Crickets die fast

[ersl12]

We've been realizing lately that whenever we get crickets, a lot die within a few days. We have a smaller KricketKeeper and give them food (Fluker's Orange Cubes), but a lot seem to die. It's hard to tell whether other crickets kill them or if they die on their own. Also, when we put them in the beardie's tank, after the day is over, most have died. We put calcium on them so they are powdered, could this affect them in that way? Now we have a separate feeder for the beardie, but again, the crickets just seem to die fast.

Also, we purchased a box of 500 crickets before and kept them in one of those big plastic cubes you see at Target, and we put some paper towels and the egg crates that they came with. We put enough food in, but it just seemed they died so quickly.

We usually get them at Petco or Pets Plus.

Basically, just looking for the best advice on how to keep them, whether in the smaller keeper or large one. Also, if we get another box of 500, what is the best way to maintain them?

Thanks!

 

[suzuki4life]

you realize a cricket has a 6-8 week total life cycle even if you give them optimum care right?

So if you are buying larger crickets, their days are numbered anyway.

 

[ersl12]

I mean, yeah.. they just seem to die so quick after getting them from the pet store. Of course, who knows how long they've been there. Like recently, we bought a few dozen.. and after feeding the dragon, the extras he didn't eat were dead the next morning.

I just don't know if maybe we're putting too much calcium on them and that could be affecting them?

 

[ersl12]

Also, the ones we are getting are smaller to medium sized.

 

[suzuki4life]

I don't powder insects, i powder the veggies.

 

[ersl12]

That's a good idea, or even powdering the cricket food.

Thanks!

 

[suzuki4life]

That's a good idea, or even powdering the cricket food.

Thanks!

yep a form of gut load.

 

[Gail]

Be careful with adding calcium to cricket food, it can cause them to die early. Unless your baby is eating his veggies really well, powdering the crickets is the best was to get him calcium/vitamins. When you powder, do you coat them really heavy or just a light coating? They only need a light coating, if they look like they've been dipped in white paint then that is too much and can plug up their breathing apparatus.

As far as keeping the crickets alive longer. Make sure they have plenty of ventilation and are kept warm. I really prefer flukers dry cricket chow or even flaked fish food. You can give them water by feeding left over veggies/fruit or with water crystals. A bigger cage is always better.
Also, there was a cricket virus that ran through most suppliers this year and I think its still kinda hanging around some places. Could be why yours are dieing so quickly.

 

[Ellisfamily]

The crickets I buy at petco/petsmart always die quickly for me to (and I buy the small too). You are so much better off ordering them online. They are much cheaper and healthier. I've ordered from a few places now and Premium Crickets always seems to be the healthiest and live the longest.

 

[ersl12]

Be careful with adding calcium to cricket food, it can cause them to die early. Unless your baby is eating his veggies really well, powdering the crickets is the best was to get him calcium/vitamins. When you powder, do you coat them really heavy or just a light coating? They only need a light coating, if they look like they've been dipped in white paint then that is too much and can plug up their breathing apparatus.

Thanks for the advice. Shows how much pet stores know.. they told us to cover the crickets with calcium so they are white.. probably explains why they died so fast.

 

[ersl12]

We usually get our crickets from the local Petsmart, Petco, Pets Plus, etc. because they are all in a 5 minute radius. We hate it though because it's ridiculously expensive for a few dozen. We did purchase a thing of 500 crickets, but a lot died when we moved them into a box (well.. blame that on the boyfriend haha and the tank got disgusting.. but now we know how to maintain them better so next time we're going to order from an online retailer.

 

[ktdid]

Solution: buy dubia roaches.

If you can stand the ick factor, these guys are amazing. I started a colony with about 500 roaches a few months ago and so far less than 10 have died on me. They are far more robust than crickets, don't smell bad, are easy to clean up after (because they don't die), and breed readily. Once you have a colony set up, chances are you won't ever have to buy another feeder.

 

[ersl12]

We talked to a local breeder and shop owner and we asked about dubias, and he said he thinks crickets are better. I guess this is more a personal opinion, but does the dragon grow well with dubias? Also, since ours is a baby, is it ok to feed them dubias now?

 

[nair88]

did this breeder give you any reasoning behind his opinion? because i can list several reasons why dubia are better. higher meat to shell ratio, higher protein percentage, and they won't munch on your dragon while in the tank. these are just the reasons why they're better for your dragon. there are plenty more reasons why they are better for you as well ;-)

 

[ersl12]

i mean i've read a lot about both and it seems that dubias are better. a lot of time it just seems like personal opinion. this was the breeder's personal opinion.. he still gives them dubia once in awhile, he said since crickets are the main, natural feeders of crickets he sticks with them.

are they ok to give to babies?