Crickets...

[DerekKoop]

Well I purchased a second ball. It's s beautiful 2.5 year old, female, 900 gram albino (my daughter named her Elsa). So I'm setting her terrarium up, the bedding I use is cypress mulch. I've used it with my other ball (Jafar) and he seems to really like it. A day goes by and I'm adding a piece of drift wood to her new home, and I notice about 5 small/medium crickets jumping around in her cage. I did a quick search and the only useful info I could find is "feeding your python crickets". I'm assuming they are harmless to her. Is this a normal thing? Did it come from the mulch I used? Do I need to get rid of them, or the bedding. Thanks for all the advice in advance as I've never had this issue before.

[Eric Alan]

No idea where they came from, but ball pythons do NOT eat crickets. It's not normal for unwelcome critters to ride in on things you're adding to the enclosure. Be glad that it's only crickets for the time being and going forward keep better tabs on where your decor comes from and what you're adding to the enclosure.

Back on topic - I'd get rid of them. If that includes changing out the bedding or decor, then that's what you'll need to do. They're probably harmless, but that's not the point.

[DerekKoop]

It had to have been the bedding I bought, zoo med forest floor 100% natural cypress mulch. I only had a basic hide, and water dish in there, and I noticed the crickets as I opened the cage to put the drift wood in. I figured it wasn't a good thing that they were in there. I did manage to get the ones I saw out.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Get rid of them, crickets can do damage and will go for the eyes that's why those who feed crickets to their lizzards never leave them in if uneaten.