Questions about phoenix worms, crickets, and mealworms.

[athdaraxen]

I had some questions about the three feeders mentioned above.

First, the phoenix worm.
I've read around and they seem fantastic... IF your gecko likes them. I don't remember where I read it but I'm almost positive I read somewhere a site does cheap "trial cups". Anybody by chance know where I can get this trial cup? If not, where would you recommend buying some? Personally the site called GeorgiaCrickets.com look good but I'm very open to feeder site recommendations.

Second, Crickets.
Just wanted to clarify some stuff I read, which would be that crickets are notorious for carrying parasites, particularly pin worms. Is this true? Or is this one of those, depends on where you get them kinda things?

Third, meal worms.
I already know about the possible impaction due to exoskeletons, but that's not my question. My question is, if crickets are notorious for carrying pin worms, are meal worms notorious for carrying a particular parasite?

Anywho, that's about it. Just figured I'd get some advice while they were on my brain.

Except for this.
What are some feeder sites that have good reputations? I've looked around and found many sites but I'm not sure who to buy from and such, so any recommendations?

Thank you. :banana:

 

[panthergecko]

Read the thread I posted on food on Gf.net but you'll find the pheonix worm trial cup at pheonixworms.com
Crickets it depends where you get them and how they were kept from where you bought them.
Mealworms are known to die off if mold is present in a colony of worms.

I would buy from the closest place you can to your area.

I bought from ghanns, georgia crickets, fluker farms and timberline before.
ghanns was nice but experienced massive die offs of superworms like 40/500 in the first week, then it slowed down.
georgia-crickets shipment was smelling bad because it was a long place from where I lived so they placed potatos in there.
Timberline was good but I placed a quick delivery from them.
I also ordered from gregsexoticinverts for roaches.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I had some questions about the three feeders mentioned above.

First, the phoenix worm.
I've read around and they seem fantastic... IF your gecko likes them. I don't remember where I read it but I'm almost positive I read somewhere a site does cheap "trial cups". Anybody by chance know where I can get this trial cup? If not, where would you recommend buying some? Personally the site called GeorgiaCrickets.com look good but I'm very open to feeder site recommendations.

Second, Crickets.
Just wanted to clarify some stuff I read, which would be that crickets are notorious for carrying parasites, particularly pin worms. Is this true? Or is this one of those, depends on where you get them kinda things?

Third, meal worms.
I already know about the possible impaction due to exoskeletons, but that's not my question. My question is, if crickets are notorious for carrying pin worms, are meal worms notorious for carrying a particular parasite?

Anywho, that's about it. Just figured I'd get some advice while they were on my brain.

Except for this.
What are some feeder sites that have good reputations? I've looked around and found many sites but I'm not sure who to buy from and such, so any recommendations?

Thank you. :banana:

Just briefly:

I really have NEVER heard of people tracing problems back to pests on their crickets. I know that such is mentioned in a recent GU thread, but no "evidence" is listed.

I order crickets now from Fluker's even though it is clear across the country. Have to spring for ON shipping. Fluker's sticks behind their orders and has brown crickets (Acheta domestica). Don't want the black crickets (Gryllus assimilus). They bite and have MONSTER attitudes.

I have not tried hornworms, but other people here have. To me it sounds like more leos like hornworms than Phoenix worms. In addition, it takes many more Phoenix worms to fill a leo cuz 3/4" is the maximum size.

Order a trial cup of any new feeder just in case.

Although butterworms are praised by the butterworm breeder, none of my geckos will eat them after the first bite.

Scroll down past the Leo Guidelines for specific posts regarding various feeders.

 

[athdaraxen]

Read the thread I posted on food on Gf.net but you'll find the pheonix worm trial cup at pheonixworms.com
Crickets it depends where you get them and how they were kept from where you bought them.
Mealworms are known to die off if mold is present in a colony of worms.

I would buy from the closest place you can to your area.

I bought from ghanns, georgia crickets, fluker farms and timberline before.
ghanns was nice but experienced massive die offs of superworms like 40/500 in the first week, then it slowed down.
georgia-crickets shipment was smelling bad because it was a long place from where I lived so they placed potatos in there.
Timberline was good but I placed a quick delivery from them.
I also ordered from gregsexoticinverts for roaches.

Thanks!I'm definitely going to try those worms. I think I'll give Georgia crickets a try first now. Then if all goes well I'll stick with them. Mostly because they are so close to me.

Just briefly:

I really have NEVER heard of people tracing problems back to pests on their crickets. I know that such is mentioned in a recent GU thread, but no "evidence" is listed.

I order crickets now from Fluker's even though it is clear across the country. Have to spring for ON shipping. Fluker's sticks behind their orders and has brown crickets (Acheta domestica). Don't want the black crickets (Gryllus assimilus). They bite and have MONSTER attitudes.

I have not tried hornworms, but other people here have. To me it sounds like more leos like hornworms than Phoenix worms. In addition, it takes many more Phoenix worms to fill a leo cuz 3/4" is the maximum size.

Order a trial cup of any new feeder just in case.

Although butterworms are praised by the butterworm breeder, none of my geckos will eat them after the first bite.

Scroll down past the Leo Guidelines for specific posts regarding various feeders.

Thank you Liz. As always.

Especially about the crickets. I'm sure if they did carry them it would be because they were left in unclean conditions maybe?

I want to try the horn worms at some point to. They just grow so fast but they seem like it would be interesting.

I've seen the same thing on the butter worms while forum stalking. Maybe they taste bad?

I've read that, but I'll read it again.

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[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks!I'm definitely going to try those worms. I think I'll give Georgia crickets a try first now. Then if all goes well I'll stick with them. Mostly because they are so close to me.

......

Thank you Liz. As always.

Especially about the crickets. I'm sure if they did carry them it would be because they were left in unclean conditions maybe?

I want to try the horn worms at some point to. They just grow so fast but they seem like it would be interesting.

I've seen the same thing on the butter worms while forum stalking. Maybe they taste bad?

I've read that, but I'll read it again.

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Re the Leo Guidelines: Sometimes I think that people might miss the posts following the actual caresheet OR be too tired after reading all that ;-).

Re crickets: I really don't think people need to worry about crickets as long as they purchase captive bred feeder insects, in contrast to catching field crickets, et cetera.

 

[athdaraxen]

Re the Leo Guidelines: Sometimes I think that people might miss the posts following the actual caresheet OR be too tired after reading all that ;-).

Re crickets: I really don't think people need to worry about crickets as long as they purchase captive bred feeder insects, in contrast to catching field crickets, et cetera.

Fair enough lol. I have gone and read through those posts though. They are informative.

Alright. I'll be sure to make sure of that to. Thank you again Liz!

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[athdaraxen]

On that note, my research didn't turn up much do I figured I'd ask here. What about moths? Or winged insects in general? It's all worms, roaches, and crickets.

I mean I guess the dust from the wings might be bad but I have no idea on the nutrition. Can anyone shed some light on this?

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[JMDaniels]

I do know that crickets are very susceptible to parasites. Particularly hairworm and parasitic flies. For the most part though, it comes down to environment factors. If you order your crickets from a reputable farm, the odds are that they will be clean when they arrive. Then, as long as you keep them protected while they are at your house, you should be fine. Keep the enclosure covered with a tight screen mesh so that nothing can get in and lay eggs. Also, if you find any crickets that have gotten loose in your house, don't put them back in with the other crickets (in case they picked up something while they were free).

 

[athdaraxen]

I do know that crickets are very susceptible to parasites. Particularly hairworm and parasitic flies. For the most part though, it comes down to environment factors. If you order your crickets from a reputable farm, the odds are that they will be clean when they arrive. Then, as long as you keep them protected while they are at your house, you should be fine. Keep the enclosure covered with a tight screen mesh so that nothing can get in and lay eggs. Also, if you find any crickets that have gotten loose in your house, don't put them back in with the other crickets (in case they picked up something while they were free).

Awesome. Sounds about what I was thinking but I wanted to be extra sure. Thank you for your advice. :3

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[SORROW89]

I found this about moths.
Is it Safe for Geckos to Eat Moths? | eHow.com but aren't they too big?

 

[athdaraxen]

I found this about moths.
Is it Safe for Geckos to Eat Moths? | eHow.com but aren't they too big?

Probably are but for the sake of my curiosity that link is helpful. Plus there are some smaller moths out there. I mean variety is such a big issue when feeding I was just thinking of other things geckos could chomp on. Moths seemed like they might be fun, especially if the gecko likes to hunt. :3

It's just as the article says too, they could make for good exercise! Plus I like what it mentioned about the very low risk on parasites even when wild caught. Very cool. Moths could definitely be a fun thing to do here and there.

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[sbouldin]

Could someone explain more about these hornworms? I have two leopard geckos and one of them is a bit picky.

 

[athdaraxen]

Could someone explain more about these hornworms? I have two leopard geckos and one of them is a bit picky.

Horn worms are great feeders, they are bright, soft, squishy, and from what I've read around leos love them. I haven't tried them yet because one of the problems with them is that they grow reallllly fast. If you do get them, get them nice and small.

They are expensive from what I've found online though, partly why I haven't tried them. I have found that shipping can be cut if you can find an insect shipper in your state. Like for me living in Georgia there is georgiacrickets.com, it's so much cheaper because it's closer to me than say one based in Ohio.

Instead of shipping being like $25 (since it would be air shipping) it was $7.80 (because it could be ground shipping) .

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[sbouldin]

Thanks! yeah, i looked them up earlier to see if they were what i thought they were..i see them at my local pet store but usually they are quite large there. A i did notice how pricey they were online!

 

[athdaraxen]

Thanks! yeah, i looked them up earlier to see if they were what i thought they were..i see them at my local pet store but usually they are quite large there. A i did notice how pricey they were online!

Yeah it's pretty bad online lol. I wish my local petstore had them but they are pretty bad with anything that's not mealworms. Most of the crickets are dead, another reason I'm checking out other feeders.

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[Elizabeth Freer]

Another cricket, newly being bred/sold (Autumn 2012) by Ghann's, is the Gryllodes sigillatus.

 

[athdaraxen]

Another cricket, newly being bred/sold (Autumn 2012) by Ghann's, is the Gryllodes sigillatus.

I read an article on those I think. They seem really awesome. Those are the ones resistant to the cricket virus but not crazy mean like the black ones right? If not I may have been reading something else lol.

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