Bearded dragon and locusts...

[Twinkleinmyeye]

So I'm looking after a friend's bearded dragon while she's on holiday. She merrily dropped him off with a BAG OF 100 LOCUSTS with instructions to feed him 6 per day. I was expecting the locusts, but thought they would be in small containers which I could just upend into the vivarium (terrarium?). How wrong I was.

We've managed over the weekend, but it's creeping me out. I took the bag to the local pet shop and told the owner I would pay him to put them into containers for me! Alas, he misunderstood (though he didn't charge me!) and I now have two small containers with about 40 locusts in them each. I was too embarrassed to fess up and say I wanted 10 containers with 6 locusts in each.

Anyway, what can I do?? If I chill the containers, will the locusts get a bit comatose? Or should I just go to another pet shop and be more explicit about what I want?

I know I'm a wuss.

[frazzledbutcalm]

I have a beardie and also don't like the locusts! Unfortunately you can't chill them . You can chill crickets though...
I'd just go back to the same pet shop and admit you still can't deal with them, any chance he can fill the 10 containers with 6 locusts in each. Just say you thought you'd be able to deal with them in the smaller quantity he kindly did last time for you, but however you still can't manage.
I bet he'll be lovely with you and laugh when you've gone

[Twinkleinmyeye]

Oh that's interesting! Just after I posted the OP, I joined a reptiles forum and posted the same question there just for some extra suggestions, and a guy on there said 10 minutes in the fridge would probably do it.

It doesn't matter now. DH has come over all alpha male about it, so he's going to do it. But thanks.

[imawigglyworm]

My geckos eat crickets which I hate, they come in tubs too. I get them out using a snadwich bag, open the sandwich bag and tip the tub in the bag, open the lid and they will jump/drop into the bag. Its a bit tricky at first but once you get the hang of it its easier.

[GentleOtter]

I kept my locusts in a tank of their own with plenty of vegetables to gut load them, sprayed the tank with a mist sprayer.
It is a bit horrible but if your dh puts a toilet roll with one end crimped in the tank, lure the locusts with cabbage, they will be easier to catch if he keeps his hand over the tube. An egg box works well too.

Larger locusts will nip the lizards and the locusts grow large very quickly.