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Post by vic on Oct 11, 2005 16:37:57 GMT -8
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Post by RyanF on Oct 11, 2005 17:07:51 GMT -8
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Post by meganb52 on Oct 12, 2005 5:56:36 GMT -8
Crickets are pretty easy to keep when you're not feeding them. All you need is a small critter container which I would "bed" with oatmeal (food source) and apple/potato/cucumber slices (source of moisture-make sure thay are moist and not moldy) That's about all they need. Care would be a little different if you were feedign them to reptiles though.
-Megan
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Post by shrimply on Oct 12, 2005 7:29:06 GMT -8
Now this is just my opinion and I have no idea how pet shops or different places sell crickets. But i do not understand this statement.
At my local reptile shop crickets are sold in little boxes with the middle of an egg box inside and what is in those boxes is enough to keep them going for a good couple of weeks.
If you could please further explain what you ment and if I am wrong I am very sorry. Also instead of worrying about care it would probably be much more sensible to go to a local pet or reptile shop and explained you only needed a few they would probably give you them for almost nothing.(i am pretty sure mine would)remember these people get them for pennies and no one is going to notice a couple of crickets are missing from their box.
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Post by AndreaS15 on Oct 12, 2005 9:13:47 GMT -8
Also instead of worrying about care it would probably be much more sensible to go to a local pet or reptile shop and explained you only needed a few they would probably give you them for almost nothing.(i am pretty sure mine would)remember these people get them for pennies and no one is going to notice a couple of crickets are missing from their box. I've tryed that, i even said I would pay full price but for only half the amount fo crickets.... they said no. I think it's b/c they are allready "bagged" and if they open it they don't want to ahev crickets out all over the store LOL... The same reason i'm not alloud to feed crickets, my b/f is terrified they will get out! |
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Post by shrimply on Oct 12, 2005 9:18:29 GMT -8
Mine does them in tubs and all he has to do is take the lid off and take a few out (Never actually asked him but I know that he has his own for the shop and he would be happy to give some of them)
Also I am pretty sure he already has them all over the shop
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Post by meganb52 on Oct 12, 2005 21:31:10 GMT -8
What I meant by the reptiles statement has absolutely nothing to do with how crickets are kept at the pet store. If you feed crickets "as is" from the petstore you are just asking for metabolic imbalances common in reptiles. Insects generally contain a lot of phosphorus and not a lot of calcium. If you don't "gut load" your crickets (that is, feed them special gut loading food or the staple pellet-type food you feed regularly to your reptile) it can predispose reptiles to metabolic bone disease and vitamin A deficiency, depending on what the rest of the diet is made up of. Reptiles have specific requirements for light as well, and need a full spectrum including UV light to create the "active" form of vitamin D which is necessary to help the body take in calcium. if you add a calcium/phosphorus imbalance on top of improper lighting, you're really in trouble. Without going into a whole lot of details, the moral of my story is that calcium/phosphorus imbalances in the diet can lead to severe bone damage from loss of calcium. Preparing crickets by "gut loading" not only increases their nutritional value but also helps to correct the calcium/phosphorus levels in the food item itself. Probably more than you wanted to know, but there's my answer  -Megan |
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Post by shrimply on Oct 12, 2005 23:17:27 GMT -8
Right the bits about light and stuff i kind of understand (just had my first day helping at the reptile shop)
But basically what you are saying is a one off treat for your gerbils do not need, even though it wouldn't harm the gerbils, the special food fed those for exotic lizards. I believe the crickets I could get come with this special food already in the tub (is this a problem?)
Sorry if I sounded rude i just didn't understand what you meant. It would appear that crickets are sold a completely different way here in the UK.
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Oct 13, 2005 1:21:01 GMT -8
Megan that is so true. Sadly many people forget that (or just don't know) when feeding their reptiles. I can tell you that I've seen my share of reptiles with calcium/phosphorus imbalance (I've worked in a clinic for exotic animals, like reptiles, rodents and birds). Very sad. But indeed the care for crickets, to breed them is of course the same always.
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Post by meganb52 on Oct 13, 2005 4:39:05 GMT -8
Shrimply, in the pet store you help out in, they may include feed with the crickets when you purchase them, but I would still ask what type of food it is they're giving you before writing it off as the proper feed for gut-loading crickets for use as reptile feed. There are several commercial cricket diets out there, and you waant to make sure the one you're feding to the crickets is nutritionally adequate for your reptiles (since they're the ones eating the crickets) Literally, it's a case of "you are what you eat!" Some diets are meant only to keep crickets alive, which takes less nutritional value than if you were feeding them to gut load them as food for another animal. The reason this is so important is the development of metabolic bone disease. I can go into deatail if you'd like, but basically the body doesn't have enough calcium and so it pulls calcium from the bones, causing a rubbery consistency to them, amongst other abnormalities. it's very painful and very easy for a reptile to break bones when they're like this, and it's one of the most common husbandry-related illnesses seen (At least here in the US) Before you go out and buy a reptile as a pet, I urge ANYONE to thoroughly research that animal, what it eats in the wild and where it came from bvefore purchasing to make sure you know how to keep it and what to feed it. 90+% of veterinary issues relating to reptiles could be prevented with proper husbandry practices. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now.
-Megan
EDIT: The reason this is different than ones you're feeding to gerbils is because you should already be feeding a nutritionally balanced feed to them daily and crickets are just treats. It only becomes a problem when crickets are the mainstay of the diet and are expected to provide all the nutrition a reptile needs (or a significant portion of it)
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Post by shrimply on Oct 13, 2005 8:27:37 GMT -8
Trust me any product I get from this place I will be 100% properly informed about. And the man knows everything there is to know about herps. He collects venomous snakes and is the only person in Scotland to hold an alligator license (he has rescued about 5). I don't currently have any lizards(would love some beardies) so it is not a problem at the moment.Thanks for the very detailed response I will always keep it in mind when i get around to purchasing a new scally friend. A rainbow boa is next on my list though.  It great to have someone on here that actually knows the medical side of things. My dream job is a vet that specializes in reptiles (they are few and far between across here) ;D |
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Post by meganb52 on Oct 13, 2005 13:50:26 GMT -8
Not a problem. Actually my first loves in the field of veterinary medicine are fish and herps, so I don't mid discussing them As far as pets go, I would rather have a small constrictor like a corn snake, though rainbows don't get as big as the ball pythons and red-tail boas. Reptiles are fascinating creatures with a biology entirely different than that of mammals, and its one of the reasons I'm drawn to them. Learning all you can from a good herpetologist is one of the best foundations you can build for being able to practice good medicine in the future. Good luck! -Megan |
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Post by shrimply on Oct 13, 2005 23:23:58 GMT -8
Wow that is so weird I also fancied studying fish as well and keep a couple of corns. Have to say I much pefer boids but at the minute my parents say no.
Sorry I have completly taken over this thread.
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