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What about crickets from "the wild"?

Posted By: Anonymous

What about crickets from "the wild"? - 08/16/08 10:12 PM

Still trying to find the "safest" alternative for crickets (follow my posts about breeding as well if you're interested). If you know the crickets in the "wild" (i.e. my backyard) are not exposed to pesticide and they aren't eating corn, are they safer than raised ones? Anyone can chime in here and I'm not looking for a 100% scientific assurance of course.
Posted By: Srlb

Re: What about crickets from "the wild"? - 08/16/08 10:15 PM

Quote:
If you know the crickets in the "wild" (i.e. my backyard)


Can you guarantee that those crickets have NEVER been in anyone elses backyard?

Crickets travel just like ants, flies, mosquitos etc...

This time of year I never recommend grabbing outside bugs. Mosquito wagons going up and down streets to spray...just not worth the risk.
Posted By: cinnamonstix

Re: What about crickets from "the wild"? - 08/16/08 10:16 PM

You do not want to use outdoor bugs as you never know if they have been in contact with pesticides.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: What about crickets from "the wild"? - 08/17/08 04:31 AM

Oh well, back to square one on the cricket experiment. I'm still hopeful I can find a way to have "clean" crickets. If the crickets aren't housed in any grain based bedding, then doesn't that mostly solve the problem, as long as you keep the cage clean as well? If the aflatoxin is a living thing (of sorts) would I need to worry about it in what I was feeding the crickets as long as there was no chance of mold growth (i.e in the store bought dog food). What about microwaving the dog food before I feed it to the crickets? would that help in any way?
Posted By: Anonymous

Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 04:38 AM

Would any of your aflatoxin prevention steps you gave for nuts be appropriate to implement here with the cricket dog chow I am trying to come up with? (the ingredients etc. are given in my other recent post on trying to breed safe crickets) Would love your input. Even fruits and veggies could mold, so no matter what I use it seems I need to take prevention steps right?
Posted By: KattyM

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 05:21 AM

Since mold grows where it's humid, perhaps raising them in a small room with a dehumidifier might help? I honestly don't know. Maybe you can ask some local pet stores what they do and take the best of their practice and toss out the rest. dunno
Posted By: cinnamonstix

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 07:01 AM

Corn, grain products, dairy nuts and coconut can all grow the correct mold that creates aflotoxin poisining. It is called Aspergillus mold. Fruits and veggies do not grow it so if you feed fruits and veggies keep them off whatever type of bedding use use and keep the bedding as dry as possible but fruits and veggies, yes that can mold but it is not the mold that can create aflotoxin poisoning.
Posted By: cinnamonstix

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 07:04 AM

BTW, you never know....there could still have been mold in store bought dog food, I would not risk feeding it to the crickets. Also you will need a water source but not enough water to drown. Maybe that water and food gel with some apple or potato wedge changed daily would be good. Try emailing the people over at express crickets. Supposedly they are disease free... nit sure what bedding they use and what they feed. My superworms came fast, cheap and healthy. Drop them a line and see what info you can get on their crickets. All prices include next day shipping and they are VERY reasonable!
Posted By: sugarlope

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 04:51 PM

Aflatoxin is not a live substance, but a 'side effect' of the Aspergillus mold. Yes, if you rid their environment of grain based products entirely, by feeding only fresh fruits/veggies, then the offspring would (in effect) be even safer than mealworms. But, that is difficult to do, and the hope is that you are making the offspring as safe as mealworms are by avoiding anything with corn and using safe sources of other grain products as well as keeping excess moisture down. thumb
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 05:28 PM

I'm going to go a bit against the grain here and say that I do occasionally feed "wild caught" bugs. Yes there is a risk that they've been exposed to pesticide, but where I live I feel the risk is low. They don't do the mosquito sprays around here and I'm pretty well separated from my neighbors as everyone has several acres. The lot to my right doesn't have a finished house yet, I know at least the one directly across the street does only organic pest control and there's nothing but woods behind me for at least a mile, although they're starting to cut roads for a new development.

I discussed this with my vet and he felt it was worth the risk to get more variety in their diet. I don't feed them wild caughts very often, but I do sometimes give them a treat if I find a good bug outside. They love junebugs! I thought they would like grubworms since they are junebug larvae, but they won't touch them. dunno
Posted By: cinnamonstix

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 06:10 PM

Well for you to feed wild caught is completely different than us city folk. I would love to be able to catch my babies a treat, even a moth every once in a while, but it is not happeneing. You have talked to your vet and he should be credible and be able to be respected so if he said it is ok and with you being a bit more out there at least for now...I definitely can respect his input on it.

Now if you have corn fields there though, I personally would not take that risk, as I have read a lot on aflotixin, aspergillus mold and aspergillosis. Scary stuff.
Posted By: Srlb

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 06:14 PM

Quote:
Would any of your aflatoxin prevention steps you gave for nuts be appropriate to implement here with the cricket dog chow


Just wanted to let you know, I did not write that, I just fixed the sticky post when I was a Mod here. So cant be of any help to you there.

I have to agree with Peeper though, I have as well fed the occassional outside junebug, BUT our mosquito wagon does not start coming around until the rain sets in and by then Junebugs have come and gone so I dont feel the threat is high of pesticides.

I dont feed crickets, never have, but I am sure if you just raised your own and kept a good eye on it and made sure you never had any type of mold issues, it wouldnt be a problem.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 09:05 PM

I don't know about raising crickets but, would it be ok to feed them monkey biscuits instead of dog food? Would it work? Would it grow mold? To keep my mealie food from getting moldy I put the fruit on a plastic lid so that it doesn't come into contact with the oatmeal.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Peggy can you guide me on something? - 08/17/08 11:53 PM

The monkey biscuit is a great idea. I was looking at other dog/cat treats instead of chow to see if I could find one without grains (just protein based). Right now, my plan is to do the following to diminish chances as much as possible:
1) Keep them in a plastic bin with no bedding, just egg crates and paper towel rolls. This makes it easiest to keep clean.
2) If the monkey biscuit isn't enough protein, I'll go to the dog food that is chicken and corn free (only risky ingredient is the whole wheat flour I guess) for the breeders.
3) With the babies (2nd generation) I'll feed the ones I'm going to use to feed the gliders just fruits, veggies and a protein source if I can find one (fish?)

Will follow up on all the latest suggestions and keep giving updates if folks are interested in how this goes. Thanks to everyone. Keep the input coming!
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