Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a couple of med. crickets running around in my tegu's tank, and one of them killed a pinkie! Anybody ever see this? Should i get the crickets out of there if my tegu does not eat them immediately?
Thanks again!
Kingsnake.com ROCKS
(the forum can use a little help, though)

Heh, Kingsnake is a wonderful site, but I agree, the forum needs work. Actually, it the forums are horrible. Why they don't just get something like UBB, VBB, or YBB is beyond me. And I'm sure they're even easier to manage than this.

As for the crickets thing: I don't think they pose any SERIOUS (i.e. Life threatening) threat to your tegu, but I think there's the possibility that they could cause damage to the more sensitive areas. I've heard of them eatting off a toe or two. And I wouldn't be suprised if they could cause eye damage if they had the urge to do it.

I think the odds of this happening are very rare, though. Especially if it's not in hibernation. My tegu has always been very easy to wake. And crickets can bite pretty hard (or atleast enough to sting a little. Especially since you never expect it.)

I also keep Tarantulas and it's not too rare that a cricket or two kills a tarantula while it's molting (Shedding it's skin. Tarantulas, spiders, and insects are 100% helpless while doing this. Tarantulas in general flip onto their backs to do it, and the fresh tarantula is very soft skinned)

PERSONALLY, I feed him in a seperate container. To me, it seems easier because the crickets usually won't have any hiding spots. So he finds them all pretty easily. And this way, I have nothing to worry about.

But after all of that, I'd say don't freak out too much, the chances are very small that a cricket can cause any damage.

If it's a concern (because they do have the potential to chew on your little tegu) you can create a cricktet feeder by taking a clear tupperware or rubbermaid and cutting a hole in the center of the lid big enough for your tegu to climb in, eat a bunch of crix (that can't escape) and then climb back out. Or you could just leave some food in your cage for the crix like an apple or potato until the tegu gets them all. Best of luck. Billy

>>I have a couple of med. crickets running around in my tegu's tank, and one of them killed a pinkie! Anybody ever see this? Should i get the crickets out of there if my tegu does not eat them immediately?
>>Thanks again!
>>Kingsnake.com ROCKS
>>the forum can use a little help, though)