Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been keeping my outside crickets watered with sponges, and when I bring them inside to "super-gutload", I water with the Calcium-fortified Quencher only. In the past I have only had the crickets inside for a day or two, but my most recent batch has been inside for four-five days. This morning I pulled out some twenty dead crickets! The only thing they have that should make a difference is the Quencher. Any ideas?

Diana

I did notice that these are actually dead, not just sheds. I don't see nearly this many die in the outdoor enclosure.

Well, first thing is that Fluker stuff is junk. I heard it can kill a beardie by drying up and if the beardie eats the stuff it can expand in the stomach. For water use a piece of squash, oranges, or potatoes. Inside in the (super gut-load tank) use a piece of butternut squash along with some chicken mash. The squash is very good for the beardies, and the crix will eat it and use it for water. The chicken mash can be bought at a feed store. It's called egg layers mash. This stuff is great cause it has vitamins and calcium added to it for the chickens, and cost like 5 bucks for a huge bag full. It's made out of mostly grains. In a pinch some mashed up cherios, or total cereal, fish food and a tiny bit of powdered milk works great for the gutload too. Out side go ahead and use chunks of potatoes or the oranges, and some mash too. Just got to change the fruit/veggies every three days or so, or if the potatoes are still good just reslice the top so the criz get too a fresh part. This will work great and will keep them aliVe for a while. I think the main problem inside was with the moisture. Crix die fast in an enclosure with to much moister and not enough ventilation, and that Gell junk is all moister.
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Mystical Dragons

I have been using the Calcium Fortified gel from Fluker for my crickets, and you're right. I do notice that they die more quickly. Out of 100 that I keep weekly for my dragons, probably a third of them die in just a few days. I was attracted to that "Calcium Fortified" claim on the package. Personally, I like to give them bits of safe fruit instead, along with the regular gutload.

I have noticed recently a new product (well, new to me) in stores called water packets. They're more of a gauzy packet and you soak it in water until it looks like a little pillow. THey last a few days and they can be cleaned and reused by the crickets. I haven't tried them out yet, but they look pretty interesting.

Not to mention the horrible things Flukers has done as a company, and why support them if you could do the same thing witha sliced orange?
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MY Dragons!!

eat all the veggies and greens my dragons eat, each day when i make up the dragon dishes i make up a cricket dish also, collard greens, escarole, endive etc and soaked repcal pellets, the crickets love it and the repcal pellets make great sources of moisture for the crickets. just an idea

i wouldnt use any fluker products, dont support them with purchasing their products. you can do a search on the forum if you want to read up on flukers, or on the net for that matter, im sure there is lots of info out there.

>>Not to mention the horrible things Flukers has done as a company, and why support them if you could do the same thing witha sliced orange?
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>> MY Dragons!!
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reiko
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