Other Turtle Discussion :: Keeping Crickets?

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

I like the sound of crickets too... but not when i am trying to sleep. If only they knew when to be loud and quiet.

[Pi]

When I was a kid I used to keep crickets, okay, but kid, I actually mean while I was in high school...but my parents wouldn't let me have fish.

At first I thought that the chirping was going to drive me crazy, but for weeks after I stopped keeping them, I had trouble sleeping...you get used to it.

Anyway, they are really east to keep, and actually kind of cool to watch, especially when the males are trying to impress the females with their chirping abilities and general mate-ability. Okay, so I had some spare time in high school...

In case anyone cares:
I kept them in a 10 gal (about 30). No special lighting. I used oatmeal(uncooked, of course) for substrate, because it was cheap and the crickets could also eat it. I fed them fish flakes, ground up cat food, and leafy greens. They will drown, so it's best to leave a sponge in there for them to drink from. They had a cave to hide in. I cleaned the tank around once a week, just dumped the oatmeal out and brought in fresh. The tank never smelled bad, and it gave the family cat hours of fun.

Pi

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

I know wat you mean about spare time. I am homeschooled, and my school is only 2 hours. Plus it is on a DVD so you just sit there. No one is home either....So i can watch my turtle for hours on end and be bord out of my mind. If i didnt have a turtle i probably would have gone crazy by now.

[lydia_lady_fla]

you have lots of time to learn,create, and start new hobbies hey?crickets are kinda low maintanace(sp)actually crickets,grasshoppers,frogs and little worms were some of my first pets to become responsible for. and they needed food water and housing sothat was where I learned alot,to bad their housing area was many times a jar or coffee can with holes punched in the lids and drink bottle lids for water and food bowls lol my cricket liked raw potatoe. wow those were good times

[GouzlanTheAmerican]

I am not to keen on getting anymore animals. I have to take care of my turt, and 2 cats. I wish some of the rest of my family would help. But they are to lazy, Those bums! I got enough to keep myself buesy. lol i always have to have a crystal clear tank, so if i see any dirt its time for another water change! i am a pefectionest so everything takes a lot longer than other ppl take to do it.

[flutterby]

I just got a new batch of crix I want to gutload, I have Flukers Cricket Feed, but I also want to add other fruits/veggies to it and was wonder which ones would be good. I've heard apples are a good choice but I was wondering about cantaloupe, strawberries ect.

(laughs at the above post) Since I'm not working I've been taking care of: 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 firebelly toads, cleaning up after 3 kids, 1 boyfriend, 1 grumpy old lady and a lazy $*#($(#)@#@ friend of my bf.

[flutterby]

Nevermind I found my answer (http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/resourcesgeneral/a/crickets.htm)

You can also feed them such things as tropical fish flakes, leafy greens (romaine, mustard greens, kale, collard greens), squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, oranges, apples, potatoes (peelings are fine), alfalfa, baby rice cereal, wheat germ, prepackaged reptile foods, dry cat food, etc.

The fresh vegetables and fruits can be offered even if you are feeding a commercial cricket chow.

[marisa]

They particularly like slices of orange.

Don't know if you're doing this, but I wouldn't put water in with them--they'll drown. I've used either a moistened natural sponge for them to get moisture from or something called Cricket Quencher.

[flutterby]

I have a cap from a 2 liter soda bottle with a piece of damp sponge in it. I saw the Cricket Quencher at the Fluker's site so I'm gonna have to look into getting some.

[marisa]

I was told by another customer that the orange gel (also sold beside it and it bit more expensive) is better. Less chance of drowning.

[flutterby]

There is only a $1 difference, so I don't think its that big of a deal.

The Orange Cube says:

Orange is the single solution to provide the three things crickets need most: food, water, and vitamins. It is specially formulated to be easily digested by both crickets and the animals that will consume them. Use of Orange3 will drastically reduce your number of drowned, dehydrated and nutrient deficient crickets.

The Cricket Quencher w/ Calcium says:

Cricket Quencher provides crickets and other feeder insects with a safe, clean water source in a convenient gel form. This easy-to-use formula eliminates many of the problems associated with traditional watering methods, such as the formation of deadly bacteria and loss through drowning. Fluker's Calcium Fortified Cricket Quencher offers a source of calcium for "gut loading" insects prior to feeding them to your reptile .


For what I'm using it for, I'd probably opt for the w/ Calcium and supplement other veggies/fruits.

[flutterby]

Just an FYI, I got some of the Cricket Quencer with Calcium, I'll let you know how it works.

[marisa]

That's what I use. The orange cubes, that are only a $1 more where you are, are double the price here.