crickets by mail

[vgaines]

OK.. I am tired of running to my local pet store to buy crickets. I have to order worms on line so I figured I would try crickets on line as well. What are the best type to get? Any cricket/worm companies that yall recommend? I just looked at one and the shipping was more than the purchase price. I want to order at least 500 at a time because I have a few critters to feed....1 veiled chameleon, 1 bearded dragon (both babies and always super hungry) 1 crested gecko, and 3 fire bellied toad.

Another question....If I get 500 crickets what is the best way to house them. I have 3 critter keepers( a medium and two small) and I have lots of large rubber maid containers...I have no problem saving toilet paper and paper towel rolls and I am sure I will have to order egg crate.

Ok, so here comes the dumb question...when I get phoenix worms, butter worms, wax worms etc. do I need to gut load them too. I was also thinking about trying horn worms...whats the difference in the different colored ones? I am very new to the world of worms and I was just wondering.

This forum has been a great resource and help to me and my baby. Thanks everyone.

 

[Tay And A]

I like reptile food depot and ghanns the best so far.

 

[Psychobunny]

Ghann's is my favorite because they have the brown banded cricks, which are my favorite species to work with.
However, when the temps go down below 40F, they are received DOA!!!

So, in winter I order from Armstrongs. They do a much better job of 'winterizing' their shipments.
Still, if you live in a really cold area, cold winters, dont expect 100% live
cricks from anyone!
Cricks are very fragile to cold, but short term exposer (very short!!), they will
go dormant. Just past that, they die

 

[carol5208]

I get mine from Lazy H bait here in Florida. They ship all over as far as I know.

 

[javsto]

I have a breeding pair of adult Jacksons, 3 recently born babies and 1 adult male Veiled and what I do is go to one of several reptile stores in my area and order 2000 crickets, (1k pinheads and 1k 1/4") and keep them in separate containers and let them grow to the proper sizes and feed them off as they grow and that last me at least 1 month before I have to order some more. If I have to pick up some worms or gutload then I also pick up a couple of dozen more of them and add them to the current crop just to keep up the supply if necessary. A local delivery method that I also use from time to time is www.komodoreptiles.com

 

[Raphael1047]

I like ordering from Armstrong, as stated before they have good winterizing of shipments and a good price where i am. I have not ordered from ghanns yet and do not know the price, but from what I hear the banded cricket is worth the price.

I would keep the the crickets in a rubber maid container with the paper rolls.
As for the worms, I believe you don't have to gut load the Phoenix worms or butters, not sure about wax worms I don't use them. With the hornworms the difference in color is the type of food they eat.

I hope I answered all your questions.

 

[ChamHoudini]

I order from Ghann's and Armstrongs. They are both good for crickets in my opinion. If you want egg crates if you order enough crickets you will get some in the box with the crickets. You can also buy a lot of eggs at one time like 5 dozen and get the egg crates from them.

 

[ReptileLove18]

Ok, so here comes the dumb question...when I get phoenix worms, butter worms, wax worms etc. do I need to gut load them too. I was also thinking about trying horn worms...whats the difference in the different colored ones? I am very new to the world of worms and I was just wondering.

everyones got you covered on ordering crickets online so i thought id get this for ya

you should always gutload your feeders before giving them to your cham! that way your cham is getting the most nutrition possible from its feeders. some are harder then others to gutload. this blog is all about gutloading to provide the most nutrition https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
this one is about different feeders and how much they can make up of your chams diet. it also says if most of them are easily gutloaded https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

i believe i read on a thread awhile ago that there isnt a difference in the different colored hornworms. your chameleon may be more attracted to one color or another but i dont think there is a nutritional difference between them. i am not positive though so you could possibly ask sandrachameleon or maybe Olimpia as both of them seem to know their bugs!!

 

[vgaines]

Thanks so much everyone. I am new to the bug world (thanks to all of the wonderful information on this forum). I always thought crickets, meal worms and wax worms were good enough. I am willing to try any worm but I just can't bring myself to do roaches..

 

[vgaines]

everyones got you covered on ordering crickets online so i thought id get this for ya

you should always gutload your feeders before giving them to your cham! that way your cham is getting the most nutrition possible from its feeders. some are harder then others to gutload. this blog is all about gutloading to provide the most nutrition https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
this one is about different feeders and how much they can make up of your chams diet. it also says if most of them are easily gutloaded https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

i believe i read on a thread awhile ago that there isnt a difference in the different colored hornworms. your chameleon may be more attracted to one color or another but i dont think there is a nutritional difference between them. i am not positive though so you could possibly ask sandrachameleon or maybe Olimpia as both of them seem to know their bugs!!

Thank you very much for the links and info. Another quick question... Can i gutload the worms with bug burger too. I have been using it for my crickets and they love it...

 

[ReptileLove18]

Thank you very much for the links and info. Another quick question... Can i gutload the worms with bug burger too. I have been using it for my crickets and they love it...

Welcome

i dont see why not, if its got healthy ingredients and your cham is already consuming it through the crickets the worms should be able to be gutloaded with it too. i would try it and see if they like it. if they dont seem to eat it try the recipe on the gutloading link i gave you thats a tried and true recipe from sandra a ton of members use bug burger for their crickets and add some fresh veggies and fruit for more nutrition + hydration!

 

[tkilgour]

Ghanns is great! Just be sure to pay for over night shipping if it's cold there.

 

[biffle]

I use Armstrong crickets and feed them cricket crack, fresh veg, and bug burger. I get 3 weeks supply at a time and have minimal die off.

 

[frogger]

I just ordered from premium crickets, will let you know how they are when they arrive tuesday!

 

[Turningdoc]

I'll put the word in for smallpetfeeders.com Dave is a great guy and best prices anywhere on many many species!