Bad Cricket Shipment: How do you know?

[Mesnik]

It sounds dumb asking but apart from dead crickets and not the right size, how can you tell if you got a bad shipment?

I just ordered 500 and I am waiting for it... just wanted to be prepared with my check list!

Thanks.

 

[royden]

I judge by the amount of dead.

There are always some dead, the question is how many? If it's significant, like a visible pile/cluster/layer of dead criks. I'd call it bad.

I also have at least a dozen or more dead scattered here and there.

I've ordered online from at least three different places, they all seemed to be pretty good.

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

it's a personal issue

there is a certain amount of overfill included
with any respectable cricket producer
In the expectation that some will die in shipping
(crushing by carrots, heat stress, infection etc)

I would call and notify the provider if I get more than a third dead in the summer.
Generally, you can get a good feel for what the shipment should be like
and when the feeder death has been excessive.
(not to mention the smell)

you can relax ... bad bug producers go out of business very quickly.

 

[Mesnik]

Thanks for the replies. I have ordered from Millibrook and I can see that they have been delivered.

Can't wait to go home and see how they look like!