Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys, Well I'm making the switch slowly from crickets over to roaches and have just received the first bunch of B. Dubias to start my colony.

My question is probably stupid but the water crystals ya get to make the gel, I made some and was SHOCKED to see the whole dang pitcher FULL of them after a short time. I already gave the roaches a big shallow lid full.

My question is do these keep? What do I do with a giant pither full of jellied water? Thanks
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PHEve / Eve

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These keep, I forgot some in the back of my fridge for 3 months and they were still good when I found them.

I use agar agar powder though, and cut them into cubes myself from a pan, I don't use the pre-made crystals.

-Brock

Put them in a covered containeer in the fridge and use as I need them? If so sounds good! :0)
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

>>Hi guys, Well I'm making the switch slowly from crickets over to roaches and have just received the first bunch of B. Dubias to start my colony.
>>
>>My question is probably stupid but the water crystals ya get to make the gel, I made some and was SHOCKED to see the whole dang pitcher FULL of them after a short time. I already gave the roaches a big shallow lid full.
>>
>> My question is do these keep? What do I do with a giant pither full of jellied water? Thanks
>>-----
>>PHEve / Eve
>>
>>Contact PHEve

Yeah...you gotta watch them crystals lol. A spoonfull is usually enough to make about a quart's worth of gel.

I think if you take that pitcher and dump the gel in a clean bucket and add more water to cover the gel cystals, chances are they'll probably swell even more. That's how I know when the crystals are fully hydrated...when the water stops disappearing. Then I just drain the excess water from the gel in a kitchen strainer. You don't want to give partially hydrated gel to animals... as they eat it and it can cause swelling in their bodies.

I use those cheap glad ware containers to store the hydrated gel in. As long as the container is sealed, you don't have to refridgerate them..I just store them in a cabinet.
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PHWyvern

Your so dang helpful, hehehehe

It was funny , I had never used them, reminded me of those goofy sponge animals for kids(I like them too) you put in water and WALA instant GIANT.

Only there were zillions of jellied water cubes, LMAO

I thought what the heck do I do with all these things, LOL wonder why it says to use an ounce (whole baggie) of crystals. NOW I KNOW,

Thanks buddy!
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Eve, I have had unused water crystals dry up back to the hard little pebbles before. I just add more water and not too long later they are back in gel form.
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1.1.0 Leopard Geckos (Booger, Gimp)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Lucutis)
0.0.1 Quince Monitor (Pollux)
1.2.0 Thayeri Kingsnakes (Korben, Leeloo, Artax)
1.2.0 California Kingsnakes (Beetlejuice, Maraca, Kodos)

Oh that's right too, I forgot about that. You can lay them out on a pan and place them in the sun or something, and they'll dry up and you can re-use them in the future.

But, keeping them in the fridge is no problem either, but the drying bit is a good idea if you reall actually have zillions

-Brock