Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know of a source for FLIGHTLESS house flies besides http://www.reptilespecialties.com/ ? They are out of stock right now. I don't think I can contain the flying kind, and Leeloo isn't doing too well with crix and won't eat mealworms.
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

What do you really mean when you said he isn't "doing well with crix"? Do you mean that he isn't eating them much as usual? If it is, then it's not much of a problem, since winter slows down their activity, metabolism, and digestion. It happens to all reptiles, due to the decline of temperature. If your anole's healthy, but eating less then usual, he'll eat again in a normal amount in next season.

Tim
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Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time.

Protect the global wildlife.

By the way, house flies are rather ok for anoles, but definitely not the healthiest (in fact, it may be the filthies feeder insects you can provide for them, due to its ability of transmitting 200 different parasites and pathogens), since many house flies had infatuation with garbage and mammal feces. I used to feed houes flies occasionally to my anoles, but due to the sudden death of Greeney yesterday, I decided not to feed them anymore. Anoles love them not because they're addictive, but they're challenging to catch, and that's what anoles are exactly looking for. Therefore, if I were you, I'd stop giving your anoles houseflies, or else an unknown sickness may be fallen upon your lizard.

Tim
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Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time.

Protect the global wildlife.

Thanks for the info, Tim. I don't feed her wild bugs - that's why I was looking for cultures that I know are clean. I'm having trouble with the crix because she won't eat in front of me so the ones she doesn't eat are loose all over her cage, getting larger and larger to the point where she can't eat them. And I can't catch them and remove them except once in a while because of the cage furniture in the way. I can't empty the cage to get them because she's already so freaky, I don't want to add to the stress.

Sooo...I know I sound like an idiot, but I just keep putting in food for the crix, so they don't eat her, and catching the big ones when I can. I've stopped putting new crix in since I found where they were hiding (I didn't know they were there for a long time) at least until I can get them cleaned out. There's at least some that are still small that I've seen - and I know she's eating them SOME because she's not skinny and still pooping.

I was hoping for clean flies since they never get too big. At least as an additional food source, since I've also heard flies have a bit of a nasty exoskeleton to digest.
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

Well, if you don't want the crickets to nibble your anole all over the place daily, then I'm afraid there's no way but to remove them in the hard way. Don't worry, I've done this before several times when few uneaten crickets were jumping around. Yes, they do freak out, and get excited, but as long as you make sure that your anole doesn't escape while you're removing the crickets it's all fine. I had to remove all of the furnishings too, so that I can remove the crix. Your anole will just get scared a bit, but after you put all the furnishings back, she'll be happy again as usual. This is heck of a lot better than having vicious crickets chewing on your anole, and causing infections in bitemarks.

Tim
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Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time.

Protect the global wildlife.

el_toro, have you tried lobster roaches? Theyre Healthier, and easier to breed than crickets.

M.N

Hmm. No, I hadn't thought about it. I might have to get over my roach "thing" first. I'll look into it!

Thanks!
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)