[Zoodulcis]

Howdy Alpha,

At 4 months old, it is unlikely that you are feeding him too much. However, his growth, when faced with such an abundance of food, will be accelerated. That’s OK, as long as nutrients other than proteins and fats are presented. Absolutely gut-load all crickets and definitely dust them with Calcium with D3 each feeding, or his accelerated rate of growth may compromise correct bone development and result in MBD. At around 6 months it is probably wise to slow his feeding down just a bit, perhaps no more than 40 crickets per day, along with introducing more greens into his diet. At one year he will need a diet that more like 50% insect and 50% vegetable matter.

I look forward to seeing his picture and I will give you further comments if his girth seems way too large.

[Zoodulcis]

It is my pleasure, truly. And if you have other questions, don’t hesitate to post them, as the answers can be very informative for other readers.

[Zoodulcis]

Oh that’s awesome. Do you ever let him drive?

[Zoodulcis]

I hope I am answering the right post here. It seems you are concerned about the number of dead crickets on arrival.

I know that here in Colorado we have been blessed with record-setting cold for October. Wednesday and Thursday were the worst. I am wondering if by Friday the crickets handled on the east coast had been exposed to too much cold by the carrier? This is a question for the Critter Depot sensai.

I am also wondering if they were exposed to extreme cold in shipping, lived, and then were not given sufficient extra warmth or nutrients to get them back on their little legs once they arrived? I know I have been struggling with this myself with other animals for this last week, but fortunately I am not new at this. Also, I am not sure whether a .07% mortality is normal at this time of year or not. My guess is that it probably is, but no reason not to ask the boss for clarity.

Hope this was a little helpful.

[Zoodulcis]

Mushu sounds like he has a wonderfully diverse diet. Watercress is a great choice, just be sure to always wash it thoroughly. Because of the way it is commercially produced, it is unlikely to harbor pesticide residue but likely to harbor pathogens.

I hope Mushu knows that his mommy loves him enough to go to the trouble of balancing his diet. Do you dust his veggies with a supplement?

[Zoodulcis]

Isn’t the convenience of being able to cut them to fit a nice feature. What is your favorite method of sterilizing them, since I was just corresponding with another forum member on that topic?

[Zoodulcis]

He is a cutey and I am SO glad that you replaced the sand. Pet shop people often tell customers sand is fine. It makes me wonder how much they really know or care about the animals they sell. Afterall, if the pet dies, perhaps you will come back to the store and buy another one. Harrumph, harrumph….that’s me being a curmudgeon.

[Zoodulcis]

He does seem to be well named. Nice claws, and the ones on the beardie aren’t bad either 😉 I’m guessing that you have handled him almost daily since he was just a little Buddy, correct?

[Zoodulcis]

Depending on your elevation, that length of time may not quite enough. If you have a dishwasher, that is the way to go once per month. If not, then I think it would be prudent to spray the top and underneath sides with a solution of 10% bleach. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then do your thing with the boiling water. It’s really not all that much more trouble and will prevent a build-up of any sort of bacteria that is heat resistant (and bacteria vary widely in this regard). Bleach kills everything, so there ya go. Whatever you choose to do, if the carpet starts to deteriorate, we would sure love to know what you are observing. Other readers may find that info really helpful.

[Zoodulcis]

Ummmm….maybe Spot? Or Neo?

[Zoodulcis]

I am not surprised! They should probably be prescribed by physicians for people with mood disorders!

[Zoodulcis]

Just a quick note…sometimes both a UVB light and calcium with D3 can create health problems with D3 toxicity. Every so often, use a calcium supplement with no D3 just to be one the safe side.

[Zoodulcis]

Howdy Leonard,

Your picture of Fozzy didn’t load so give it another try. We want to see what he looks like!

[Zoodulcis]

That’s funny that the dogs are his buddies. Six years old is pretty darn good. He must have received excellent care during his life. He be the Captain and he knows it! What does he eat in addition to crickets?

[Zoodulcis]

Be sure that the cricket food contains plenty of protein. Also, check for its calcium content. If he does not have a UVB bulb, the crickets need to be gut loaded with a supplement with D3, or dusted with the supplement just before use.

[Author]

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