Zoo Med Can O' ...

[Rymy]

Hey everyone! First off, I'd like to say that I absolutely love this site, I just joined a while ago. With that said, please be patient with me as I'm just getting into reptiles.

I already have a crested gecko, and I'm getting into leopard geckos. I know a bit about them already, but I have a question about the Zoo Med Can O' ... foods. I heard leopard geckos eat crickets and/or mealworms, as they are insectivores (or so I'm told) However, I'm not sure how my family feels about me breeding crickets or keeping mealworms since they all hate bugs or any kind of live insects. I was just wondering, has anyone tried the Zoo Med Can O' Crickets or Mealworms? I've had very mixed reviews about them, some saying it's great while others absolutely hate it.

Appreciate it!
-Ryan

 

[TheOneBlueGecko]

I know that a lot of geckos will not eat dead prey, so I am not sure how successful you will be.

If you go with crickets or meal worms they really do not have to be that intrusive. Although it is not the cheapest option, you can buy small batches of crickets from pet stores, this allows you to keep just a small amount and possibly put them away somewhere away from the rest of your family. If you go with meal worms they can just chill in a closed tub in your fridge until you are ready to try to gut load them and give them to the gecko. It would be in the fridge, but they cannot see or hear them.

 

[Rymy]

Thanks for responding so fast. As for the crickets, I've seen so many things where people just let the crickets escape, or there are like hundreds of em and they just get away. Have you ever seen something like this? If you did, what did you do, just like run around and grab em? I'm most likely using tongs since I was raised to hate and/or fear every bug I see. ;D

 

[Mardy]

lol there's no reasons crickets should escape, that would be user error more than anything on the part of the owner. But if you want something your parents won't notice, try mealworms. They come in a container. You put them in the refrigerator, and only take them out when you are ready to feed some to your leopard geckos. If you buy a lot of mealworms, you would only need to take them out once a week to let them rehydrate by putting in a slice of carrot.

Easy to deal with and mostly hidden, don't make noises or sound, don't jump. You may be able to get by with them. I don't know, ask your parents and see if they'll allow small mealworms that can't get anywhere and don't do anything.

 

[TheOneBlueGecko]

The crickets really should not get out, though it is near impossible to collect them all if they do. I made the mistake of keeping my first ever batch of crickets in an old peanut butter jar with foil at the top which they chewed through. Since then I have kept them in an old critter keeper without problem.

Edit: Also, as for the can o' bugs, I have read that they are not as nutritious as live ones. Now, I don't know where that fact comes from so I cannot attest to how accurate it is, but I want to pass it on.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Can o crickets, etc are JUNK. These animals really need live prey items. Honestly, if you're that freaked out by bugs, you should stick with frugivorous geckos and/or vegetarian lizards. Your life and that of the animals that you keep will be much easier and happier that way.

 

[Rymy]

One last thing. I want a small amount of crickets to be able to feed, but not a lot as to where they breed and there are like thousands so I can't even get good sizes. Any ideas on how to moderate the population?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

One last thing. I want a small amount of crickets to be able to feed, but not a lot as to where they breed and there are like thousands so I can't even get good sizes. Any ideas on how to moderate the population?

Breeding crickets is not near as easy as breeding Blaptica dubia. I hesitate to even mention those "bugs"! You can keep small numbers of crickets alive for at least a month past purchase by following these guidelines:

Feeding crickets and roaches
Feed crickets/roaches food that provides no more than 20% protein and no more than 5% crude fat. Some choices are:
Chicken Laying Mash (from feed store): The label reads 16-18% minimum protein and 3% minimum fat.
Fluker Farms High Calcium Cricket Feed
Dry oatmeal
Alfalfa hay (for the 3 wo and older crix)
Collard greens (especially recommended for the high calcium-to-low phosphorous ratio)
Carrots (natural source of beta carotene)

A 6 ounce glass Pyrex (or competing model) custard cup makes an excellent feeding dish for teeny to small roaches. Medium dubia will escape. Try containers with perpendicular sides. For leos, use a 1 inch high x 3 inch diameter stepping stone for ease of access to this dish as well as to stabilize it.

For more information feeding the feeders, go to Maurice Pudlo's sticky in the Geckos Unlimited Feeders, Food & Nutrition subforum: Feeder Insect Diets & Gutload

Cricket Care: Acheta domesticus, the softer brown cricket, is highly recommended over Gryllus assimilis, the Jamaican field cricket. For crickets I place an "assortment" of the above-mentioned food on the bottom of an extra large Kritter Keeper or a plastic 56 quart Sterilite container, add the crickets, add two layers of egg flats, and top with a paper towel. Keep these crickets at room temperature. Spray the paper towel about every other day for moisture or more frequently if the room is hot. Using these methods it is easy to keep crickets alive for a month or so post purchase.

 

[LedgysLizards]

yea my gecko only eats live crickets