Cricket water jells, dangerous?

[DigitalPunk]

I've never heard of this before, but I imagine it isn't an ideal thing to have pass through your digestive track.

[Snappi13]

I'm wondering if it's something else that just looks like the water gel. but it sounds like there was a little bit of blood in the feces so that would alarm me. And if it was really blood than a vet visit is definatly in need. The reason I say this is because ive never seen red watergel only clear.

[LilyPad]

I merged your two threads. If you don't get a response to one thread, please pm a mod for help before starting a second one, we'll track down someone to help you if we don't know the answer. Thanks!

[DEW]

Re: Cricket water dispenser?

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I did a little research and found enough anectdotal and medical evidence to make me stay away from the crystals.

This was just the first couple pages of a google search;

Polyacrylamide gels have been reported to cause impaction in animals that are able to ingest any of the gel either before it hydrates (if the material isn't mixed sufficiently) or particles that have dried out (including those found in soil mixtures). In frogs there is an anecdotal report on Cadadart.org (see Canadart.org • View topic - Anionic Polyacrylamide Warning (Cricket Water Gel)) from a necropsy and there are institutional reports in other animals see BioOne Online Journals - Polyacrylamide Gel Ingestion Leading to Fatal Intestinal Obstruction in Two Birds in a Zoological Collection. It should also be noted that unpolymerized acrylamide is also toxic so if there are sections that are degraded or not properly polymerized, the insects as well as the frogs are at risk of acrylamide toxicity.


https://www.facebook.com/AlmostHeave...98782630265456
***WARNING ABOUT WATER CRYSTALS!***
Unfortunately I have to inform you guys that little Ders has passed away. Upon performing a necropsy, several chunks of hydrated water crystals were found in his stomach. He had never been exposed to these crystals. After doing some research, we discovered that this is not the first time something like this has happened. This has happened in every animal from dart frogs to chameleons. The crystals gradually dehydrate and the insects will ingest dehydrated crystals. When your animals eat these and take a drink, the crystals swell and cause impaction. Everyone, please do not use these crystals to hydrate your insects, and please tell every reptile hobbyist you know!

Bearded Dragons-General - Best staple insect?
Just make absolutely sure that there are no water crystals/gels in the tank while your bearded is in it. I lost a bearded to impaction from eating a gut load gel about six years ago, and I’ll never make that mistake again! We couldn’t figure out what she had eaten until she died at the vet’s a week later and they did a necropsy and found this weird green chunk in her : (

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Polyac...Polyacrylamide gel ingestion leading to fatal intestinal obstruction in two birds in a zoological collection.

[Crunchy Frog]

Thanks for the info. I stopped using those crystals some time ago because they were drying out so quickly. I'm really glad now that I quit.

[Snappi13]

Do you think that the flukers Orange cube is safe?

[DEW]

If was definitely water gel. I examined it thoroughly. The gel would be whatever color the liquid was that it absorbed, you have seen clear since it absorbed water. If on the other hand it were to draw fluid from the digestive tract... There is also the fact that they ( the frogs ) have been eating primarily fruit flies, so they have red tinted poo, Totally freaked me out the first time I saw it. Anyway, that could account for the color.