Feeding and Nutrition :: crickets

[threshold]

so at my work we have the most ridiculous amount of crickets around...before i do anything...is it safe to feed them to my turtle?...of do they need to be store brought ones?

cheers Danny

[TheComputerGremlin]

If they are wild crickets, you should basically know how they lived their lives before feeding. If your workplace is way out in the middle of nowhere, no pesticides are sprayed around, no garbage around that the crickets can eat, etc, they are probably safe. If your workplace is in the middle of a city or an area that pesticides are sprayed, you don't want to feed them. In general, pet store crickets are safest, and crickets in the middle of nowhere are often safe, but otherwise, don't feed any bugs found in sketchy areas.

[threshold]

hmmmm its a huge engineering work shop with no grass...but ill just give it a miss to be on the safe side.

[RiahJo]

Hmm... I suppose that goes for flies too?

I guess I'll break the news to her. =/

[theartbook35]

so at my work we have the most ridiculous amount of crickets around...before i do anything...is it safe to feed them to my turtle?...of do they need to be store brought ones?

cheers Danny

I wouldn't do it... So many sicknesses and parasites can be contracted from wild crickets. I think it would be so much better to buy canned crickets or live crickets from a local pet store.

Catching wild crickets might seem like a cheap solution, until you have to pay vet bills for getting something icky out of your sick turtle.

[bover907]

What about the Freeze dried, calcium fortified crickets? The ones I have are Fluker's Freeze Dried Crickets. It says they're gut loaded with calcium.

How often should I feed these? Since they're gut loaded with calcium, could I use maybe one or two of these on the pellet 'off days' as a calcium suplement? It does say that they're 50.1% Protien, so I don't want to give him too many, since he's about 5½ inches long.

Squirt seems to love them. Although he pretty much loves anyting edible, lol.

[theartbook35]

What about the Freeze dried, calcium fortified crickets? The ones I have are Fluker's Freeze Dried Crickets. It says they're gut loaded with calcium.

How often should I feed these? Since they're gut loaded with calcium, could I use maybe one or two of these on the pellet 'off days' as a calcium suplement? It does say that they're 50.1% Protien, so I don't want to give him too many, since he's about 5½ inches long.

Squirt seems to love them. Although he pretty much loves anyting edible, lol.

I would use them a supplement once a week, since they are also higher in protein.