Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I really want to get a leopard gecko, but there is one problem. I know that they like crickets, but live crickets(and dead ones for that matter) give me the creeps, but I REALLY want one! Can I just feed them mealworms, ect. and skip the crickets all together? I think that I'll faint if I have to touch an icky cricket! Sorry if I sound prissy, not many things scare me, but I REALLLLLLLLLLLLY hate bugs! Gross!

Thanks in advance,
The Spotted Leopard

its up to the gecko if it wants to eat stricktly mealworms. if your not willing to handle crickets, then it's best not to get the gecko. a get can live off mealworms fine, but some geckos get tired of the same food over and over, and this is where it's good to have crickets available. understand? i think if you order an adult from Ron Tremper, then you have a really good chance it will live off strictly mealworms, being as thats all he feeds. make sure to gutload any feeders.
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your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it, and you'll ask yourself, "where is my mind"

I used to be the same way with bugs and worms but since I started keeping chams, beardies and geckos, nothing bothers me anymore well maybe the superworms since they bite. My leopard geckos will not eat mealworms at all so you might have a problem if they refused mealies.

What i have for my crickets is a bin with an adjustable top, so you turn a tab and match it up with a hole on the top cricket container.It works great it allows 1 cricket at a time to fall out and it also is escape proof. My Local Pet Store had it for 5 dollars and I'ver been using it for about a year and its still in great condition.

It's time to suck it up buttercup. Insects used to be be my only fear, but if you just do it, you'll get over it. I still cringe at superworms squirming in my hand, but that's the price to pay for leos. If you keep crickets in an enclosure with eggcrating, and shake them off of that into a container with a lid, you'll have minimal touching time.

If you think crickets are creepy wait till you have to deal with supers, waxies, and live pinks!!! But if you can deal with mealies, waxies, supers, pinks and just not crickets then there is no reason why you shouldn't get a leo.

Cleo

Hey, I prefer dealing with supers over crickets. Just 'cause crickets jump.

But, Spotted, you never really have to touch them. You can keep them in the bag. I found that they last in there for a while if you drop some food (I make a gut-load mix with tons of vitamins and some water), climbing fixtures, and open the bag for some new air every day.

Just shepard some crickets into the middle of the bag and close off with your hand the section behind them and drop those into wherever your leo eats. They're really not much to deal with. And supers are even easier 'cause you can pick them up with tongs.

But I wouldn't just use superworms, unless you can be very sure that you can still provide a fully balanced diet. Variety is surely the best way to go.