Crickets Eating Mealworms?
- Thread starter lanismama
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Sinosauropteryx
New member
Cricket eating habits
Crickets will chew on practically anything whenever they get the chance to, including other insects like mealworms, your lizard if it is asleep or is very young and unable to get away from the crickets in time, and even themselves.
They are omnivores, meaning they will eat both plant and animal matter. They are also cannibalistic, so if you don't give them food right away, they will start eating each other. Alive. This might sound grotesque but I have had crickets running around in a plastic Kritter Keeper with half of their abdomen chewed off.
So yes, they will eat mealworms when given the chance. You can use mealworms if you want to, just don't plan of feeding those mealworms that are still alive to your lizard because it will have either died by then or will not be moving enough for the lizard to notice it.
Or if you don't have anything at all to feed your crickets, you can always leave them alone to eat each other. The ones that are still fully intact will still be healthy because they will have been eating lots of animal protein. However, I think it would be better for you to offer your crickets other foods, including a mix of both animal and plant matter so that your crickets will have all that added nutrition from the vegetables as well as the extra protein and fat by the time you give them to your lizards.
Crickets will chew on practically anything whenever they get the chance to, including other insects like mealworms, your lizard if it is asleep or is very young and unable to get away from the crickets in time, and even themselves.
They are omnivores, meaning they will eat both plant and animal matter. They are also cannibalistic, so if you don't give them food right away, they will start eating each other. Alive. This might sound grotesque but I have had crickets running around in a plastic Kritter Keeper with half of their abdomen chewed off.
So yes, they will eat mealworms when given the chance. You can use mealworms if you want to, just don't plan of feeding those mealworms that are still alive to your lizard because it will have either died by then or will not be moving enough for the lizard to notice it.
Or if you don't have anything at all to feed your crickets, you can always leave them alone to eat each other. The ones that are still fully intact will still be healthy because they will have been eating lots of animal protein. However, I think it would be better for you to offer your crickets other foods, including a mix of both animal and plant matter so that your crickets will have all that added nutrition from the vegetables as well as the extra protein and fat by the time you give them to your lizards.
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Yes crickets are partly carnivorous and can be cannibals, the worst variety being the big black ones (Gryllus bimaculatus). Keep in mind the largest individuals are well able to harm a gecko when they are not rapidly eaten. I have lost an adult Turner gecko female who got attacked by such crickets. Crickets can also damage gecko clutches or even kill baby geckos if you feed the latter too big crickets. Roaches and grasshoppers/locusts of appropriate size, and silkworms, will not create such problems though. I advise you always keep some cat or dog pellets in a small dish and pieces of peeled oranges/carrots in your tanks so that the crickets will eat these prior to anything else 
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
One caution about feeding the feeders!
One caution about feeding the feeders from thorrshamri's post directly above. I have found it quite important NOT to feed the feeders any dog or cat food biscuits. They are way too high in protein as well as minimum crude fat. Strive for protein no greater than 20% and fat no greater than 5% in your feeder gutloads.
I share this caution because I once had a mature male leopard gecko die from severe gout---Hepatic Lipidosis, and the only cause could have been that I was feeding my crickets Tetramin Tropical Fish Flakes as well as puppy, kitten, dog, and cat food samples. (A necropsy and histopathology determined the cause of death.) Perhaps this leopard gecko was pariticularly susceptible, but one bad experience was enough for me.
Here is a GU link to Feeding the Feeders by Maurice Pudlo: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...rition/49403-feeder-insect-diets-gutload.html.
One caution about feeding the feeders from thorrshamri's post directly above. I have found it quite important NOT to feed the feeders any dog or cat food biscuits. They are way too high in protein as well as minimum crude fat. Strive for protein no greater than 20% and fat no greater than 5% in your feeder gutloads.
I share this caution because I once had a mature male leopard gecko die from severe gout---Hepatic Lipidosis, and the only cause could have been that I was feeding my crickets Tetramin Tropical Fish Flakes as well as puppy, kitten, dog, and cat food samples. (A necropsy and histopathology determined the cause of death.) Perhaps this leopard gecko was pariticularly susceptible, but one bad experience was enough for me.
Here is a GU link to Feeding the Feeders by Maurice Pudlo: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...rition/49403-feeder-insect-diets-gutload.html.
Last edited:
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Food for pet rats or mice is a great option as they are supposed to contain 14 to 17% of crude proteins
Lizzylizard
New member
I seem to have a problem keeping my crickets alive. They seem to die out too fast. I have tried that green gel stuff and it dries out too fast. is there a way to keep water or food in there for them that lasts a few days. I dont know what to put in there to keep moisture.
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Are you sure the problem is not caused by the virus affecting crickets in the US now, causing major issues with these insects?
Crickets don't like moisture anyway. You may try peeled carrots or peeled oranges as a source of water and vitamins. It works fine with mine
BUT never use potatoes with crix.
Sinosauropteryx
New member
Commercial cricket food
Just so you know, that jelly stuff was never meant to be food for crickets. It is supposed to be what they can use for water so that they don't drown themselves. Flukers has a type of granular cricket food that is supposed to be good for gutloading them.
Just so you know, that jelly stuff was never meant to be food for crickets. It is supposed to be what they can use for water so that they don't drown themselves. Flukers has a type of granular cricket food that is supposed to be good for gutloading them.
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Yes, jellyfied water. An interesting product I am testing with my own crickets
Lizzylizard
New member
I guess I just didnt take care of my crickets enough. I dont think they were dieing from a virus just lack of water and food. I would put stuff in there and then not check on them for a few days and the gel would be dried up and the peels I had put in there were dried up. Im going to give it another go. I just didnt realize I would have to be keeping crickets alive as well as my gecko..
water for crickets
I put a folded up wet paper towel and baby carrots or some deep green lettuce or leafy veggi. The paper towel stays wet for 2-3 days. I am pretty new to this but it seems to be working well. I also always have some crushed up dog food just in case the veggis arent enough.
I put a folded up wet paper towel and baby carrots or some deep green lettuce or leafy veggi. The paper towel stays wet for 2-3 days. I am pretty new to this but it seems to be working well. I also always have some crushed up dog food just in case the veggis arent enough.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Hi Liz ~
Here is another option: I feed my crickets basically a dry diet of Flukers High Calcium Cricket Feed, chicken mash (a poultry feed), dry oatmeal, alfalfa haykob. I place two layers of egg cartons in their holding cage with a paper towel on top. For moisture I spray the paper towel about every other day. I also feed carrots (good for beta carotene) and collard greens (high calcium to low phosphorous content) for moisture.
I think there might be gel products that not only water, but feed as well. Just used them once way back when.
Check out this link: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...rition/49403-feeder-insect-diets-gutload.html
thorrshamri
Moderator/The French Viking Moderathorr
Lettuce contains toxins- you should not use it to feed your feeders
Plants That Are Poisonous to Turtles and Lizards
Plants That Are Poisonous to Turtles and Lizards
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
I put a folded up wet paper towel and baby carrots or some deep green lettuce or leafy veggi. The paper towel stays wet for 2-3 days. I am pretty new to this but it seems to be working well. I also always have some crushed up dog food just in case the veggis arent enough.
A dampened paper towel, collard greens, and baby carrots are excellent ways to provide moisture for crickets. These work fine for me too.
Don't feed crickets or other feeder insects dog or cat food (or fish flakes). Those are way too high in protein and fat. See link above.
Lizzylizard
New member
Thanks for the Ideas I ran out and got some crickets and got some vitamins and dusted the crickets and she seems to like them. I put some carrots in with the crickets and a damp paper towels.Thank you. Now I just have to find out why she has puffiness behind her front legs and get that to go away.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
You are very welcome! It is important to lightly dust the crickets with a phosphorous-free calcium powder with D3 frequently for young leos and less often for mature ones. This is super important. Otherwise metabolic bone disease might ultimately happen. I like the Rep-Cal brand. The Rep-Cal brand vitamin is Herptivite.
Can you post a picture of your leo and his set up, especially if you would like some feedback?
Have you seen this link: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...ntly-asked-questions-caresheet-info-plus.html
Sinosauropteryx
New member
Cotton balls
If any of you are concerned with providing water for your crickets, just take a cotton ball and soak it in water. This will last for about two days, afterward all you need to do is soak it in water again. Keep doing this until the cotton ball becomes so encrusted with cricket poop that it will no longer absorb water. Then replace it with a new cotton ball. I believe there are decent-sized cotton balls that are quite cheap to buy and that will last you for well over a month if you use a fresh cotton ball for each batch of crickets you get at the pet or bait shop.
If any of you are concerned with providing water for your crickets, just take a cotton ball and soak it in water. This will last for about two days, afterward all you need to do is soak it in water again. Keep doing this until the cotton ball becomes so encrusted with cricket poop that it will no longer absorb water. Then replace it with a new cotton ball. I believe there are decent-sized cotton balls that are quite cheap to buy and that will last you for well over a month if you use a fresh cotton ball for each batch of crickets you get at the pet or bait shop.