Wild crickets?

[Jakedn]

I recently noticed tons of wild crickets in my backyard and they look WAY more healthy than any cricket I have ordered or bought from a pet store. Thinking about feeding some wild crickets, anyone have any experiences doing this or a strong reason not to (not the usual it could have pesticides or parasites etc, unless there is a strong reason that wild crickets would be at significantly higher risk than other insects for having parasites)?

 

[ChameleonNerd]

you should keep the crickets for about a week and feed them gutload or whatever you feed your CB crickets. that should flush them out from whatever they have been eating

 

[Jakedn]

you should keep the crickets for about a week and feed them gutload or whatever you feed your CB crickets. that should flush them out from whatever they have been eating

A large reason why I feed off wild insects is for the extremely varied gutload that they naturally get that isn't easily replicated and that would take away that benefit.

 

[bigben2057]

it should be fine as long as you dont use pesticides

 

[paulkaranik]

I feed my cham wild crickets, beetles, roaches & pillbugs every day. I usually gutload the critters for 1 to 3 days with carrots and old celery or something with a water substance as well as a high calcium cricket diet to get both the calcium and protein etc as well as the random natural things you would get out of a non pesticide bug from your yard.

The key is to not collect anything at a house that gets sprayed for pesticides. (if you don't know already, ask your landlord if house is regularly sprayed) And like i said, give em a night of cricket diet along with a few veggies to get them ready for the next few days! Your chameleon will thank you!

aloha
paul