Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know how to breed crickets ? silk worms? mealworms?

Are crickets or mealworms better for a leo

I recommend visiting nyworms.com. They have detailed care sheets on how to raise your own crickets, silkworms and mealworms. I personally prefer dusted mealworms as a food substance. I have used dusted crickets in the past and I don't believe that there is much of a difference between the two (just preference). I have also given silkworms as a "snack" or used them with a gecko that needed to gain some weight. I don't recommend them as a full time food source as they are "too" good and can lead to obese gecko's very quickly.

1.1 Super Hypo Tangerine Leopards
1.1 Mack Snow Leopards
0.2 Red Racing Stripe Leopards
0.1.1 Bell Albino Leopards
0.1 Blazing Blizzard Leopard
1.0 Rabbit
1.0 Husband
1.2 Children

I think most people that try to raise their own give up pretty quickly, at least that is what has been reported here. I believe Andrew from SoCal is still raising beetles or roaches?

The nutritionals between crickets and mealworms are similar, but they do vary a bit. Last year we had a guy posting charts from Mader's book on reptile medicine and arguing mealworms were the best. I wish I still could find his link, because it actually convinced me more to feed crickets, I think because they had more protein... anyways, it is not really important, they are very similar when properly gutloaded and dusted.

Now where I get on my soapbox is psychological care. (I know, I'm a Steve fan.) But in the wild they do stalk their food not eat out of a dish. I think it offers some satisfaction and health benefits to have them chase their food...

Now, my theory only worked for the first two years of my current girl's life. Then she got smarter (or lazier) than any gecko I've ever had or known and figured if she just stuck only her head out of her hide, eventually all the crickets would walk by and she didn't have to move to hunt. Crickets are stupid.

Good luck!
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Alllllrighty.

Crickets

FAR too smelly to raise, and they're cheaper/easier to buy. I've been able to reproduce them (not on purpose, might I add) in naturalistic vivaria, so I can only assume all it takes is dirt and ambient Southern California temperatures. Trust me, stick to buying.

Silk Worms

Unless you've got a steady, and I mean STEADY supply of Mulberry leaves, this probably won't work out. My friend raises them for his Chameleons, and he's had a hell of a time with them. They are making chow for these guys now, but it seems that it doesn't work all the time.

Meal Worms

Super easy to breed, you've just got to have a crap load if you plan on feeding off your critters a lot. I'd say probably 2,500 if you're feeding one gecko, assuming 2,000 of them reach adulthood and start to reproduce.

Now, i've also got roaches.

Hissers

Mine are too big for anyone to eat, so i'm waiting on nymphs.

B. Lateralis (Rusty Reds)

Cresties love them, Leopards spit them out. (at least, my 3 did)
They're all on the same food, so I have no explination.

Dubias

The girls love them, but I havn't tried them with my boy. My buddy gave me some of these, and I don't know how long they take to reproduce, yet. A leopard wouldn't be able to eat an adult, but nymphs are fine.

Hope that helps a bit.
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2.2 Corn Snakes
1.2 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Crested Geckos
1.2 Green Anoles
1.0 Russian Tortoise
3.2 House Cats
0.0.1 African Millipede

RIP
Alice, Bruno, Lars