Feeding Canned Crickets

[LeoLover101]

I have noticed that in PetsMart they sell canned (dead) crickets as a diet for Leopard Geckos, but on this and other forums it seems nobody feeds their Leos these. I am curious as to why not, because I have heard so much about live crickets escaping, or causing other problems. Out of curiosity I bought a can of those crickets. They smell horrible when opened, and they were actually too big for my Leo to eat anyway. I wasn't sure if I could chop them up (the thought of that gives me the willies) and add them in with his mealworms, or what the nutritional value could possibly be to even bother feeding them to her since they are dead already. So what are your thoughts on this?

 

[ZombiGecko]

Most probably wouldnt eat them because they wont move. I cant imagine them being nutritional either honestly being dead and dried out. Plus you dont know what they where fed..

-Amber

 

[LeoLover101]

Yeah, I agree, but I was surprised to find that they weren't dried out. They are rather juicy, but smell really gross. I can't imagine what they could use to preserve them, or make them nutritious enough to really do good for a Leo. The can says they are nutritious, but then, they are trying to sell their product. I just figured if they really were any good, the people who have cared for and raised Leos for years would be saying so, and I haven't heard that from anyone. Although I have heard a lot of opinions on both crickets and mealworms. I can't bring myself to bring roaches into my house, so I'm stuck with crickets and mealworms. I give the occasional waxworm as well. My Leo is not very old, I'm not sure exactly how old. I got her from PetsMart February 22, 2012. So far I feed her small to medium crickets, and mealworms, but she eats a lot. I do gutload my feeders before feeding them to her.

 

[grboxa]

They are very low in nutrition compared to a live feeder. When your gecko gets older you can give silkworms a try to mix things up with variety. They don't smell at all, very poor climbers, soft body, and VERY nutritious. I feed them frequently and my geckos have been growing great. You can give phoenix worms a shot to, these worms are also very rich in calcium.

 

[LeoLover101]

They are very low in nutrition compared to a live feeder. When your gecko gets older you can give silkworms a try to mix things up with variety. They don't smell at all, very poor climbers, soft body, and VERY nutritious. I feed them frequently and my geckos have been growing great. You can give phoenix worms a shot to, these worms are also very rich in calcium.

Thanks. I will do that. I guess I would have to order those from somewhere online. Do you have any idea how they are shipped, like does it announce to the world that there are live insects inside or anything like that? Because my grandmother lives with me, and she doesn't have a clue I have a lizard in my room. She is afraid of anything like that. So I try not to get anything delivered that says live anything...lol.