In-cage cricket feeder

[Psychobunny]

So, I like to keep some loose crick nymphs in Slinky's cage so he can find
food while I am at work.
As you all know, the cricks like to gather up top, where the light is, and just
hang out there.

So, I got a bird feeder cup, used a Dremmil tool to cut out the side walls,
drilled a few little holes in the floor to drain any water that may get in it, and
glued a magnet to it, and a washer (or another magnet) on the outside of the
cage.

This way, the cricks wont bother my little guy, and they can stay gut loaded
and happy until they get eaten

Like this:

 

[craig90]

they can stay gut loaded
and happy until they get eaten

This is kind of sad when you think about it. At least they don't know it's coming lol. Cool idea though, I should do something like that too.

 

[Psychobunny]

Thanks, I'm sure there is an easier way to do it, I just like playing with my
Dremmil tool

 

[renderit1]

you seem the type to sit there looking and thinking "how can I make this better". that looks pretty clever, im building a cage and definitely going to implement this. I currently have him in a cage with an open front, he likes to sleep on a branch that's sticks out of the cage sometimes.

how about putting it halfway up the cage so they have a reason to go back down? or would your cham not let them live long enough to do it?

 

[happiness]

My crickets seem to go to the bottom and try to squeeze through the cracks There are some that go to the light though.

I really love this idea.

 

[zsazsa85]

And how do you solve the calcium?
Really good idea though!

 

[little leaf]

lol- love it - but I don't feed many crix- and what I do toss in, they are gone in seconds - lol and we all know roaches are the " vampires" of the feeder world- "ahhhhhh the light" and they are gone- even tho I do not feed many crix, I am going to keep this in mind for summer, and flies and I agree, give us a Dremmil , hot glue gun, and duct tape, we can fix the world- well, at least build a heck of a cham cage anyway

 

[Psychobunny]

Okay, this idea is not working out!
The cricks are not going to the food!
I think they know there is a predator lurking about, and don't seem to want
to expose themselves by moving to the food.

So now, I have to figure a way to get all these cricks out of the cage and back
into their bin so they can gutload
And, I need to do this w/o freaking out little Slinky

Oh well, seemed like a good idea, but I guess not!

 

[MelissaB]

I take a milk cap/gatorade cap, put a little bit of cricket food in it, and set it on the bottom of the cage in a corner. The crickets come down at night and eat it. It's fresh food that's been sent through the food processor, so it's little bitty pieces.