No crickets?

[cloverthechameleon]

Hey has this ever happened to anyone one or does anyone know why my 1 week old veiled hatchlings won't eat some 1/8 inch crickets? Today my fruit fly colonies ran out so I got 60 1/8 inch crickets to get me thru to tomorrow but my hatchlings are just not eating them their shooting them then chewing for a bit then spitting them out and shaking their heads. Is it because the crickets are to big or their not use to crickets as they have been in flies for the last week. The crickets were also lightly calcium dusted so maybe they didn't like the taste? It could also be that their not use to the antennas of the crickets. Any help would be nice, thanks

 

[ReptileLove18]

how are you feeding the crickets to them? in a cup or free range? have they every had crickets before?

 

[midcoastchameleon]

I have had experience with babies before and to my best guess in your situation they are just being food shy. Just keep attempting the feedings, and when you get your flies, just offer a mixture, that usual helps them little guys figure it out.

 

[Rottsko]

1/8 inch crickets are too big for one week old babies. They can eat fruit flies and pinheads at that age. I would remove them ASAP from their cage bc they will bite the babies.

 

[cloverthechameleon]

Ya ill just get some more flies to feed them till they get bigger. They ate or killed all of the crickets they were pretty tiny tho their was Afew that were 1/8 inch most were just a bit bigger than pinheads. Ill make sure theirs no more before they goto sleep thanks

 

[Rottsko]

breed your own fruit flies. it's really easy and saves a lot of money when babies are around

 

[cloverthechameleon]

I would but I wasn't expecting the baby's for about a week or two so I didn't have time to get cultures going.

 

[Rottsko]

i see. yeah, you have to plan ff cultures out a couple of weeks in advance. well good luck w/ the babies!

 

[sandrachameleon]

ya, spit out likely means prey is too large

try also bean beetles, baby mealworms, baby silkworms....

 

[cloverthechameleon]

ya thanks i think they were a bit to big. ya sandra i have some bean beatles and afew more ff cultures ill try some crickets in accouple weeks!