Camel crickets...

[Anya]

Sooo, I have an Italian Wall Lizard, and a Grey Tree Frog. I've been feeding gut-loaded brown crickets bought from various pet stores, and attempting to breed them. (the crickets, not the frog and lizard, lol.) No luck so far, and their numbers are dwindling.

Tonight I was herping around my house and stumbled onto a TON of camel crickets. They're nice-sized, no wings, LOTS of meat on them...My question is, if I could get them to breed, would their offspring be suitable to feed to my herps? I'm paranoid about parasites, so only ones I've bred myself would ever be fed. They're just everywhere, easy to replenish stock, and look actually better than your average brown cricket.

Anyone with experience?

[Jeremy Browning]

WC crickets not only have parasites but have hard shells that are not appropriate for herps as it causes impaction

[Anya]

lol, thanks, but that wasn't helpful...um...at all. These aren't regular crickets. I'm aware black crickets are unsuitable. And I would never feed my animals parasite harboring insects, as I mentioned. I would only be feeding second generation offspring. Plus, these insects are in the native area of both my insect-eating herps. (well, my Italian wall-lizard not so much, but I did catch him in Topeka, where they thrive, although they're non-native.)