How fast do crickets grow?

[Jon S]

I may have mad a minor screw up. I ordered 1000 1/4" crickets from lllreptile for my 4? month old panther that will be arriving on Thursday. After they got there yesterday and I put them in an enclosure with the food, gutload, etc. it dawned on me that they may be too big for him by the time he gets here.

Vince at Screameleons said they should be ok, but check back on monday and try to send him a pic of the size. Does anyone know if I should just try and order a bunch new crickets because these will be too large by then? I hope not, but if thats what I have to do, then thats what I have to do

 

[sandrachameleon]

Takes around 5 or 6 weeks for them to get full size. Keep the crickets in a cool room, so they dont grow quite as quickly. The growth over 4 days wont be considerable. though how you will use up 1000 of them in the following week is beyond me.

 

[yoza717]

8 weeks from pinheads to adults. I just got a new male Ambanja myself. He was hatched Feb 24, same age as yours. I buy 1/4 size crickets for him, but luckily, I have adult Chams that will eat any left overs that grow past 1/2 size.
1000 is a lot for one Chameleon, but you will get a few die off, especially if this is your first time keeping a lot of crickets.
Since it is summer, you can start a colony with the left over adults in 4 to 5 weeks. That way they won't go to waste. It is easy to do, YouTube has all sorts of people posting intructional videos to get you started.

Good Luck

 

[naich]

just buy them at the size you want and keep them at room temp and they pretty much wont grow...but they will eat!

i once kept 1000 5/8 inch crix for a month in my bedroom....didnt use them that much because i has a lot of silks come my way...anyway almost none of them had wings when i went to start feeding off...and only like 1/6th died off.

 

[Malicious]

Don't worry Jon, the 1/4" will be fine, even if they grow some.

Most of my chameleons at 3mo's were eating 3/8" crickets.

Your 1/4" are going to be a handful though, their like little stray bullets at that age...hehe!!


-Jay