Probably Enough Cricket Threads Already

[rcutchens]

And I hate to start another one but I don't wan to hijack someone elses thread.

I've noticed a l lot of advice from members about purchasing feeders from online sources and I'm definitely interested because the prices are so much better than the pet stores' prices and I can only assume the quality is better as well.

Right now we've only purchased feeders from a local PetCo, (please no flaming,) but make a point to keep their keeper very clean and supply them with a good assortment of fruits, vegetables and even oats before feeding them to Rico.

So far to good but we've only ever purchased 100 at a time and keep them in one of those large sized Lee's Cricket Keepers which says it will hold as many as 150 medium sized crickets. We like the keeper because the tubes make it very easy to get the crickets out and into the dusting bag - extremely easy in fact.

I've noticed that a lot of the online sites sell in much larger quantities and would be concerned about buying that many at a time for the following reasons -

1. I don't think the keeper is large enough to house more than 150 mediums
2. We only have one young chameleon and he only eats 8 to 12 per day
3. I'm concerned that by the time we got around to using the last several hundred they'll have grown in size and maybe outgrow what he can easily eat


I just wondered if anyone can share their experiences with buying crickets in larger quantities such as 250 or even 500 to help me with making a decision to buy -

1. How/what do you keep them in?
2. Do you buy more because you have more mouths to feed?
3. Do you find the crickets "outgrow" your cham's feeding needs?

Thank you in advance.

 

[sandrachameleon]

If you're only buying small quantities, there's no reason not to continue buying from a local pet store, assuming you are satisfied with the quality of the pet store product.

I have bought from both pet stores and various online suppliers, and notice no appreciable difference in quality. The price online is only better if you actually need a bulk quantity. Crickets die off in about 6 weeks, so you dont want to purchase more than you can use!

I usually buy adult crickets 10 or 20 at a time from a pet store, because I dont use many adult crickets (I breed /use other bugs much of the time). However I do buy 2 and 3 week old crickets in bulk when I have many babies to feed.

 

[carol5208]

When my chameleon ate crickets I ordered 500 at a time and kept them in a 10 gallon fish tank with a screenlid. I bought 1/4 inch to start when my cham was about 4 1/2 months old. I would try to feed them all off (as he was eating about 12-20 a day) so they would not get too big and start chirping. With the quantity I was giving him and the usual die off, it worked out perfectly for me! My cham no longer likes them so I just periodically buy a dozen or so and try to reintroduce them.

 

[rcutchens]

If you're only buying small quantities, there's no reason not to continue buying from a local pet store, assuming you are satisfied with the quality of the pet store product.

I have bought from both pet stores and various online suppliers, and notice no appreciable difference in quality. The price online is only better if you actually need a bulk quantity. Crickets die off in about 6 weeks, so you dont want to purchase more than you can use!

I usually buy adult crickets 10 or 20 at a time from a pet store, because I dont use many adult crickets (I breed /use other bugs much of the time). However I do buy 2 and 3 week old crickets in bulk when I have many babies to feed.

Thanks for the feedback, sandra. I keep hearing about other members breeding and using other bugs and should look into it.

When my chameleon ate crickets I ordered 500 at a time and kept them in a 10 gallon fish tank with a screenlid. I bought 1/4 inch to start when my cham was about 4 1/2 months old. I would try to feed them all off (as he was eating about 12-20 a day) so they would not get too big and start chirping. With the quantity I was giving him and the usual die off, it worked out perfectly for me! My cham no longer likes them so I just periodically buy a dozen or so and try to reintroduce them.

I actually have several old fish tanks that could use but I just don't know if Rico would go through that many. 12 to 20 per day??? Now I'm concerned we're under feeding him on 8 to 12. Of course, he's just over 3 months old so that may be normal.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Thanks for the feedback, sandra. I keep hearing about other members breeding and using other bugs and should look into it.

This blog entry includes links to information on breeding a variety of insects:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html