How do you keep crickets from invading?

[Barb]

I want to free roam my chameleon when I get one. I don't know how to feed crickets with out moving the Cham into a screened cage to eat them. I feed crickets to my red eyed frogs. Three times now I have had them get out and invade my tort, Uro and my second floor renters homes. Not only imvade their homes, but i have baby crickets popping up in two of the places, and i now have a fourth invasion. I can't have that. How do you feed them and not get them all over your house. Are they a must? I have read about feeder cups, but don't understand how the crickets stay in them and not get out. Any help appreciated.

 

[MollyT]

Could you hand feed? That is probably what I would try.

 

[Barb]

I guess I could try that. I would suspect it would depend on the chameleon itself if he will take to that. Do most of them get used to hand feeding? How exactly do you do it so the Cham knows its a live cricket to eat? I'v never hand fed my lizards before.
Thanks

 

[squeekz1992]

Take a Sunny D cup and cut the front about 1-2 inches from the top and sides and about 1-2 inches from the neck of the bottle. File the sides to get rid of any jagged edges. Take a clipping of screen (make sure it is not going all the way to the edge of the bottle I think a 1/2 inch on each side) hot glue the screen in the bottle. The top and bottom has a lip so the crickets can't get out. Keep a gutload of some sort in the bottom so the crickets don't really "need" to explore.

If you don't have a sunny d bottle, a milk jug would work just fine. Or any jug that is opaque so that your cham doesn't try to go through the sides and damage his tongue

 

[Barb]

How do they not just jump out? I am actually making one of those to feed the worms. I just don't trust that the crickets can't get out.

 

[chamillionaire3]

trust us they will not get out. if you put some gutload in there with them they have no reason to get out. and they will just climb on the screen in there and your cham can feed from it when he pleases. most of us use this method and it is tried and true.

 

[JiouD]

I use the Sunny D method mentioned by squeekz1992 it works great. I introduced it yesterday and my cham started using it right away eating 6-8 crickets. They do not jump out at all!

 

[Barb]

Can someone post a picture of the actual cut outs on the bottles.
Thanks

 

[crocky]

When you put gut load in the cup, what do you typically use. Just curious in the event the Cham got some of it on their tongue when feeding? Of course I know they will eat it anyway via the cricket but curious of any ill effects if they happen to get the gut load prior to the crickets getting it.


And just reading about the opaque color.....mine is clear, wondering if I should change that?

 

[JiouD]

check out this vid, its exactly what I did Cheap and Easy!
As for gutloading I dont put anything in the cup, I feed my crickets 30min-1hour before feeding my chamili. As long as the cricket is placed vertically and have something to climb on too they will pretty much stay in the cup. Its awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1acx7nkCLg

 

[Barb]

Thanks. Really cool video. I love watching them fling out that tongue.