Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I know that dragons need to be fed dusted or gutted crickets and all that but what about Zoo Med's Can O' Crickets? Can these be a substitute for live crickets if a salad and pellets are also fed? Will they still get the same nutrients?

would you rather have a 1 pound steak or a pound of beef jerky for dinner?

i've never considered buying those can-o-crickets....only the best for my beardies. even if that means i can't eat because i'm spending all my money on crickets and whatnot. those cans are probably packed with loads of preservitives to keep them "fresh". But, i may be wrong. they could work just fine.

all i know is that at www.nyworms.com this guy is selling a box of 2,000 crickets for $25.99 and that includes shipping. so, you can buy them from them, put into a large rubermaid tote, and store them in the basement or garage.

yeah im aginst using those can-o-anythings
first off it smell horible ,also once you open the can if you dont go through it an about 2-3 days you will have a mold and bug problem in and around the can.. even with the lid on

seriously you should just feed em' live stuff much healtherier and no one really knows what they put into those nasty can-o's-
-----
0.0.1 Jungle carpet
0.0.2 Emp scorpion
((Gone But not forgotten))~Rocky-9 Yr. Iggy 0.1.0 green iguana
0.0.3 Leopard gecko
0.0.(Who knows) Crikits

I had a feeling that they couldn't be that healthy but I just wanted to be sure. I'm 14 and I know my mom won't be too thrilled with having 500 live crickets in my room. Thnaks for the help!

hehe yeah my mom wasnt too happy either but she got over it,yeah me im 16,i wish there were more girls like that around here, even in florida and all all the girls think a snake is slimy and nasty and that a lizard is some sort of dinasour going to kill em

oh and if you even mention criket or roach..

what i do is have about 40-50 in my room and have about 200 in the backyard garage breeding
-----
0.0.1 Jungle carpet
0.0.2 Emp scorpion
((Gone But not forgotten))~Rocky-9 Yr. Iggy 0.1.0 green iguana
0.0.3 Leopard gecko
0.0.(Who knows) Crikits

The other thing about the can-o-whatever is that the feeder insects will more than likely start to absorb the aluminum from the can and from what I've learned over the years aluminum is supposed to be one of the causes of some human illnesses so think of what it would do to your beardie not to mention the other things that they probably put in there that they don't list on the label. I'd stick with live feeder insects because they're safer and the dust isn't that much since it doesn't take that much to dust a few crickets.

I've been using ZooMed's Cano(& Mini)Crickets and Silkworms for years and my female loves them. It better for me because i'm a college student that legally can't have crickets in my apartment! I can leave th edusted crickets/worms in the cage to be eaten in the morning and not have to worry them nibbling on my dragon, cause they are dead! They don't mold if you put them in the refrigerator, and they smell like peanut butter if you warm them up for your dragon (recommended). One can lasts me 3 or 4 days. oh course i make a salad and use pellets, and my beardie has never had any adverse affects.
-Sara

I've been using can o crickets and can o grasshoppers and my Dragon LOVES THEM. I mean who cares about the smell? Your dragon won't care so why should you? Live crickets are far more smelly than anything in a can and at least in the can o products the insects are cooked in the can as part of the canning process. So most likely any bad organisms are killed. As far as preservatives and leaching metal fromt he can....don't worry about any of this. It's nonsense. People eat from cans everyday with no ill effects whatsoever. Another great thing is Can o crickets and the other can o products are also high in moisture and the large crickets are HUGE so you get lotsa food in a can. I feed several to my dragon,who sucks them down, then I put the rest in the fridge for the next day.

Dusting is easy. Just put a few in a paper cup with your dusting powder and shake it up. How hard is that? Buying the Can O products can be pricey but some online dealers offer huge discounts for buying multiple cans. I suggest http://www.reptiledirect.com youcan get a great deal buying in bulk.

With all due respect to the "purists" around here there are other viable safe solutions for feading Dragons!
-----
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon(Ziggy)
0.1.0 Royal/Ball Python(Not named yet)

Oh, also the "cooked in the can" process softens the exoskeleton and that's probably a good thing for your dragon.
-----
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon(Ziggy)
0.1.0 Royal/Ball Python(Not named yet)

yep, it is. But i don't know exactly they do that whole 'cooke din teh can' thing. It seems weird for the crickets.

Awhile back, before I knew any better, I tried the can o' products with Gordo. He took one look at them and looked at me like; "What the hell is this digusting crap"?! Why buy them when live food is cheaper, better and more appealing? I guess I just don't understand. I must be one of those "purists".
-Nicky
-----
We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight...
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
-Alice In Chains-
1.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo & Chiquita
2.2 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki & Delilah

It's not always better, seeing as the main problem ppl have with sand is their dragons ingesting it when they eat it. Also, they have problems with the crickets hiding and nibbling at them while the dragon sleeps. Also, don't you have to spend money to feed and house crickets? and also, don't they occassionaly get out and chirp at night?

Price, it's realtive, most sites charge $8-10 for 500 crix, when a can is 500-600 crix at only 5. (shipping is less too)

so, if you don't have a spoiled lizard, i don't see why O'Can is so bad.

-Sara

LOL. Are you talking to me? When did I mention sand? I use non-stick shelf liner. I also take the time to remove all the crickets in the evening. Although, I use silk worms more than crickets. It's natural for them to eat living prey...and not something that's um, been "cooked in a can". Yes, it takes time and money to keep insects. But it's worth it. Sometimes crickets get out...so? My cat's like to catch them! Maybe part of being a "purist" is actually taking the time to feed your dragons properly. Bye!
-Nicky
-----
We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight...
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
-Alice In Chains-
1.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo & Chiquita
2.2 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki & Delilah

.
-----
We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight...
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
-Alice In Chains-
1.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo & Chiquita
2.2 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki & Delilah

well, good for you, but i actually have a life. Given, my dragon is like a child for me, but no one spends 24/7/365 with their child attending to their every need. I go to school full-time, work full-time, and have a bf.
-Sara

You're too funny! It doesn't take 24/7/365. Do you think that feeding them properly falls into that category? It's sad that people just have "cool" pets instead of actually taking the time to caring for their needs. Yep...just pop it out of a can and you're good to go. I spend about 45 min a day doing dragon "chores". I happen to fit it in with my life. Would you feed your kids frozen dinners every night? Good night!
-----
We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight...
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
-Alice In Chains-
1.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo & Chiquita
2.2 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki & Delilah

yes, i would because i hate kids and i never want to have any. yea, i probably spend about that much time on mine too, plus handling her/ interacting.
-Sara

i'm glad you like to laugh at me.

Don't let people who don't agree with your methods make you feel as if you don't care as much. That's nonsense. I'm sure you care about your animals just as much as anyone else here.
-----
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon(Ziggy)
0.1.0 Royal/Ball Python(Not named yet)

thank you!

Lots of things are "natural" but not PRACTICAL. Do you hink its natural to have your dragons locked in a cage with food brought to it and it's poop scooped up? In nature they'd be on their own. Eating whatever it could get it' mouth on. Not being feed fat crickets to its heart's content.
-----
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon(Ziggy)
0.1.0 Royal/Ball Python(Not named yet)

You know what...I'm done with this issue. I stated my opinion that can o' products are disugsting crap. It wasn't me who got defensive or attacked anybody's methods first...reread the thread. I simply wondered why someone would choose those products over live. In fact, I never had any luck getting ANYTHING to eat those can o' products. Maybe some people have more experience with reptiles than just buying a lizard a month or a few months ago, and now thinking that they know it all. Do you EVEN know what's in those products? Do you think it's all listed neatly on the label? ROFL. Let me know in a few years if your dragon is still "thriving" on can o' crap. I'm done. Ta!
-----
We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight...
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home
-Alice In Chains-
1.1 Bearded Dragons: Gordo & Chiquita
2.2 Cats: Zeus, Remi, Kiki & Delilah

Yes, i did reread the thread, and it was YOU who started using stupid interenet slang and swearing. given, most of us are adults, but some of us are not. I am trying to be mature here. i'll done too.

Canned insects aren't bad. For some of us keeping thousands of -smelly- crickets isn't an option. And no matter how careful you are one or two ALWAYS escape.
-----
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon(Ziggy)
0.1.0 Royal/Ball Python(Not named yet)

My point is just because it didn't work for -you- that doesn't mean it won't work for someone else or that what someone else does is "bad" or "not caring" because you don't agree.

MY dragon -LOVES- can o products. Now another company is making Canned Silkworms. Guess what? I'm gonna try those too. If the Dragon likes them, I'm pretty sure he will, I'll add those too.
-----
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon(Ziggy)
0.1.0 Royal/Ball Python(Not named yet)

i'm in t heprocess of an experiment to see if ZooMed's Can'O stuffs lasts longer/more appealing than Eco's can products.

wow, didn't mean to start that. um, thanks for yalls opinions!

it's ok, some ppl are just stubborn (like me) ^_^