Wounded cave cricket - what to do?

[PaladinHeart]

I have recently started trying to raise some crickets and have 2 small spider crickets and a field cricket. They are doing fine so far with a wet sponge and I give them a bit of fresh fruit or wet dog food every day.

A moment ago I found a small cave cricket under the front door and decided to drop it in there with them. It is tiny, about 1/3 an inch long. My problem is that its leg seems to have been damaged when I opened the door. Will it eventually shed and regrow the leg or would it be more humane to set it outside where something can eat it?

It doesn't seem able to move properly, but I could set it on the new food every day. If it won't be able to shed then I think it would be best to leave it outside for something. Any opinions?

Oh and unfortunately I don't have a Chameleon I could feed it to. I may consider it if I ever get a good cricket colony going.

 

[heartben]

why? what is a spider cricket? why do you need more than one kind for that matter?

 

[PaladinHeart]

Why not? I like crickets and I want to try and breed them. I think it would be interesting to breed several different types.

I find them interesting, especially their differences in behavior. The field cricket stays out all day while the spider crickets stay under the small priority box I put in there for them to hide in.. and yet they squeeze under it. xD They only come out at night after I turn the light out. I'm considering leaving it off all the time but the field cricket might not like that. I think I need to separate them and leave the spider crickets in a constantly dark area.

Spider crickets are a lot like cave/camel crickets, but they have a yellow stripe down their back and very much resemble a spider when you first spot them. From behind they look like a spider.

 

[EvilLost]

I don't know what a "spider cricket" is, but if you plan on breeding crickets effectively enough to use as feeders you will need waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than 2-3 (try starting with 500-1000)


I've never heard of cave/camel/spider crickets, but I'm not super familiar on common names.....scientific names will be much more helpful at least to me


Also, if you plan on breeding them (properly), then you really should keep all your species separate.... I mean if you are just doing this "to see what happens" thats kinda cool

As for the injured bugs, theres really nothing you can do. Crickets sespecially have a *REALLY* high die off rate, do not get upset when your crickets die randomly for no reason...it just happens with them. If you want to breed bugs that live a lot loner, try working with dubias (they live 2years, easy to breed, and you can sell the babies on these boards

 

[PaladinHeart]

I seem to be getting more questions than answers. I guess that's what I get for providing TMI. xP

To other cricket breeders out there, will it eventually shed and regrow the leg? It's still alive, though it can't move properly. I think I'll keep an eye on it and keep putting it on/near food and hope for the best.

The reason I'm trying with spider crickets is because they aren't normally sold in pet shops, so I can't go out and buy 500+. Besides, I don't have the money for that. xD

 

[Maurer3D]

No crickets do not regrow lost limbs.

 

[ShortStack]

Just FYI, dog food is a bad gutload ...

 

[Angrychair]

we have them here in Missouri, as missouri is, known for being a cave state :-D


when i kept crickets they would attract them to the colony.

 

[Olimpia]

Crickets are so delicate and short lived, I wouldn't really bother trying to save yours. He might do just fine for his remaining weeks without the one leg - I know I find dozens in my bins without one or both their legs - but it won't grow back.

 

[PaladinHeart]

Ah, it sucks that it won't regrow the limb. I was thinking that most insects can regrow lost limbs when they grow older/shed. Is this not true with crickets?

Also, the leg is still attached, but probably barely. I'm not sure of the extent of the damage but the little cricket mostly stays on its side.

I just found an adult (around 1 inch) cave cricket on the broom earlier and added it to the box. It seemed thirsty because it stayed on the sponge a while. It's inside the priority box now.

How often should I wash out the sponge? And also how long should I leave fruit in their box before changing it out? It seems to get icky after a day but for all I know they may like it a bit icky. xD

Oh and I have quit feeding them dog food. Is it bad for them? They are not intended to be fed to anything so I figured dog food would be an ideal food. I do know that any food that is high in calcium is bad for crickets and causes them to die faster.

 

[Maurer3D]

Crickets should be fed a quality grain of some sort, potatoes are a good source of water for them. If you only have a few crickets they won't need much food and won't need to be cleaned often.

 

[kinyonga]

Most crickets are omnivores. They will feed on plants, veggies, greens, etc. when available.

The hind legs often break off crickets....it doesn't usually bother them much. If yours is laying on its side then it might have more than just its egg injured.

 

[reptileman]

we have them here in Missouri, as missouri is, known for being a cave state :-D


when i kept crickets they would attract them to the colony.

that has to be one of the scariest things I have ever seen!

 

[pssh]

Cave crickets live substantially longer than feeder crickets in my experience. They are very easy to keep and breed as well. Some moist moss or soil in a cup is perfect for laying. They will even try to lay on dry things if they aren't provided with a suitable laying site. They need more moisture than feeder crickets. Feed a variety of foods and generally avoid cat/dog food.

 

[ChameleonsInMyHouse]

ohh nooo.... are crickets becoming the next mantis or hermit crab collection?

 

[Maurer3D]

ohh nooo.... are crickets becoming the next mantis or hermit crab collection?

LOL, I won't be starting a cricket breeding bin any time soon. My Fruit Fly Cultures, Dubia Roaches (all 20,000ish) and Lateralis Roaches (all 30000ish) are way more than enough insects for me.

 

[PaladinHeart]

Well the little guy is out of his misery. I just checked on them and the big guy I got from the broom the other day is half finished eating him. xP

Well at least he served as a err.. healthy? snack..

... cannibals.

 

[PaladinHeart]

I know my thread is quite old now, but I just wanted to report that my cave/spider crickets are all doing well. I have at least 2 big mommas and a male. I think the males are the humpback ones, and they're rather dark as opposed to the bigger females that are mottled (and seem to turn more white the older they get).. either that or the humpback ones and the dark ones are a different kind. All of them seem to have the ovipositor on their rears, so I thought I had all females originally.

Anyway I have a bunch of babies now. It's been interesting to see them grow. They were about the size of gnats when I first seen them. Some (at least 3) are now the size of house flies.

I've recently started feeding them fish food and they seem to really like it and the three biggest ones are often seen hanging out on the sponge now. I think it makes them thirsty or something.