Crickets escaping ???

[Winterhawk1960]

I am having a problem when I feed crickets to my little one. After I dust them and put them in the cage, they seem to find the little spaces in all the corners of the cage to go up inside of the aluminum tubing that makes up the frame. I am feeding small (1/8 - 1/4 inch) crickets and am unsure of how many he is actually getting to eat.

I have tried to sit and watch how many he actually is consuming, but I am unsure, to be totally honest. He has gone to the potty about 5 or 6 times that I can count since arriving last Tuesday. I tried feeding from a cup, so that I would actually know for sure how many he was consuming but he has no interest in that at all.

I'm just wanting to be sure that he is getting all that he needs and I'm not sure how to go about that. I am giving him 15 - 20 crickets a day and I don't know how many are getting up inside the cage frame and not able to get back out.

Any suggestions........as to how to fix this problem would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Elizadolots]

You might try a bigger cup, something more along the lines of a "tub". That way he can climb onto the edge to hunt. If it's big enough, and they're small enough, you probably don't need to hobble them to keep them inside.

 

[javsto]

I have an aluminum screen cage and it has a PVC bottom that was just a bit to small to fit snuggly and all the crix would escape from the open spaces so i fixed it by taping over all of the corners and sides with thick electrical tape both on the inside and outside of the cage. now i dont have any escapees and most of the ones that I drop in there either end up in his poop or just dying of starvation after a time. Hope that helps.

 

[pdefilippo16]

Maybe try putting something in the corners (i.e. a piece of wood or plastic.) that will prevent them from being able to get to the little holes.. I tend to have the same problem, but the crix I'm feeding now can only fit their heads and not the butts and eventually give up trying to get into the hole. GOOD LUCK!

 

[Winterhawk1960]

You might try a bigger cup, something more along the lines of a "tub". That way he can climb onto the edge to hunt. If it's big enough, and they're small enough, you probably don't need to hobble them to keep them inside.

I already tried this one.........I used a pretty large container and he would sit and watch them crawl around in it......BUT......wasn't interested in eating anything that wasn't crawling up the side of the cage.

 

[Winterhawk1960]

Thanks for the replies.......

I've been thinking about what I could plug the little holes with to prevent this from happening. The tape idea sounds like it might do the trick. I have really been trying to just let him get used to his new home and have kept the disruptions to a bare minimum, so as not to disturb him.

I have been watching these crickets climb the side of the cage and make their way to the corners and disappear. I have noticed that some of them do make it back out........especially when the rain dome comes on. He isn't used to the rain dome either yet because he runs for cover when it comes on. I haven't seen him drink, but his poop is white on one end and black on the other..........so I don't think there is a problem there.

I just can't stand "not knowing" how many crickets he is actually consuming and I know that at his age, it is important that he get the nutrition. I've gotta do "something"..........very soon.