Re: [gecko]Mealworm vs. Cricket plus introduction

[Doug Johnston]

Paul... I understand the issue of crickets in an apartment, but crickets do not stink. If the container they are kept in is not kept clean, and they are not kept properly so some of them die, the feces and dead decaying cricket bodies stink. Also, only adult male crickets are noisy, so as long as you don't buy the adult (6 week) size, they don't make noise, either! I'd rather feed a few more 4 week crickets than the larger, noisier 6 week olds. FWIW... I keep crickets in large rubbermaid storage containers with no top on them (crickets need good air circulation). If you use a smaller version with a top, make sure you cut out most of the top and glue or bond in aluminum screen (I use a soldering iron to melt the screen to the top). I lay down a layer of alfalfa before adding the crickets... it gives a nice smell and also food for the crix. I just buy the stuff used to feed hamsters, etc., but you want a brand that isn't mostly sticks! I pile torn up egg carton on one side to give them places to hide. I then add orange wedges, summer squash pieces, dandelion, a small disposable cup with cut up pieces of  sweet potato, zucchini, nopales cactus and carrot, and a larger container of dry gutload. I use the recipe at http://www.adcham.com/html/husbandry/gutload.html I buy thousands of crickets weekly, so I clean out the container(s) before adding new crickets. If the veggies mold or dry out, remove and replace with fresh. This method works and gives you well gutloaded crix for your geckos. Crickets that arrive from the breeders are nutritionally bankrupt!!! They are usually also dehydrated, but good producers usually ship with some cut up carrot or squash to minimize that. Crickets you buy from the reptile store are usually even worse because they figure they are selling them quick, so why bother feeding them! One other thing... another reason crickets stink is because folks insist on supplying water, using creative ways to try and keep the crix from drowning themselves! They usually end up with a lot of soggy cricket bodies that do stink, plus a great bacteria factory!!! Crickets that have access to fresh veggies need no water!!! pjj wrote: Jessica and all,        I am having about the same problem, some of my Leo's go after the mealies, and some look at them lick them and walk away from them. Crickets stink and they are noisy, and like jessica I live in an apartment.      Btw Since were introducing ourselfves I also am a newbie to geckos, though we have had water dragons in the past, I also am from Maryland, ellicott city to be exact.   Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: jessica To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 2:30 AM Subject: RE: [gecko]I built it - Bookshelf Habitat Paul,   Your babies are adorable!  And the bookshelf looks great.   Since it seems to have been newbie introductions week, I'll add myself.  My name is Jessica, and I'm from MD (hi Yuri, we're probably neighbors).  I'm just a beginner really.  I have had one male leopard for a little over a year (though he was already about 2 when I got him).  Peanut is spoiled rotten but probably lonely.  He's getting some lady friends in a couple of months though.    I've been reading the list for a while and I think it's a great resource.  Does anyone have suggestions as to how I can get him to stop turning his nose up at mealworms?  He used to go after them with relish but now all he'll eat are crickets.  He's healthy with a nice fat tail so I'm not worried about him nutritionally, and he gets the proper supplements either way.  I don't mind giving him crickets as a treat, but I live in an apartment and crickets are noisy so I'd rather not have to keep them around all the time.    Anyway, thanks for the info and allowing me to learn about other species of gex!   -Jessica -- Doug Johnston http://pages.sbcglobal.net/scubadug