Bulk purchasing crickets?...

[Tiberius]

I am mainly feeding my little chameleon buddy crickets and at 11 cents a pop the price starts to add up.

So I was wondering where the best place to buy them in bulk would be and how many I should buy and any other info would be greatly appreciated.

I am planning on keeping them in a 10gal terrarium with screen top. Also any advice on gutloading would be awesome

 

[Tiberius]

Also, I will be keeping them in the backyard. The temp can get into the 100's during the hottest part of summer where I live. Will this be alright?

 

[carol5208]

Mulberry farms right there in California. For one chameleonwho is young I would buy 500 at a time. I keep mine in 10 gallon tank also outside and I live in Florida. They do fine. In the winter, it might get too cold by you and you might hav e to put a clamp lamp with a bulb for heat. You can gutload with fresh fruits and veggies. Also some people use Cricket Crack. I think that can be purchased at Tiki Tiki Reptiles. I don't use that so not 100% sure. There is also Repashy Bug Burger for gutload. I use Kale, Collard greens, apples, oranges, carrots, sweet peppers. Check out our member Sandrachameleon's page. She has tons of info on gutloading.

 

[Solid Snake]

I like cricket crack Yes it can be purchased at tiki, they they even have a regular, and montane mix.

I sprinkle it on greens(collard/turnip) and also use squash, and oranges all the time, then throw in whatever scraps I have that are appropriate(as per sandrachameleon's blog).

I would keep them in the shade as much as possible if its getting that hot where you live.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

In a glass cage in temps that high you will baked cricket mush in no time. That will kill them all fast. Here are some tips for keeping crickets in bulk.

 

[dragongoddess]

I live in the same area and have killed them in the house when it got too hot (before I set up cooler for the summer). Keep them in a closet if you don't want to seen them, not outside.

 

[Tiberius]

Thanks everyone, I found these replies to be quite helpful

I live in the same area and have killed them in the house when it got too hot (before I set up cooler for the summer). Keep them in a closet if you don't want to seen them, not outside.

I want to keep them outside because I do not want little cricket escapees running around my house. Also the noise would get old fast.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I want to keep them outside because I do not want little cricket escapees running around my house. Also the noise would get old fast.

If they're in a glass tank you won't have escapees. And get crickets that are 4 weeks old or 1/2' long instead of adults. Only adults have wings so the smaller ones are silent. And they'll last for at least 3 weeks before they get wings. If you keep them outside in those temps they will die, even in shade.

 

[AllFallDown]

I second Mulberry farms. Last order was from them and I have very very few DOAs.

 

[javsto]

I havent used mulberry farms, I have a local reptile shop that sells crix @ 500 for $15 or 1000 for $22 all sizes.

 

[carol5208]

Well it is funny but in the last few days it has been blazing hot down here and I am having some die off! After I just got through bragging. But I remember when I kept crickets before I had them outisde all summer and they did ok. There was a long period when I did not keep them as my chameleon would not eat them and now both of mine do so I am keepin them again.There is no way i am keeping those smelly things in my house!