A few questions about crickets and skinks

[blackmailchan]

Just curious about some things that I'm sure all the experienced BTS.net users can help me out with:

1. Is is bad that my skink likes to sleep all day?
2. I'm trying to propagate his crickets and I heard that giving them orange is good for the crickets. Is orange bad for skinks or just all reptiles in general?
3. Would handling my skink more make him more friendly? He hisses at me alot, but he doesn't when hes outside of his tank.
4. He's one year old, and he likes to bite things that are smaller than him like my fingers. Will he escape this phase some time soon?
5. Do blue-tongues eat until they're full?
6. Will the barbs on the back of the female crickets hurt me? And do some crickets bite?
7. Do the female crickets need moist soil to lay eggs in or will the aspen substrate I took from the skink's tank be fine?
8. Is it okay if my skink eats some of the aspen substrate or is he in danger of impaction?

I think thats all I have to ask. Any additional information about crickets or blue tongues that isn't on the care-sheet would be nice too. Thank you.

[Katrina]

Lots of questions!

Ok... first, crickets aren't very healthy for BTS. So I'd feed as an occasional treat, barbs won't hurt, but definitely don't feel them as a staple food.

No, not bad that he sleeps all day. Reptiles have slow metabolisms and only move when there is a need to (i.e. hungry or need to find shelter to avoid being eaten).

Citrus fruits aren't great for reptiles. Do a search of old threads and you'll find lots of great diet advice for things to feed other than crickets and oranges.

Yes, handling patiently and gently will help tame him. Remember, you are a giant predator in his eyes... so until you build trust, he will be scared.

Some blueys eat until they are full, some will over eat. Best to portion the food yourself - at a year old, feed about 2 tablespoons of healthy foods twice a week (approximately).

No idea about crickets and eggs.... but again, don't bother feeding them except as treats. If you don't know of others foods, please reread the caresheet. Crickets are very poor nutritionally.

A tiny bit of aspen that is accidentally ingested will be ok, but try to avoid this. Feed on a large plate so that no food gets into the aspen, or else feed outside the enclosure.

These are fairly basic questions, so definitely read through some old threads for more info or else double check the caresheet.

[blackmailchan]

Would it make the crickets more nutritious if I'm spraying them with Food Spray Calcium Supplement?

That's what I do before he eats them.

[Katrina]

No, that only increases the calcium not the nutritional content. Maybe read over the caresheet to double check your understanding.

[Nae]

Plus, as well as being healthier, dog/cat food and veggies is a lot more cheaper, easier and convenient! (Well, at least here in Aus it is! Seriously, unless Im really bad at finding crickets, they are all hours from me and cost quite a bit! Which is one of the many reason I have decided to get a bluey, I dont need crickets =D)

If you do wish to breed crickets still, whether for treats or other animals, I believe that they do need a container of soil. Place a piece of mesh over the soil as well, as this allows the females to lay, and stops the adults from eating the hatchlings.

[blackmailchan]

Are they still bad nutritionally if I'm trying to gut-load the crickets by feeding them scraps from skinky's food? His diet right now is mostly Endive, apples, mango, celery, special reptile freeze dried meat, mealworms occasionally, a pinkie once a month, and crickets. I feed the crickets all the smaller pieces left behind. They also have grass in there which I think is safe for skinks to eat? Correct if I'm wrong.

[Nae]

Why is it that you seem to must feed crickets?

[Linnea]

To continue what Nae said about it being cheaper in Aus, I have to say its A LOT cheaper to not feed crickets and instead feed catfood and veggies to them even in Sweden.

crickets ( approx ten good sized) cost 5 euro ( are mostly not gut loaded, this makes the cost increasing by about 1-2 euro)
total : if they eat 3 crickets with other stuff every meal, 15 euro for ten meals

Expensive catfood here is only one euro and can be divided into 6-7 or more meals, frozen, and veggies for about 4 meals can be bought for 1-1.5 euro.
total: 4.5 euro for ten meals

the difference is quite more obvious if you look at the cost for a year, but you have to count the meals on your own lol.

Calcium/vitamin supplement 20 euro here for one glass, but i think dusting the veggies and such with it even if you throw away the crickets is a good idea.....

and i agree to what everyone else said about kinda avoiding crickets or use as treats.
Mine got crickets and good veggies during its first year in the petstore, but now hes cricket free and healthy. And he has even started to adore his salad ( but not as much as the banana or mealworm treat i give once every 2 weeks ), although im sure he would love a cricket every now and then too.....

[Katrina]

Are they still bad nutritionally if I'm trying to gut-load the crickets by feeding them scraps from skinky's food? His diet right now is mostly Endive, apples, mango, celery, special reptile freeze dried meat, mealworms occasionally, a pinkie once a month, and crickets. I feed the crickets all the smaller pieces left behind. They also have grass in there which I think is safe for skinks to eat? Correct if I'm wrong.

BTS are omnivores - they need protein. Crickets have very little protein - they are kind of like feeding cardboard. So you can dust with calcium and feed them healthy greens, but that still doesn't mean they are getting enough protein. Again, crickets are very poor nutritionally. Feed occasionally as a treat if you want (although they are a pain in the butt to keep and might carry pinworms, so I wouldn't bother), but please feed other, healthier protein sources. Mealies aren't very good either - try dog food, silks, cockroaches, snails, lean beef, nightcrawlers... there are tons of good options out there.

[SapphireTigress1]

blueys looooove cockroaches! Thats what I use instead of icky, parasite carrying, noisy, cannabalistic, crickets! (Can you tell i hate crickets lol?)

Roaches tend to be fairly cheap, I hear they are a breeze to breed, and they are super easy to care for. Plus, to me, they are just pure fun! I love to play with them, and I also like to watch the blueys "hunt" them around the cage!

I used to use superworms, and although I never had a problem with these, roaches are just easier and more fun for me.

[Coomassie]

True story, my Coomassie LOVE LOVE LOVES roaches and superworms. Plus, they are a blast to feed. It gets Coomassie all excited and he goes nuts. I breed roaches and they are super easy.

[Edward]

Roaches.

[El Lobo]

If I'm right, you are in Australia, if not ignore.

I buy human grade 'roo rump for $10 per Kg. It is a great source of protein with little fat and the blotchies all like it mixed with greens and other veg. They will also eat some roaches (Speckled Feeder Roaches - Nauphoeta cinerea)

[Nae]

According to her deviant art, shes in the US. But then again according to her deviant art shes a he, so Im not sure what to believe But your an awesome drawer either way btw =D