Speak to me of cricket homes

[LeapinLizard]

So, my leo is arriving this Wednesday, and I want everything to be ready for him. I've had a month to prepare, and I have his tank set up, and we're good to go.

Bearing in mind that I'm a complete novice to the wonderful world of leos, I've tried a quick search, and couldn't find anything to answer my question. But basically, is a 1/2 gallon plastic 'kritter keeper' going to be big enough for at least 24 medium-sized crickets?

Ideally, I plan to get crickets at the pet store. I was told they're $1/dozen and since I'll only have the one leo and since the pet store is on my way to the barn, I figure I can stop there once or twice a week to pick up a couple dozen. I thought about online ordering, but I'm not really planning to buy in bulk since it seems a little inconvenient to have too many crickets. (The noise! The noise!) when i have just one little leo to feed. It's not even that really inconvenient for me to zip down to the pet store since it's on the way back from the barn, and is near enough to the public library (which I'm always going to anyway.)

So my plan is to have the 1/2 gallon kritter keeper. I'll put a piece of egg carton in there for them and provide for their diet and moisture needs. Would that be enough to accommodate a small scale pet owner without having to be too extravagant?

 

[GeckoGathering]

Food For Thought

So, my leo is arriving this Wednesday,

So IMHO select another food source.. Meal worms.
.......less trouble/less noise/less chance of pin worms/5 gal. is suitable
to house and feed meal worms for benefiting the gecko. ....sure, less of a hunt to watch but you need to gut load pet shop prey food before you gecko gets it.....take care. HJ

 

[rcobourn]

So, my leo is arriving this Wednesday, and I want everything to be ready for him. I've had a month to prepare, and I have his tank set up, and we're good to go.

Bearing in mind that I'm a complete novice to the wonderful world of leos, I've tried a quick search, and couldn't find anything to answer my question. But basically, is a 1/2 gallon plastic 'kritter keeper' going to be big enough for at least 24 medium-sized crickets?

Ideally, I plan to get crickets at the pet store. I was told they're $1/dozen and since I'll only have the one leo and since the pet store is on my way to the barn, I figure I can stop there once or twice a week to pick up a couple dozen. I thought about online ordering, but I'm not really planning to buy in bulk since it seems a little inconvenient to have too many crickets. (The noise! The noise!) when i have just one little leo to feed. It's not even that really inconvenient for me to zip down to the pet store since it's on the way back from the barn, and is near enough to the public library (which I'm always going to anyway.)

So my plan is to have the 1/2 gallon kritter keeper. I'll put a piece of egg carton in there for them and provide for their diet and moisture needs. Would that be enough to accommodate a small scale pet owner without having to be too extravagant?

Sounds like a great plan... that won't work at all. Why? Because it is proven impossible for anyone to walk into a pet store and only come out with what they intended to buy, making the costs of regularly buying pet store crickets astronomical.

Seriously, sounds good. If you make sure to buy 3/4 inch crickets or smaller, you shouldn't even have a noise problem, they don't start chirping until they are adult. Right now my cricket colony is absolutely silent because I fed out all the adults... won't be for long though, the next batch is just about full grown.

 

[acpart]

Your container size is fine and the lid will ventilate them. For that small a number of crickets, I'd recommend using a toilet paper tube rather than egg crate. That way you can just shake the tube and get crickets out. It's much more difficult to get them off the egg crate.

Aliza

 

[fOOlsgOld]

Sounds like a great plan... that won't work at all. Why? Because it is proven impossible for anyone to walk into a pet store and only come out with what they intended to buy, making the costs of regularly buying pet store crickets astronomical.

ROFL I actually did that this past weekend. My daughter and I went into a *Large Chain Pet store* and I got so mad at how they kept their animals that I changed my mind about getting anything from there. I actually don't like going into those stores as I generally end up mad at the people for the lack of care.

 

[Amber7399]

ROFL I actually did that this past weekend. My daughter and I went into a *Large Chain Pet store* and I got so mad at how they kept their animals that I changed my mind about getting anything from there. I actually don't like going into those stores as I generally end up mad at the people for the lack of care.

Me and my son did the same thing, yesterday, i was just going to stop get a couple cricket/worms cuz it was close to home.. but then there was this poor little green anole that was dead.......and looked like he had been there for AWHILE. all shriviled up and dehydrated looking.. while the perfectlyhealthy one sat up on a leaf just fine.. i put the feeders back and drove and extra 15-20 mins to the reptile store

But basically, is a 1/2 gallon plastic 'kritter keeper' going to be big enough for at least 24 medium-sized crickets?

and yes this should be fine. but keep in mind. if it's the same one i have. i have a lot of escapees??? don't know how they get out!! but they do. :main_rolleyes: when i go to get some out... i have ALOT LESS then the last time i was getting some!

 

[LeapinLizard]

So IMHO select another food source.. Meal worms.

I am planning to feed both crickets and meal worms, advantages with the mealies is I could keep them in the spare fridge out in the garage and not have the parentals freak. But I've also read that it's probably not best to just feed meal worms alone, which I can't say much (it's like the old shoes vs. barefoot debate with horses -- some work best with shoes, others work best barefoot.) I guess I will have to find what works best for me. From what I understand, he's already eating crickets, but if he shows a preference for the meal worms, then I'll go with that. We'll see.

And yep, gut loading is planned. Which is why I will get them today or tomorrow so we're good to go.

Sounds like a great plan... that won't work at all. Why? Because it is proven impossible for anyone to walk into a pet store and only come out with what they intended to buy, making the costs of regularly buying pet store crickets astronomical.

You know, this happened to me at the tack store once. I went in there looking for stirrup leathers. Came out without them, but with a $100 winter blanket for my horse. Boy did I ever learn from that lesson.

Thanks for the advice. (the serious advice too )

Your container size is fine and the lid will ventilate them. For that small a number of crickets, I'd recommend using a toilet paper tube rather than egg crate. That way you can just shake the tube and get crickets out. It's much more difficult to get them off the egg crate.

Oh! I hadn't thought about that, that the egg crate would take up more room and make it harder to get them off. toilet paper roll then? Excellent. And it's always something we'd have around which makes for easier cleaning. Thank you.

 

[LeapinLizard]

I decided to go to a different pet store. This one is closer to my house (only 1 mile) which means I can actually walk down there. I go for walks anyway for exercise, so this is actually pretty good. Plus, they had 20 crickets for $1. Even better. I also picked up a 100 count of meal worms. I will most likely alternate feeding for variety's sake.

So the crickets are in their little 1/2 gallon right now, with a toilet paper tube, and a little capful of powdered whole grain cereal. I put a carrot slice in there for moisture.

The mealies are in the black fridge in the garage, in the same drawer I keep the plastic bag with my horse's carrots, so I won't have to worry about anyone putting anything in there with them.

So, now all I need to do is just wait until Wednesday. And I don't know if I can. Too excited!

 

[nats]

Sounds like your all set, and folks have already given you good advise.

You are going to LOVE your leo. They are so interesting and way different from other reptiles.
I bet in a month (maybe sooner) you will buy another one! :main_yes:
That's just the way they are. You cant have just one!

Every time I go over to VMS herps (where I got my 2 leos) website, I want to click on the "buy now" buttons!! :main_laugh:

So many cute and colorful leos, so little time (and funds!!)

 

[LeapinLizard]

Thanks nats. I'm just counting down the hours. Won't be much longer now. Almost time! Been waiting for this for a month. Had the empty, but set-up tank just there ... lurking in front of me.

As for me getting another leo.... only time can tell, right. I'm getting the lil guy, and well... someday, someday. As long as he's just in the 10 gallon, he's gonna be an only child, but once I'm able to move up to a 20L, we shall see.

On the other hand, I've learned the hard way from having a horse. Even when the old man was well ... old... and I could only ride once a week, I never did get a second horse because it just wasn't feasible. So I have unlimited patience when it comes to second pets.

 

[rubym]

When we got our first Leo a couple of years ago....he was supposed to be an "only" too. Ahhhh, that was 19 Leos ago,LOL. I can't imagine not having any of our "babies" either. They truly are adictive so BEWARE!!! Have fun with your new little one. Best wishes.