Concerned about the quality of crickets

[CallDr]

I was talking to a breeder and it seems there is a "problem" with crickets. I don't know the whole scoop as they say but maybe someone on here may have some insight on this issue.

My concern is feeding my Gecko's what may be considered "bad crickets".

I do know the mortality rate from my local store is bad. Some die even before I get them home.

 

[TheRed]

Maybe you could find a local breeder, instead of getting them from the pet store? I get mine from a guy that lives by my house. Not only are they cheaper but they seem to live longer as well.

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

Heat and Humidity are the primary killer of crickets from a pet store. Also they do require a high volume of water crystals replaced every 4-5 days depending upon # of crickets.

 

[Mel&Keith]

I actually think there is something going on with the crickets right now. I'm interested to see if anyone else has noticed anything weird going on.

 

[Tony C]

I actually think there is something going on with the crickets right now. I'm interested to see if anyone else has noticed anything weird going on.

Nothing that I've noticed. :main_huh:

 

[Mel&Keith]

Mulberry Farms has temporarily discontinued the sale of crickets - link.

 

[robin]

Mulberry Farms has temporarily discontinued the sale of crickets - link.

i got 200 from Lynn (from Lynns bearded dragons) this weekend when we went up to ft. worth. they are NICE ones too. i don't think she ships though

 

[Imperial Geckos]

I really hope this doesnt turn out like the mealworm shortage a couple years back...we would be in big "doodoo"

 

[CallDr]

I actually think there is something going on with the crickets right now. I'm interested to see if anyone else has noticed anything weird going on.

Yes..... there is a problem right now. But just who or Not is what I am trying to find out.

 

[Imperial Geckos]

Mel , Have you contacted Mulburry Farms to ask them if they would like to share what is going on with their crickets?

 

[CallDr]

i noticed a change in the large crickets I was getting a month ago.

 

[Imperial Geckos]

i noticed a change in the large crickets I was getting a month ago.

What sort of changes?

 

[Mel&Keith]

I haven't. I usually order feeders from another supplier but started looking around after receiving poor quality crickets for a couple of months and saw that on their page.

 

[Mel&Keith]

I've noticed that the crickets we've gotten lately are darker than normal and the mortality rate has more than doubled. We got a replacement order that smelled kind of weird too. Not a dead cricket smell, more of a chemical type smell. Maybe I'm just imagining things though.

 

[CallDr]

What sort of changes?

Mortality rate, sick looking, not active and appeared to have a hard time moving..... like rubber legs and some turning White before they die.

 

[CallDr]

I think I will switch to meal worms till I find out exactly what is going on. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Tony C]

I haven't had any trouble with my crickets from sunshine mealworms, just got a new order last week and they are healthy and active with no significant mortality. I would be in big trouble if there was a cricket problem like what happened to mealworms...

 

[Mel&Keith]

I just ordered roaches for the first time even though I swore I never would! LOL

 

[robin]

LOL mel you are sooo gonna gross out!

 

[adam&nikki]

i havent noticed anything weird yet but im going to keep a close eye on it since i house 1k crickets all the time but this could be just a southern problem right now and since im in canada i might not be affected