What Feeders good for Winter Shipment and my Chams?

[ReelPeese]

So I won't be ordering anymore crickets until winter is over. I just ordered my last 1000 crickets for the season and they will be eaten up within a few weeks. I am working on breeding crickets but it'll take a while before I get a cycle going. I live in an area with harsh winters so what feeders can I have shipped to my door that will survive overnight shipping? And what can my chameleons eat daily for 4 months that wont provide too much fat in their diet? Are their any worms good as their primary diet? I'll order dubias if necessary but they really creep me out and I'd rather go with worms if their a healthy option for my male and female ambilobes for the winter. I really appreciate any and all advice and experience!! Thanks a lot guys

 

[Peachypink]

Honestly Dubia are a great staple. They creeped me out big time at first. It took me a while to get used to having them but now I prefer them to any other. I still don't like the adults but the others are really not that bad. They are more like pill bug looking than a roach. And I am the kind of girl that has a panic attack around butterflies.

I hate having crickets! They stink and half of them die before I get a chance to feed them. So I just don't.

 

[repdog]

PeachyPink hits it right on the nail head. I'm not a fan of roaches myself but its so much better than crickets. They breed on their own, I never have to run to the store to buy more or have an order coming to the house every few weeks, don't smell, don't need to clean them out as often(once a month but mine are going on 3 months).

Otherwise try ordering some hornworm eggs or silkworm eggs. You will have to hatch them and wait for them to grow but that's easy. Keeps different food coming in the winter months. Also at lindasgonebuggie.com you can order different packs of worms and she ships in the winter, just add for heat packs. I don't know if she is a sponsor here or not but I order from her all the time when I want a small mix of worms.

 

[kplatvoet]

You can do hold for pick-up - and they will hold your shipment at your local Fedex or UPS depot.

 

[Norcal55]

If your temps get very cold you always have the option of having the delivery held for pick up at the respective carriers.
All reputable sellers will pack and ship accordingly for weather. As far as switching off of crickets you will find that some Chams won't eat certain prey items.
I have some that refuse to eat Dubia & Superworms and others that love them!

The real killer during transit is when they arrive at your local shipper and are on the delivery truck for a few hours in the cold. For the most part during the rest of the travel temps are fairly stable.

I use Ghann's Cricket Farm for all of our crickets and get a delivery every other week year round. They do a great packing job and are located in the Southeast.
Greatlakes Hornworms offer a variety of feeders and have good service as well.

Another good option is contact a local reptile/pet store and see if they can order your feeders in on a regular basis. They would take the responsibility of live arrival and you could pick up there.

Good luck!

P.S. Roaches are great and each to bred

 

[Mike Fisher]

Just order from a place that warranties live arrival if you pay for overnight shipping. I use Ghann's. I've never had a box of DOA from them.

 

[laurie]

I agree, Ghanns does their job. I have an agreement with ghanns, if I order they ship!! They inform people up front if it is under 40, they do not guarantee live arrival. That said, I have ordered all winter from them. There are VERY few places in the US that get colder than I do here in Montana. I have rarely had any problems and when I do, i still have enough live crickets to feed my chams. I try not to order if it is below freezing.

I also have backup. I keep superworms, dubia, and try to keep silkworms. My chams just are not allowed to suffer because I live where I do. I love my chams, and feel guilty that I can't get to a vet in winter, 5 1/2 each way!! But I do everything I can for them.

 

[deathdealer91]

Blue bottle flies. They take longer to hatch in the cold.