Free Roam Crickets lead to eggs in the Enclosure -- Issue or Nonissue?

[mschultz]

So I recently found that my chameleon likes to hunt down her crickets. So I've been setting them free instead of putting them in a cup. She usually eats them within 10 minutes. Today apparently, she either didn't notice, or is full and is letting a female cricket roam free. Well to my luck, the female was pregnant and I just watched her lay a bunch of cricket eggs in my super most hibiscus soil. Should I be concerned?

When I find cricket eggs in my cricket tank I usually just wash them down the sink (usually they are in the food container) because I do not want to breed the crickets. I know the eggs in the enclosure are likely to hatch because the soil in the plant is very moist.

Has anyone had this happen before? Will I have 100+ baby crickets escaping my enclosure? Is there something I can do without removing the entire plant?

 

[jpowell86]

The ovipositor on the cricket isn't that long. If you saw where she deposited the eggs, just scoop that bit of soil out.

 

[mschultz]

The ovipositor on the cricket isn't that long. If you saw where she deposited the eggs, just scoop that bit of soil out.

The soil might not be deep, the the area of the pot is large... and she's roaming... I'll do what I can

 

[DanSB]

I have this issue in frog tanks and in my opinion it really isn't an issue. Most of the baby crickets will die fairly quickly either from misting and being drowned or from lack of better cricket food than hibiscus leaves which they seem to have a hard time eating when so tiny. I never had this problem that I know of with a chameleon but I'm opposed to exposed soil in a chameleon tank and kept large rocks in my pots covering the soil so it is possible I just never noticed (which would mean the pin head crickets died really fast because I pay close attention.)

In summary I wouldn't worry, just mist the soil a bit heavier than normal for a week or two if you start seeing baby crix and are concerned at all.

 

[mschultz]

I have this issue in frog tanks and in my opinion it really isn't an issue. Most of the baby crickets will die fairly quickly either from misting and being drowned or from lack of better cricket food than hibiscus leaves which they seem to have a hard time eating when so tiny. I never had this problem that I know of with a chameleon but I'm opposed to exposed soil in a chameleon tank and kept large rocks in my pots covering the soil so it is possible I just never noticed (which would mean the pin head crickets died really fast because I pay close attention.)

In summary I wouldn't worry, just mist the soil a bit heavier than normal for a week or two if you start seeing baby crix and are concerned at all.

Good to know! The soil is covered with large rocks... but the cricket can get under them. I scooped the soil and didn't see any eggs... I'll keep and eye out for pin heads. Thanks!