How do you guys dust your crickets????

[Kamillion]

I have been having issues with dusting the crickets.. At first I would toss them into a bag and only dust at the time of feeding... Then I just dusted all 50 and left them in the container but more seemed to have died that time..now I'm back to my old ways and they keep jumping out when I try to transfer them from thier container to the bag( for dusting).....HOW DO U GUYS DO IT?

 

[Sleaper88]

I always keep an empty container, put the crix I want feed into the container with a bit of dust nd lid on nd gently shake

 

[pssh]

I put the bugs in a separate container (a 16 or 32 oz deli cup usually) and put a tiny bit of dust in the tub with them then swirl them around in it. Make sure the bugs only turn one shade lighter when you dust. They shouldn't be like ghosts.

 

[AlecWade]

I like using the bag method because I can pull the edges tight and count all the crickets. I take a very small pinch of supplements and shake them like crazy!

If you use a cup make sure to use one that's decently deep or many will hop out once you get them in. Put the bag or cup INSIDE of the cricket bin while you are collecting them and much less will be lost during transfer.

 

[Elizadolots]

I think you want to dust as close to feeding time as possible because they'll clean themselves off pretty quickly. I do the dixie cup, swirl method myself.

 

[TreeTopChameleons]

I also like using the bag method, not only does it seem that the shaking in a bag is a little more cushioned as compared to a plastic cup, but as was already stated, I like to pull the corners tight and count out exactly how many feeders each one is receiving. I'm sure both methods could work equally as well tho, just comes down to preference I think.

 

[Rottsko]

this is what i did for my duster...

https://www.chameleonforums.com/make-cricket-duster-cheap-3089/

 

[Kmw]

I wouldn't dust them all at once.. most of the powder will be gone by the time you get around to feeding. Also crickets have little holes in the outside of their bodies which work like lungs, and I imagine coating it in powder would kill them quicker.

I use a plastic cup, swirl them around then dump it in. You could also use a bag and pinch the corner where the powder is so you don't dump all the dust in with the feeders.

 

[Todnedo]

Shake and bake Ricky Bobby!!!!

 

[dragongoddess]

Shake and bake Ricky Bobby!!!!

LOL!!!!

 

[Ashleigh]

I use a tumbler cup with 1/4 tsp of calcium powder in it and put one or two at a time and shake them around until they are covered and hold the cup up to feed them to Loki. If you are putting them in another cup for feeding, dust all at once, whatever you think he would eat at one feeding and transfer into a feeding cup by tapping the side of the cup to put the crickets but not the extra powder into it. Works for me!

 

[Dr O]

what?!?!

am i the only one absolutely in love with the Rep-Cal Cricket Shaker??? i own 4 at this point and absolutely love them!!!

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754051

 

[Benton1576]

what?!?!

am i the only one absolutely in love with the Rep-Cal Cricket Shaker??? i own 4 at this point and absolutely love them!!!

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754051

Looks like it O. I put some dust into a small plastic cricket container (the ones mine used to come in, I have hundreds!). I put the lid on, give them a shake then empty them into the same type plastic tub hanging on the side of my cage by means of a hook stuck to the side. Works for me.

 

[Psychobunny]

I just dump some cricks into a tall plastic deli container, put some dust in, swirl it around, and carefully transfer the coated cricks to another clean container.
I have been tempted to try that cricket shaker for some time, so maybe I will finally give in and buy one. I guess I was waiting for someone on the forum to recommend it first

 

[Dr O]

i stand by the shaker 100%! my first one had Fluker's name on it which i believe was a long time ago. if you get dead bugs, poop, twigs, bran whatever it cleans out so easily while keeping all of your good dust in the seperate, bottom compartment. well made, keeps the bugs in, easy to put bugs in, etc.

i never have used the tube part of it where a bug would go and hide as they're just not in there long enough, it's just used for the dusting. but i suppose it is worth saying that if you have your feeders in there long enough that you're depending on the tube to shake them out, you're probably losing any gut load by keeping them in there too long.

 

[ZuggieTheCham]

This is my dusting box never had any escape

 

[Kate]

My crickets come with a bit of egg carton in the box. I transfer them into a large ventilated box along with egg carton. When ready to feed I shake a few off the egg carton into a wide necked container, dust very lightly and feed, after viv has been misted.

 

[oldskoolmodder]

I currently dust in the same as a few mentioned "Dixie cup Shake n' Bake". However I plan to make some kind of contraption like the cricket shaker Dr. O posted.

It looks perfect but I feel like it would be hard to get crickets for 5-6 animals in there. I'm not sure on how big that one is, but maybe custom make one that holds a bit more? I'll try and find this thread to post pics if I get around to that.

For now the dixie cup OR the chinese food soup container is right next to the crickets

 

[XtremeHobby]

When feeding my 2 dragons (breeding pair so they get lots) and my (soon to be breeding pair) 2 panther chameleons I take a large cup put about 50-80 crickets in with the vitamin supplements and swirl them around. Usually there is too many crickets in there that they can't jump but if you make them dizzy from swirling they won't jump..

 

[Dr O]

It looks perfect but I feel like it would be hard to get crickets for 5-6 animals in there. I'm not sure on how big that one is, but maybe custom make one that holds a bit more?

well, i currently walk around and feed around 20 chams with just one of these cups at a time whether it has roaches/superworms/crickets/beetles/whatever. and they're not jammed in there or anything! 100 1" dubias would fill it halfway to 2/3 at the most. i've probably had 75 or so crickets also filling it halfway. i really doubt most would need anything larger.