutely necessary. I know citrus will be expensive there, but even if you can buy a single orange from the store, they are the same thing.

Oh yes, but just a minute amount on the food. Even with the calcium powder, unless someone disagrees, you could probably get the cheapest one as long as it has the same stuff in it. It is probably like anything else, you pay for the name. Since I only buy about 50 crickets at a time, I just shake and bake them once. She is going through about half of them a day and I have been having a heck of a time keeping them alive for any amount of time, but like anything else, we will learn as we go. Do you buy your crickets online? If you are buying alot at a time, that is the way to do it!!

As far as fishfood, the generic is for tropical fish, I assume that means the regular, basic stuff. When I put the crickets in there with it, they went crazy, just diving on the stuff!! You only put a small amount of that in there. You don't need much!

Please understand, I think we are learning at the same time. A week and a half ago I couldn't identify a bearded dragon to save my life! I had NO CLUE what they were. My kid thought it was something she "needed", now the novelty has already worn off for her, but it's ok, cause Zoey is MINE!!!!!! I don't wanna share.

 

[m00n1e]

Haha right I read your story and was stoked to see we were about the same place. Mine was for my boyfriend initially! Hahaha but my caring instincts took over and I love my baby!! I wish I knew how old he was but I can only guess Beardiemommy helped me get an estimate so I think he is around 12 weeks old. I think I got him around 8 weeks. (We officially made his b-day 7/10 after he was home and cozy hehe)

Okay so I am confused on the orange are you saying that is all the orange cricket cubes are just orange? Silly me I didn't even read the ingredients on them. Or is the orange a seperate topic?
But the flukers is the only calcium dusting we have and its actually just a feed for feeders high in calcium,I just read, so now I feel like I shouldn't feed that to my BD (put it on his food) I haven't yet, but IDK maybe???

I just buy my crickets in town we do have a pet co and they aren't too badly priced I go every other day and get 5 dozen but they usually give me at least 80 to 100 so It lasts awhile but some do die.

 

[traceyb73]

Haha right I read your story and was stoked to see we were about the same place. Mine was for my boyfriend initially! Hahaha but my caring instincts took over and I love my baby!! I wish I knew how old he was but I can only guess Beardiemommy helped me get an estimate so I think he is around 12 weeks old. I think I got him around 8 weeks. (We officially made his b-day 7/10 after he was home and cozy hehe)

Okay so I am confused on the orange are you saying that is all the orange cricket cubes are just orange? Silly me I didn't even read the ingredients on them. Or is the orange a seperate topic?
But the flukers is the only calcium dusting we have and its actually just a feed for feeders high in calcium,I just read, so now I feel like I shouldn't feed that to my BD (put it on his food) I haven't yet, but IDK maybe???

I just buy my crickets in town we do have a pet co and they aren't too badly priced I go every other day and get 5 dozen but they usually give me at least 80 to 100 so It lasts awhile but some do die.

When I ramble it can be hard to understand sometimes, sorry about that. lol If you can get the cubes you can use those, otherwise I was told today at the pet store (a good one suggested by the breeder) that they do well with oranges. 2-3 slices, someone on here will have the answer to that one I'm sure. When I say they do well, I mean it's good for the baby and they get fluids from the cubes I was talking about OR actual oranges. (I managed to have about 5 different topics going at once I think. lol I have no clue how I do that!!)

As far as age, mine at 9 weeks is in a 20 gallon glass tank and if she would lay with her tail just touching the glass in the back, her nose would just about touch the front if she stretched herself out. Probably next pay check we will have to get a bigger tank. I don't remember what size tank you have your baby in, so maybe that will help put her size into perspective. I haven't measured her, but that would give you an estimate on her size, although they are all different. Probably close though since they are only a few weeks apart.

I was told by the guy at Petco that when other crickets die they put off a chemical and the others die too. Not very smart creatures as far as i am concerned. lol But I have found this to be true. That's why I don't buy more than 50 anymore since she goes through about 10 or so in the morning and then again later afternoon. Today is the first time she ate twice. I am so proud of my big girl. I also found that if you take a shallow dish (I cut down one of those solo cups to about 1/4 inch high. You know the ones used at parties that are either blue or red outside and white inside) and if I put her on my chest or in my hand and put just a little drop on her closed mouth, if she is thirsty she will keep licking the little drops off. If she isn't I end up drying her chin. lol But she drinks ALOT. This is also another time we bonded. Just make sure the water is the same temp as a bath would be. I didn't think they drank like that, I thought it was only through the skin. She usually does this twice a day. If she is thirty enough she will stick out her tongue and lick it off of my finger before I can get to her. lol VERY CUTE!!!

 

[m00n1e]

I def want to try that I want to bond sooo much! hahaha they are so cute. We have a pretty small tank for nor 20 gal but we js found an old fish tank in storage I think it has to be a bit bigger ima wash it out tomorrow and give it a try! I will def use oranges! That sounds so much less expensive for now! I love spoiling my beardie. Mine is getting another bath tomorrow!!!

 

[traceyb73]

The one we have is just a regular fish tank too. I used some soft scrub and hot water. Just make sure you get under the lip of the tank (at the top) and I rinsed twice after I couldn't smell the cleaner anymore...can't be to careful.