Freeze-Dried Crickets

[SMPritchett10]

Hey everyone,

Stitch will eat dead crickets for me, which made me so happy cuz I hate dealing with live crickets! They jump and move fast, sometimes escaping from Stitch before he can eat them. Not to mention they can escape so quickly. So I was thrilled! Until I bought the freeze-dried crickets and they were way too big for him. He tried to eat one, but could only chomp a bit off, then he wouldn't try anymore. So, unfortunately, I had to go back to my small live ones.

Does anyone know if they have freeze-dried crickets available smaller? I'll even order them if I have to.

Thanks!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Freeze dried crickets are quite possibly one of the worst things you can feed a leopard gecko. They are pretty much empty calories. They will keep him alive for a while but eventually his health will start to severely suffer. You need to feed him live insects that have been properly dusted and gutloaded. If you don't like dealing with crickets (I hate them as well!) there are alternatives like dubia, superworms and mealworms.

 

[SC Geckos]

+1 ^^ Freeze dried insects of any kind should not be used as a staple food.

Stitch will eat dead crickets for me, which made me so happy cuz I hate dealing with live crickets!

I will say this just in case..... Only feed dead crickets that you pre killed and not the ones that you find died already.

 

[katie_]

Yes dead crickets carry disease and freeze dried crickets are like eating potato chips.
Have you tried mealworms? Sooo much easier.

 

[KTyne]

I agree with the others 100%. Not only can you NOT gutload a dead Cricket but I can't even imagine the amount of preservatives that they use with those.

Just no.

 

[SMPritchett10]

Okay thanks to all of you! I thought about mealworms, but many have told me not to because Stitch is only a juvenile. Something about their exoskeleton not being good for them. Is this true?

What are dubia?

Also, how often should I dust them with ReptoCal? Every day or every other day?

Thanks guys!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I know that freeze-dried crickets aren't considered an appropriate food (and I agree), but I'm wondering if anyone here has actually compared the nutritional content of freeze-dried cricket with live ones? I believe the freeze-dried ones are gutloaded before being killed. They're certainly lacking in moisture, which is definitely important, but has anyone ever actually compared the specific nutritional content? I'd be very curious to see how live and freeze-dried compare on that issue.

Okay thanks to all of you! I thought about mealworms, but many have told me not to because Stitch is only a juvenile. Something about their exoskeleton not being good for them. Is this true?

As long as a gecko has proper temperatures and its digestion is working as it should, the exoskeletons shouldn't be an issue. If the gecko isn't warm enough/isn't digesting food properly, then, yes, it would be a concern for any age.

What are dubia?

Species of cockroach, Blaptica dubia.

Also, how often should I dust them with ReptoCal? Every day or every other day?

Go by whatever the bottle says. Always the safest bet with supplements IMO.

~Maggot

 

[SMPritchett10]

So dubia would be okay to feed my juvenile?

 

[Duster]

If you can find some small enough for him to eat. Dubias aren't real tiny to begin with.

 

[SC Geckos]

If you can find some small enough for him to eat. Dubias aren't real tiny to begin with.

Sure they are. When they are born they are only about 1/4", maybe slightly smaller. These are perfect for hatchling leos.

Here is an example. I'm sure there are some that are smaller but this is the first one I could catch.

 

[SMPritchett10]

Where can I find them at?

 

[Duster]

Sure they are. When they are born they are only about 1/4", maybe slightly smaller. These are perfect for hatchling leos.

Here is an example. I'm sure there are some that are smaller but this is the first one I could catch.

View attachment 56716

It could just be the place around me then. The dubias they classify as small there would be tough for a juvie leopard gecko to swallow.

 

[SC Geckos]

Where can I find them at?

You can search for different sellers online. Also I am sure there are sellers on this forum. Check the classifieds section.