He HATES his feeding enclosure!

[paigeziegler]

I've had my baby beardie for a little over a month now and he HATES his feeding enclosure! I've tried lots of different sizes and shapes and he seriously hits the bottom of that thing and immediately slams into the side of the box and starts jumping and clawing trying to get out!! He's so hell bent on getting out, he doesn't even notice that there's crickets in the enclosure with him! I don't know what to do about this...I can't have them running around his tank with him cause I can't get them all out with the way his enclosure is set up. Right now I am basically hand feeding him...I WAS using tweezers to feed him ONE CRICKET AT A TIME....which is terribly time consuming and I'm worried he will get too lazy to eat on his own. lol. Now, I've figured out that he will eat them directly out of the cup I've been using to dust/stun them before I feed them to him. It's one of those double walled plastic clear ones with a lid and straw. I take the straw out and put my finger over the hole for dusting and then just take the lid off and that's where I was plucking them from with the tweezers, but I noticed a couple weeks ago that he showed some interest in the cup because he could see/hear the crickets in the cup so I just tilted it towards him and he runs right in and snarfs them up!!
This is obviously better than one at a time, but it still isn't ideal because at least 3-5 crickets get out every time and I end up chasing them around his tank.... Does ANYONE have ANY suggestions about what to do for an enclosure for feeding that he won't flip out in as soon as I put him in? I even tried to kind of trick him by putting a log in the feeding enclosure so it wasnt so empty. That worked for a minute but it didnt take him long to realize he was in fact in a feeding box and stop eating crickets and start trying to get out...

 

[Soulwind]

What are you using? (ie a clear plastic tub, an opaque plastic tub, etc)

Right now, we're using a smallish (about 12" x 12") cardboard box with the lid cut off,
and it's working pretty well. Rico is pretty laid back to begin with though.

 

[jducky18]

I've never done this and I really don't want to try, but you could always break the back legs of the crickets, or stick them in the fridge for a minute to stun them. If the cup is working well, you could try using a high-walled tupperwear that your beardie can climb into but hopefully it's too high for the crickets to jump out. I've only had to use crickets a couple times because I was in a pinch and out of dubias, but when I used them I took everything out of his tank, including the tiles, and tried to get him to eat that way, but he refused. Believe me, I understand your pain.

 

[paigeziegler]

What are you using? (ie a clear plastic tub, an opaque plastic tub, etc)

Right now, we're using a smallish (about 12" x 12") cardboard box with the lid cut off,
and it's working pretty well. Rico is pretty laid back to begin with though.

I've tried opaque tubs in various sizes and heights and even tried colored ones. I've tried using paper towels to line it and I've tried shelf liner. I've never tried cardboard.

 

[paigeziegler]

I've never done this and I really don't want to try, but you could always break the back legs of the crickets, or stick them in the fridge for a minute to stun them. If the cup is working well, you could try using a high-walled tupperwear that your beardie can climb into but hopefully it's too high for the crickets to jump out. I've only had to use crickets a couple times because I was in a pinch and out of dubias, but when I used them I took everything out of his tank, including the tiles, and tried to get him to eat that way, but he refused. Believe me, I understand your pain.

Lol that's a lot of legs!! Hahaha! I've never tried the fridge thing before. I read that yesterday and thought it sounded interesting. He doesn't really struggle to catch them though. When I feed him in his enclosure and they get loose the immediately head for one of the multitudes of hiding places just big enough for small sized crickets lol! I think it will be easier when we can switch to mediums full time but the pet store in town is very unpredictable and all over the place in terms of what they consider "medium"....
I thought about something like u said that he can climb into but the crickets can't get out of, but short of making something with three tall sides and an open end (which I've considered, I don't know how I'd do that either. I'd have to sit at the open end and wrangle the strays lmao! And I'm not sure he will go for the three sides any easier lmao! I've been thinking about trying a 10 gallon tank lately and seeing if he still flips his lid in that...cause he doesn't freak out in his tank, even when it's empty of all bit his tiles.
So as far as dubias, I'm starting to get interested the the idea of feeding them, but I worry about their size (I've never need around them before so I guess I don't know about their size compared to the space between Mo's eyes). Plus when I think of them I picture them with a hard shell and that makes me worry about impaction! I've read a couple places that the shell is actually not as hard as with crickets but I don't know if that's true... Right now he's eating a combo of Reptiworms and crickets. I had to come up with an alternative to crickets in the beginning cause he refused to use the feeder box...lol... And actually he could just have reptiworms as a main staple but he just enjoys crickets so much I want to figure this out for him lol! But if he likes the roaches, maybe I could try that route and see how he likes it...

 

[poofandmook]

I use the large, tallest "critter keeper" from Petco... the clear one with the green top. Works wonderfully. I keep the crickets in it with the greens and squash to gutload, and then I put Brak in with them and he hunts them amongst the greens. (SO CUTE)

 

[jducky18]

I worry about their size

The extra-smalls are only 1/4 inch long, smaller in length than my pinkie fingernail. I'm not sure how big Mo is, but my Hermes is almost 9 inches and 4 months old and the smalls are way too small for him already. Full grown adults are about an inch and a half to two inches long and less than an inch wide.

I picture them with a hard shell and that makes me worry about impaction

They don't actually have a hard shell, and it really is softer than crickets. When I pick one up with the tweezers, the bug squishes a little with them, so they're surprisingly soft and squishy. My favorite part about using dubias is the fact that they can't climb anything smooth, so I just put them in the plastic lid that comes with a ready-made pie crust, and Hermes just climbs in on his own and chomps down and the dubias can't escape. Even if that was the only benefit to using dubias, I would still do it. I have no escapees unless Hermes jumps down onto the side of the pie plate and sends the dubia FLYING across the tank, which has happened.

If you still want to use crickets, you can still do the idea of something he can get into but they can't get out of if you use a high-walled tupperwear or something, and if you put it next to Mo's basking spot or something he can climb in and eat and hopefully the crickets wouldn't be able to escape either. But like I said, I don't usually use crickets, so it's all up to you.

I put Brak in with them and he hunts them amongst the greens

Great idea!

 

[paigeziegler]

I use the large, tallest "critter keeper" from Petco... the clear one with the green top. Works wonderfully. I keep the crickets in it with the greens and squash to gutload, and then I put Brak in with them and he hunts them amongst the greens. (SO CUTE)

HAHAHA :lol: I'd love to see Machismo hunting like that! hahaha! He will snatch a stray here and there when they escape from the cup while he's eating if they catch his attention and this totally cracks me up! And actually, I got him at Petco (in crappy conditions on sand and constant light and mealworms as a staple with crickets just running loose all the time) and before I got him, I got to watch him stalk and run down a few crickets in the tank! It was so cool to watch!! lol

 

[paigeziegler]

The extra-smalls are only 1/4 inch long, smaller in length than my pinkie fingernail. I'm not sure how big Mo is, but my Hermes is almost 9 inches and 4 months old and the smalls are way too small for him already. Full grown adults are about an inch and a half to two inches long and less than an inch wide.

See, I JUST found out that they are sold in different sizes....LoL...I should have thought of that...duh Machismo is 11" long now and (rough estimate) maybe 3 1/2 months old. I got him at Petco and they had no clue about his age, so I am sort of estimating based on his size when he came home. He's growing fast though! He's a beast The space between his eyes is the width of the wide part of my thumb. About 3/4". Where are you getting roaches? I don't want to pay a ton in shipping lol!

They don't actually have a hard shell, and it really is softer than crickets. When I pick one up with the tweezers, the bug squishes a little with them, so they're surprisingly soft and squishy. My favorite part about using dubias is the fact that they can't climb anything smooth, so I just put them in the plastic lid that comes with a ready-made pie crust, and Hermes just climbs in on his own and chomps down and the dubias can't escape. Even if that was the only benefit to using dubias, I would still do it. I have no escapees unless Hermes jumps down onto the side of the pie plate and sends the dubia FLYING across the tank, which has happened.

That's good to hear first hand about the shell not being hard! And as far as them not being able climb out of a smooth bowl, that's awesome. I love the Reptiworms for that! I can leave him some in a dish while I'm at work and he can eat his own leisure

 

[poofandmook]

I got him at Petco (in crappy conditions on sand and constant light and mealworms as a staple with crickets just running loose all the time) and before I got him, I got to watch him stalk and run down a few crickets in the tank! It was so cool to watch!! lol

I got both my beardies from Petco. The first one, Malygos, died of Adenovirus. He was sick from the get-go. Brak on the other hand, was a tough cookie from the second they let me hold him. At least then I knew what to ask and what to look for. Petco is REALLY terrible with the way they keep their dragons. The difference between petco and Petsmart is night and day. Petsmart at least uses felt, and they don't feed mealworms. They know what the hell they're doing. Their temps are better, and they shove less dragons into one enclosure. We love going there to look at all the beardies. When we go to Petco, I inspect them and go right to the manager if I see anything wrong.

 

[jducky18]

Where are you getting roaches?

I get my roaches from John DeMore, JDRoaches here on this site. He has absolutely incredible prices and he's a super nice guy, except that he isn't shipping any again until the 26th at the earliest. Bummer. I've been having trouble finding another supplier with as good prices that JDRoaches has, so I bought myself a colony that I'm struggling to get going, it's a lot tougher than I thought :roll:

 

[paigeziegler]

I get my roaches from John DeMore, JDRoaches here on this site. He has absolutely incredible prices and he's a super nice guy, except that he isn't shipping any again until the 26th at the earliest. Bummer. I've been having trouble finding another supplier with as good prices that JDRoaches has, so I bought myself a colony that I'm struggling to get going, it's a lot tougher than I thought

I just placed an order for 500 roaches, a heat pack, food, and some flats from JDRoaches I'll let you know how it goes!! hahaha!!

 

[paigeziegler]

I got him at Petco (in crappy conditions on sand and constant light and mealworms as a staple with crickets just running loose all the time) and before I got him, I got to watch him stalk and run down a few crickets in the tank! It was so cool to watch!! lol

I got both my beardies from Petco. The first one, Malygos, died of Adenovirus. He was sick from the get-go. Brak on the other hand, was a tough cookie from the second they let me hold him. At least then I knew what to ask and what to look for. Petco is REALLY terrible with the way they keep their dragons. The difference between petco and Petsmart is night and day. Petsmart at least uses felt, and they don't feed mealworms. They know what the hell they're doing. Their temps are better, and they shove less dragons into one enclosure. We love going there to look at all the beardies. When we go to Petco, I inspect them and go right to the manager if I see anything wrong.

I hate going to our Petco...I try to avoid giving them my money whenever it's at all possible! They never have crickets, they are ALWAYS out, they have TERRIBLE customer service!! They're dragons are in crappy conditions (which makes me SO sad to see! I have to refrain from taking all their babies home just to better their lives!!) Their babies are always sleeping because they are always under their lights and they just look so sad and skinny. I HATE IT!! They just generally suck really bad.... The breaking straw for me was about two weeks after I got Machismo, I dropped his heat lamp and broke the fixture at like 8:30 at night. I live a like 15 minutes out of town so I had to make a mad dash to the Petco for a new fixture. I called on my way up to let them know I was coming and I intended to ask her if she could have it pulled for to save time since I was cutting it close and I was really worried about getting the fixture for my little guy, but she cut me off mid sentence and said "well I hope you make it because we close at 9 and we aren't staying open"....OMG!! I was SO pissed off at her response! I had no intentions of asking them to stay late, but it's good to know they care so little about the well-being of an animal... I make it a point to tell everyone I know to give her the stink eye when they go in there :evil:
I was there a couple weeks ago and witnessed the MANAGER being just ridiculously rude to a customer who was trying to return something....I seriously hate the Petco in my town! There's probably three employees total that don't just set me teeth grinding!!

 

[casper31]

I've always fed Miss in her tank cuz she just couldn't stand feeding tubs. They stressed her out so much she wouldn't eat at all. She's just over a year and now that is cold, she is only eating supers once a week and picking at greens daily. But a couple months ago she was eating crickets, dubias, supers, and hornworms.

I dust them and put them in a shallow ceramic cereal bowl. I dust and then dump them in. The crickets don't climb out right away cuz its too slippery, dubia can't get out and neither can the worms... and it gives Miss time to eat. I go get ready for work and whatever is left in 15 mins, I just dump back into the bug bins.

I chased crickets down for MONTHS in her tank! then one day I was like, why am I not dumping them in the bowl too???! LOL

 

[paigeziegler]

I chased crickets down for MONTHS in her tank! then one day I was like, why am I not dumping them in the bowl too???! LOL

:lol: :lol: LMAO! The mental image of OTHER people hunting crickets too cracks me up. LoL! Anyway, I put in an order for so Dubias (actually from different places) and one of the orders has already shipped, so maybe Mr. Mo will take to them right away and I can just STOP the crickets except for maybe a few a day hand fed just cause he likes them and he's got me comptely wrapped around his little finger....lol...