Wild Crickets for Leos?

[dprince]

For me it's simple - wild predators eat wild prey, captive predators eat captive prey.

Well said.

[MelissaFlipski]

For me it's simple - wild predators eat wild prey, captive predators eat captive prey.

I get your point. But I think wild prey is healthier in this case. Naturally gut loaded, more exercise, free range. I'll do more research when I have time, but I don't think there is much of a risk b/c, as far as I know, the same parasites can't live in the wild crickets as in the leopard gecko. Some of you might hate the comparison, but in the 60's everyone, especially doctors, was telling moms to use formula to feed their babies and that is was healthier. Now they know better.

We use no chemicals on our yard - no fertilizer, no pesticides, etc. We have used an herbicide only very rarely, and not recently, that is "green."

But I understand the 12 cent argument - but it's not about money for me. It's about variety and ease of "bringing home the bacon." He gets mostly store bought, but is supplemented with wild caught crickets. Our Blue Tongue Skink gets wild caught grasshopppers; our African Pygmy Hedgehog gets wild caught pill bugs, crickets, ground beetles, moths, and an occasional earth worm. I think they are healthier for it. JMHO.

[dsirkle]

When I feed crickets to my leos I invariably lose some in the house. They chirp away and I cant find them. I drop mealworms on the floor and can't find them. I have thought of breeding roaches but I am afraid of ending up with a roach infestation which probably wouldn't sit too well with my wife. Are my fears unfounded?

[MelissaFlipski]

When I feed crickets to my leos I invariably lose some in the house. They chirp away and I cant find them. I drop mealworms on the floor and can't find them. I have thought of breeding roaches but I am afraid of ending up with a roach infestation which probably wouldn't sit too well with my wife. Are my fears unfounded?

Depends on the roaches, I think. I'm hoping to start a colony of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches for feeder insects for the skink, gecko, hedgehog, and frogs. If you put about a 4" wide swath of Vaseline around the top, they can't escape. If you don't drop a pregnant female, you should be fine. Just tell her it happened.

I'm thinking about mealworms. How many did you start with for growing your own?

[RoyalGuardian]

NOO! just stick with store bought!