Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In a little over a month I will be graduating college, and though I'm not sure where I'm going yet (hey Tyler need some help? We have the same last name so you could "adopt" me real easy..) I might have to move where there are no cricket-selling pet stores. I only have one cham and no other reptiles, so I don't need a whole lot of crix. Do you guys think it would be cheaper/better to breed my own or buy them offline? The same question goes for mealworms/ect. If buying's better, where is a good place to get them? I know Lele said she orders hers...
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~Melissa
1.0 Ambanja Panther (Diesel)
0.1 African Hegdehog (Kaimah)

I would say to order them. Breeding crickets is harder than some people make it seem. By the time you breed them, hatch them and raise them 4 or 5 weeks to use, you're down to so few of them that it makes more sense to just buy adults ready to go. I have been getting them from Wormman.com mostly since they are the cleanest I've gotten. No pest bugs at all, which are a major pet peeve of mine. I've had some questionable counts before, and the orders aren't always perfect (wrong size, wrong amounts) but they have always fixed any problems easily and more than make up for it. I think they sell smaller counts, 250 for like $15.60 shipped next day air, so that's not a bad deal. If you got some younger crickets like 3 week olds, and kept them kinda cool (70-75) they would last you over a month. With one chameleon you could get away with about 250 crickets a month I would think. It's even cheaper to buy more, 500 is 13.65 shipped (regular shipping). Find a buddy and split an order with them. Mealworms are easy to breed but you probably shouldn't be using them anyways. Silkworms may be a good idea if you can buy a large amount of eggs and hatch them as you need them in cycles. If you end up in Vegas, we'll see about adopting you. If I put you to work though, you had better expect some child labor wages! Shhhhhhhhhhh......
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV
www.BLUEBEASTREPTILE.com

i think silkworms is a big part of your answer. you still have the expense of silkworm food. i would have to agree with tyler that raising crix is a big pain!

also, don't rule out raising roaches. they are easy as well.

hth,
joelfish

just make sure they (roaches) are not the species that climb glass!!

Right now I only feed Luna with the crix and I get 250 each time from reptilefood.com shipped FedEx priority overnight or second-day air for no more than $16 (total). Having raised many other insects I considered breeding crix but frankly, as has been pointed out, is not worht it for the few I need. Luna gets superworms (I buy 100 and they last a LONG time), silkies, butterworms, waxworms, what ever I happen to have on hand. The waxworms won't last long but butters do (in fridge).

Raising silkies is easy once you get a pairing and have your own eggs. they will keep in the fridge for months/years (the eggs). If you get 25 to begin with and let some of them pupate and then mate you can collect the eggs and bring out what you need. I take out about 20 eggs at a time. Keep in mind that they do take a while to get to feeding size and unless you have access to mulberry you will have to use the chow. Luna tires of them quickly so they will nevr be a staple.

Hope I didn't confuse the issue

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers (for summer - all girls, no little ones, whew!)