criket frying help please?

**inlovewithanimals** · 07-07-2007, 11:19 AM

there is plenty of shade and i can not take the crikets out and put them in another tankk because i also have 2 tree snakes the need a constint food supply and they are not frying like the 2nd day they are in there it has been 7 days...............need anymore anwser ill anwser questions......

**CathyBogart** · 07-07-2007, 01:38 PM

If the temp is so hot that the crickets die it is WAY too hot for an anole. The real question is...how hot is it at either end of the tank? There should be a gradient...It should be cooler at one end and warmer at the other.

Also, what kind of tree snakes do you have?

**Twisterdog** · 07-07-2007, 11:26 PM

Anoles and tree snakes do not need a heating pad on the floor of the cage. Those are for ground dwelling lizards and snakes that natuarlly warm themselves on sun-heated rocks. Tree snakes and anoles need ONLY an overhead lamp. In the wild, these reptiles never come down out of trees, and all their heat comes from above. So, firstly, take out the cage bottom heater. It's not helping, and actually harms the digestive tracts of some tree-dwelling reptiles.

If your crickets are living in the cage for seven days before they die, there are a couple of problems. I doubt they are "frying", I would rather think they are starving. You are putting too many crickets in at once, if they are still in there and dying after a week. Put ONLY a few crickets in at a time, and don't put any more in the cage until they are gone. I have had a rough green tree snake for years and years, and he does not need a constant food supply. I put in three or four crickets, and a couple of days later when they are gone, he gets a few more.

Hungry crickets can do damage to small reptiles, if there are too many crickets in the cage and the reptiles are too full to eat them.

**IRescue452** · 07-08-2007, 11:15 AM

Yes, if they are living to 7 days, you are putting too many in at once. Crickets are omnivores and can eat at a weak reptile when they are hungry. If there are enough of them it can do quite a bit of damage. Only put a day's supply in.

**Freedom** · 07-09-2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Twisterdog

Hungry crickets can do damage to small reptiles, if there are too many crickets in the cage and the reptiles are too full to eat them.

Maybe that is what happened to the anole who died after just 2 weeks. You said the crickets were eating him at the end!

**inlovewithanimals** · 07-14-2007, 01:42 PM

Hey guys i have been putting in less crikets at a time I have been putting in about 12 or so 9 [because there are 2 anoles and 2 tree snakes] and it has been working out fine! I am so relieved that i dont find crikets dead at the bottom of the tank.

THANKS MUCH!
Justin,

**Twisterdog** · 07-14-2007, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by inlovewithanimals

Hey guys i have been putting in less crikets at a time I have been putting in about 12 or so 9 [because there are 2 anoles and 2 tree snakes] and it has been working out fine! I am so relieved that i dont find crikets dead at the bottom of the tank.

THANKS MUCH!
Justin,

Good! Glad to hear it! It takes some trial and error sometimes to get it right. Thanks for being receptive to our suggestions.

I've had anoles for years in the past, and currently have a rough green tree snake. I'll be happy to talk with you about them if you want. We certainly like our Mr. Snake. My son got him when he was in grade school, and he's now a junior in high school.