If you have a bearded dragon, chances are you’ve had to deal with crickets at some point.
These little pests can be challenging to get out of the cage, but it’s doable with a bit of know-how.
In this blog post, we’ll share some tips and tricks we’ve used to get those pesky crickets out of the cage.
Can You Leave Crickets In Bearded Dragon Cage?
While it may seem tempting to leave the crickets in the cage and let the bearded dragon take care of them, this is not a good idea.
There’s a risk of the crickets biting or infecting your beardie, increasing the stress of your beardie, or your beardie choking on them.
All uneaten crickets should be removed from the cage right after your beardie has finished eating.
How To Get Crickets Out Of A Bearded Dragon Cage
There are a few different strategies to help you get left-over crickets out of your beardie’s cage. Let’s cover each of them.
Paper towel
One of the easiest ways to remove crickets from a bearded dragon’s cage is to wet a paper towel and use it to pick up the crickets.
This works so well because the crickets will stick to the paper towel, making them easy to catch.
While you’ll have to use your hand, the paper towel serves as a layer between you and the cricket.
Plastic cup
Another common strategy you can use is to turn a plastic cup upside down and lure them in with cricket food.
Once they’re under the plastic cup, slide a plate or piece of paper under the cup so they don’t escape.
Vacuum hose
Lastly, you can use a vacuum hose with a piece of fabric over the front.
This works because you can turn the vacuum on and they’ll stick to the piece of fabric, whether it’s a shirt, sheet, or anything in-between.
Once you have them over their storage container, you can turn the vacuum off and they’ll fall right inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can crickets hurt my bearded dragon?
Although crickets are tiny, they can still harm your bearded dragon if you aren’t careful.
The most common issue is the crickets biting your bearded dragon, and it can happen to their legs, tail, or back if you aren’t careful.
In addition, they may cause your bearded dragon stress or increase the risk of infection/choking.
Be extra careful about leaving crickets in with your bearded dragon!
How long should I leave crickets in with my bearded dragon?
Crickets should be left in the cage with your bearded dragon for about 5-10 minutes when they’re younger and 10-15 minutes when they’re older.
Your beardie will have enough time to find and consume them all, but never force them to eat more than they want.
It would be best to track the cricket feedings to find any potential problems or issues.
You can do this by feeding your bearded dragon in a separate container if you so wish, and this will make the feeding process a lot easier and less stressful overall.
Final thoughts
You must remove all crickets from your bearded dragon’s cage immediately after it’s done eating.
Crickets can cause your bearded dragon stress, increase the risk of infection/choking, and even bite them if you’re not careful.
There are a few ways to get crickets out of the cage, which we covered in this post, so try them out and see which works best for you!
If you have any questions or concerns, please be sure to check with your veterinarian before making any decisions.
