puff
Hatchling
Posts: 6
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Post by puff on Aug 8, 2006 2:53:15 GMT -5
Hello guys, I'm new to this forum and relatively new to CWD. I've had mine for a few months now - Puff & Spike are their names! ;D But my problem is not them is the crickets.... they dont really like eating crickets, they love locusts.... When I first got them i was told to feed them crickets but I dont think they were eating them all and basically the crickets have breed.... at the weekend I cleared out the tank, put in fresh bark hoovered everything out etc but i cant get rid of all of the crickets. Loads of them hopped out in to my bedroom during the process of clearing the tank out, and i still KEEP finding them - they're horrible  But now when i look in to the tank i can still see baby crickets.. not as many mind you but still quite a few and no doubt they're gonna breed??? What do I do? I want to get rid of them, with locusts they eat them all up... but I doubt they'll eat the crickets before they breed more....... HELP!   |
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b
Hatchling
Posts: 5
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Post by b on Aug 9, 2006 23:42:41 GMT -5
This happened to me once the crickets laid eggs in my carpet
it was a mess. I moved my pets and plants out and bug bombed my house. Good luck
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puff
Hatchling
Posts: 6
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Post by puff on Aug 10, 2006 2:51:38 GMT -5
How do I kill them off from the tank though? They're still in there and i guess will keep breeding  |
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Post by Rawksan on Aug 10, 2006 15:04:35 GMT -5
Try to get the earth dry first. Eggs and hatchling crickets do not survive to heat and dryness. Or remove all the substrate, wash and get some new..
Just do not throw the crickets in the reptile tank anymore. Throw them into a small transparent plastic cup you will put into your tank, or any plastic bowl, so your water dragons will eat them there and they won't escape and breed in the tank.
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puff
Hatchling
Posts: 6
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Post by puff on Aug 11, 2006 4:18:13 GMT -5
I wont feed them crickets anymore I dont think... they dont seem to like them, i feed them locusts and worms (wax) they seem to love them. Do you think it'd be ok if I put the dragons in a temporary tank over night (max 24 hours) then i can spray the tank etc... and kill off all the offending crickets... then I can put them back in. It would mean they'd be without their heat lamp etc....? If I did put them in to a cup like you say (the crickets) then they'd probably hop out because they wouldnt eat them in time?  |
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Post by Rawksan on Aug 11, 2006 8:38:13 GMT -5
Using insecticide is not really good idea, if you want my opinion  It's toxic, you would need to remove the earth and substrate anyway and even if you clean, maybe there would still be toxic vapours, and I would not take the risk. Get rid of all the earth and substrate, then rinse with water. While you're doing this, put your dragons in some smaller but still adequate place. Heat with a normal lamp, at least, and try to get it a bit humid by spraying a bit. It would be ok to feed them with locusts and wax worms, but also try small pinkies, silkworms, and some mealworms.. and dont forget to let some cutted veggies available in their tank. |
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puff
Hatchling
Posts: 6
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Post by puff on Aug 11, 2006 18:51:12 GMT -5
I thought mealworms were not good to feed to the dragons though cos if they dont bite the heads off they can eat through their stomach???
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Post by Rawksan on Aug 14, 2006 10:32:04 GMT -5
That is not true, it's some kind of legend. Mealworms are not the best food item because they have harder shells than crickets, waxworms and silkworms, and it is harder to digest. there are more chances that it leads to intestinal impaction.
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Post by Orville on Sept 20, 2006 17:04:44 GMT -5
Hey! I just got a WD 3 days ago and hes just started ignoring his food. I've put it down to stress of just moving into his new home but reading about the impacting mealworms, I'm a little worried in case this is why he's not eating. I'm probably over worrying but I dont want him to get ill so I dont want to miss any symptoms. Are there any signs that I can look for that would suggest that this is whats wrong?
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Post by Rawksan on Sept 22, 2006 19:01:12 GMT -5
Hi Orville,
First, you should check up the parameters of your terrarium. The temperature, the humidity, is there fresh water, is there hidding places for you lizard?
If everything doublechecked IS perfect, then look at the diversity of food items, preferences of your lizard.. Try to feed him in the morning, and do not leave uneaten insects in the terrarium because this is a great cause of stress.
When there is an intestinal impaction, the lizard won't poop, so check if yours did in the last days, check if it was more like solid or more liquid, brown or a weird color..
There are more than one possible reasons that could explain why he wont eat. Reptiles stops to eat when they are somewhat already sick, or when they are highly stressed. It might be one reason, or the other, in your case. It is a good thing you let it alone for a while, I mean not manipulating him, because changing terrarium is a reasonable stress for a lizard.
Give us some news!
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Post by Orville on Sept 26, 2006 10:17:31 GMT -5
HEY!! Thanks for your advice! Sorry guys meant to reply a few days ago but I just havent had the chance! HE'S POOPED!! WOOHOO!! ;D They STINK THOUGH!! I hope this isnt a problem! He absolutely loves his mealworms and his crickets he will eat now but only if he's exceptionally in the mood... and that he knows he wont get mealworms instead! He seems to have settled in quite well and he's still a pretty green which is great news! Thanks again for the advice, I never thought that the uneaten crickets would stress him. I need to bare that in mind because they're a little too fast for him and sometimes they get away! A good clear out is in order I think! I've got some cooling in the fridge as I type! Orville |
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Post by Pooka on Sept 26, 2006 14:14:59 GMT -5
Cooling is a good option for a wild/escapee cricket problem, perosnally I use my fingers or tweezers to pluck the hind legs off the crickets then keep them in a shallow dish this allows me to keep them confined in one area and the dragons to eat at their leisure. The added benefit is that you can more accuratly monitor the amount of food items they consume then just tossing a handful of free roaming insects in.
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Post by Orville on Sept 27, 2006 8:50:08 GMT -5
Thanks! that sounds like a fab idea but they're soooo gross!! I will have to build up to this I think!! I still cant hold them yet! I have a serious personality clash with them!! LOL! I have one of those cricket houses so I just have to shake the tube! I could perhaps refrigerate them first to slow them down and then yank off their legs!! Ooo ill feel like a kid in a playground lol.
Thanks again for your help!
Orville
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Post by Orville on Sept 27, 2006 12:03:08 GMT -5
Ooo, by the way, does anyone reccomend feeding a chinese water dragon earthworms? I've heard a few people suggest it but I can't find it on the internet anywhere so I'm not sure!
Thanks
Orville
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Post by Pooka on Sept 27, 2006 23:19:33 GMT -5
Earthworms are a good source of calcium and other nutrients, some dragons love them, others hate them. Some owners theorize that they can carry parasites though (but so can any feeder really) so a continued annual vet visit should be taken as a check up precation. Oh and of the gross out thing, you'll get used to them quickly. I am totally ok with insects that gave me the ebby-gebbies a year or two ago, guess you de-senstize after awhile.
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But now when i look in to the tank i can still see baby crickets.. not as many mind you but still quite a few and no doubt they're gonna breed???
It's toxic, you would need to remove the earth and substrate anyway and even if you clean, maybe there would still be toxic vapours, and I would not take the risk.
