Crickets - How quickly do they grow?

[rmichaelk]

Hello,
I am getting a 6 month old male panther chameleon and I am trying to decide how many 1/2 crickets I should buy or order each time. How quickly do crickets grow? How many days or weeks will a 1/2" cricket need to grow to be too big to be fed to a 6 month old male panther chameleon?

Thank you.
Michael

 

[DJ Richey Rich]

My 4 month old eats 1/2 to 1" so in my opinion go bulk if u can keep them alive

added: She is a veiled chameleon

 

[pssh]

Buy them slghtly smaller than what you want then when they grow they won't be too big for a while.

 

[Chameleonboy]

To answer your question crickets live for 6 weeks total from hatch to death.

-Clemonde

 

[dragongoddess]

Mine get about a 1/4" every week. I keep all sizes for my many chams and this seems to be typical on 'cricket crack' and carrots.

*Cricket crack- a cricket feed I buy here on the forum.

 

[Klinger]

cricket growth

I buy 3 week old which depending on your supplier is slightly smaller than pet shop medioums. That way they last longer for me with less die off before I finish with the batch. I order anywhere from 500 to 1000 at a time. And I keep in a large rubbermaid tote. My panther is about 13 months, but I also feed a bearded dragon and tree frogs.

 

[rmichaelk]

Thanks guys.

Dragongoddess, what is cricket crack? Do you buy it at the classifieds section here?

Michael

 

[sandrachameleon]

cricket crack is a dry gutload made by one of the members here. it is well recommended by many. You can make your own quite easily, to go along with fresh veggies and fruits.

The "wet" portion of the gutload, which should be your principle gutload, can frequently includes things like (switch it up with a different couple of items every other day or so): dandelion leaves, squash, carrot, yam, orange, collard greens, alfalfa sprouts, mustard greens, pomegranet, kale, romaine, hibiscus leaves, apple, peas, blueberries, raspberries, sunflower sprouts, ... (avoid broccoli and spinach). Fruits and veggies such as these are important both for the nutrients they give (via the insect) to your chameleon, and also because well hydrated prey results in a better hydrated chameleon.

The dry portion (the lesser portion) of a gutload can include (blend/grind fine with a coffee grinder or food processor): spirulina; dried seaweed/kelp/dulse; bee pollen; dried alfalfa; organic raw sunflower seeds; unhulled sesame seeds; hemp seed; dehydrated cranberry powder; beet powder; zucchini powder; kale powder; fig powder; very very very small amounts of powdered egg; ground almonds; ground brazil nuts; oak leaves; very very very small amounts of skim milk powder; small amounts of quality whole grain cereal (Im currently using Kashi); small amounts of oats; small amounts of cracked rye; wheat germ; quinoa; high quality monkey chow (read the ingredients); small amounts of avian pellets (read the ingredients, be cautious of too much Vitamin A). Avoid dog food, cat food, fish flake food and other major sources of animal protien and fat.

 

[rmichaelk]

Missed your reply Sandra.

Yeh I was planning on using a whole lot of greens and fruits for gutloading but I wasn't planning on any dry gutload. Is the dry gut load essential? I am sure it adds more variety.

Do you use the same ingredients for your other feeders too?

Oh, how do your crickets do on oranges? I was planning on using orange slices as a water source but looks like some members have had crickets die when fed oranges.

Michael

 

[DragonChameleons]

Guys please help me,I`am new in caring chams,so can you guys help me.So I have several questions.

Questions:
How can I give water to my cham?
What will I feed to it?
Is high temperature good to chams?
How big is the cage?
Will I turn off the lights in night?



Please answer fast.Because my chameleon look like`s sick and her skin is shedding

 

[rmichaelk]

Hi,
What species of chamelon do you have? 80F to 85 would be a suitable basking spot temperature depending on the species. From what I know species like panther chameleons don't like it too hot so knowing what species you have might help.

You can use a water dripper for a water source and also mist the leaves, vines etc with warm water. Also mist near the chameleon that way he/she can walk into the mist if necessary.

Leave the lights on, heat lamp and UVB bulb, for 12 hours each day and then turn it off.

Cage size depends on the size of the chameleon. For an adult a suitable size would be 24"x24"x48", minimum.

As for diet, you can feed crickets, roaches, stick bugs, superworms, silkworms, hornworms, flies and if it is a veiled chamelon then some vegetables like dark leaf greens, grated carrots etc.

Please consult a knowledgeable vet if you think the chameleon might be sick.

Good luck.
Michael

 

[jojothefirst]

Guys please help me,I`am new in caring chams,so can you guys help me.So I have several questions.

Questions:
How can I give water to my cham?
What will I feed to it?
Is high temperature good to chams?
How big is the cage?
Will I turn off the lights in night?



Please answer fast.Because my chameleon look like`s sick and her skin is shedding

If you dont know the answer to any of these questions then why have you got a chameleon!!!!!!!?