Silly question

[geckomom]

I'm almost embarrassed to ask this one...

I feed gut-loaded dusted crix, but always keep a shallow bowl of calcium with mealies in it, and every day make sure the mealies are fresh. When I dump the yucky mealies and add fresh ones, of course they're wiggly and active.

How exactly do I keep the mealies in the bowl? I'm checking them every 15 minutes, grabbing up the ones that have escaped, throwing them back in the bowl, on and on, til they get quieter.

This is such a stupid thing, but it's driving me nuts, cause they crawl in the hides and ledges, and under the cage carpet, and I don't want them to die before the next cleaning and create bacteria or something.

Also, even goofier question: is there any way to keep crix from drowning themselves in the leos' water dish? That makes me crazy, too - dead crix in the water, decomposing...I clean every day, wash water dish, fresh water, but if the crix drown at the beginning of the night, they're in that water getting all....gooey...until the morning - YUCK!

Ok, when everyone finishes laughing , maybe someone can tell me if I'm just being anal-retentive?

[asphyxia]

Hi Mom,

Q1- How exactly do I keep the mealies in the bowl?

Use a deeper bowl.

Q2- Is there any way to keep crix from drowning themselves in the leos' water dish?

I, in some cases place an aquarium plastic plant, or some wood in the bowl allowing the crix to climb on and out of the bowl.

Other than that you can tie a little tiny flotation device on them, just make sure that it is the digestable kind
Gool Luck
Brian

[geckomom]

Originally posted by asphyxia
Hi Mom,

I love it! Hi, young'un....

Originally posted by asphyxia
Use a deeper bowl.

The gecks are little babies, and i'm afraid they wouldn't be able to see the mealies in the bowl, or get to them if they found them. I've used deeper bowls in the past, and the darn squirmers still crawl all over the enclosure!

Originally posted by asphyxia

I, in some cases place an aquarium plastic plant, or some wood in the bowl allowing the crix to climb on and out of the bowl.

Other than that you can tie a little tiny flotation device on them, just make sure that it is the digestable kind
Gool Luck
Brian

Aquarium plastic plant! Brilliant! Thank you so much

Don't know that I'd be able to get those little flotation devices on the teeny crickets, tho - might be a hoot trying! Maybe I should just teach them how to swim.....:zi: :bugout:

[asphyxia]

haha I'm 42, and the geckos are one of my 5 kids, I'm into Monitors and Constrictors BTW.

As far as the deeper bowl is conserned, I have some branches/wood over my clear "Glad" semi disposable bowl, the leos can climb onto the wood and "Dunk" down to reach the mealies

Cheers
Brian

[LISA127]

try using those glazed plant saucers, that go under pots, for the mealies. since your leo's are small, get the smallest sized one. the glazed finish on the saucer makes it impossible for the mealies to climb out.

[ChristinaM]

Hi Mom (I am a youngin' LOL)

I use a silver little pan that came with my daughter's easy bake oven. The mealies cannot grip the smooth side, and stay put. Other things that come to mind are a small glass or plastic ashtray.....ummm, anything glass generally works.

another trick is to put the mealies into the fridge and getting them cooled and slowed down, may not stop them from climbing out but will sure slow them. even a rock in the water dish, just something they can use to break the cohesion of the water.

[geckomom]

Thanx to all you young'uns for the great ideas.

Asphyxia, you're a young'un to me, I'm 48! And Bichiraddict, I'm sure you're a young'un, if you've got a daughter young enough for an easy bake oven - lol!

Hey, that idea of fake aquarium plants in the water dish - PERFECT! Haven't had a drowning since I put the plants in, and it looks kinda cool, too!

I'm going to give the various mealie-bowls a try. I've tried the refrigerator thing, but then they seem so sluggish my gex don't notice them.

Thank you all - I still feel silly for asking, but you all came thru with a mixture of humor and info, and I really appreciate it!

[ChristinaM]

Yeppers, I be young enough you guys could be my parents (I'm 26)

Good luck with the mealies Let us know what works for you...new idea's are always good.