Cricx Problem

[spideygirl]

:?:
I've been putting in 1/4" crix with my 4 month old crestie, but find that they tend to hide under the inevitable gaps under the paper toweling I use as substrate. Saw one the other day that I think had been in there at least 2 days hiding! Don't think my little one is that good a hunting them yet so I fear he's not getting what he needs... does anyone else have this issue or have any advice?

[Crested Lady]

I hate those sneaky little crix. However, I did find something that helps...

When I'm cleaning the Kritter Keepers of the hatchlings (the cricket problem only really happens in my smaller enclosures), I fold the papertowel so that the edge goes up the sides of the Kritter Keepers about half an inch. Spray it down and then mush the paper towel down around the edges. I haven't had a problem with crix hiding since I started doing this. Hope this helps!

[gcxbrian]

ripp off the rickets jumping legs

[Crested Lady]

Even if you rip off their back legs, they can still crawl into gaps in the paper towel. :?

[gcxbrian]

not if u do what u said to do

[Crested Lady]

Yup. Squish that paper towel down and you're set. :wink:

[spideygirl]

Thanks for the tip Sarah, I'll try that... for the last few days I've been taking Spidey (can you tell my son named him?) out of his viv and putting him in a smallish (2gal) aquarium with nothing in it, and then adding a couple of crix. He gets those right away and then I put him back in his viv. My only fear is that this may make him lazy when he (and the crix) are big enough to go the "regular" method in the viv. Any thoughts??
Sue

[crestedjunkie]

I have raised all of my cresties like this (feeeding outside of enclosure)and the laziest one still is an execeptional hunter.It also keeps them from possibly ingesting substrate and you know they are getting fresh gutloaded crix on the first day! mine know when its cricket day and some of them are waiting at the top to jump into my arms to get carried to the cricket bucket.



Crestedjunkie

[Chao0104]

I don't use paper towels, I use moss.

[derekls]

You could try feeding them to the cresteds by hand or hemostats.

rip the belly of the crix a bit, or crush its head - and blotch the juice on the cresteds mouth and when it starts licking make sure the crix is up there close and should get a bite response.

I feed all my cresteds F/T gutloaded crickets from hemos. and they munch down every one that I offer to.

hope that helps