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Safe Crickets #96546
04/21/06 06:43 PM
04/21/06 06:43 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,060
Kansas
L
LSardou Offline OP
Glideritis Anonymous
LSardou  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,060
Kansas
I just received an order of Crickets from Grubco-I accidently ordered them instead of grasshoppers. Can anyone tell me if these are safe? This company was highly reccomended. I know that there has been alot of reports saying NO CRICKETS, is it because of the bedding, and or what they are fed. I just got 500 of them.....thank you

Re: Safe Crickets [Re: ] #96547
04/21/06 07:05 PM
04/21/06 07:05 PM

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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" />I don't feed crickets so am not sure what they bed them in.. try calling Grubco and ask, they are very helpful and friendly to deal with.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Re: Safe Crickets [Re: ] #96548
04/21/06 07:10 PM
04/21/06 07:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 659
Hernando, MS - USA
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Hernando, MS - USA
LSardou,
I do highly recommend Grubco for mealworms, but I don't use crickets. I did a little search and found the following that cycy posted about the crickets from Grubco:

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Okay, I just talked to Dale at Grubo, and they use a feed/bedding that has a very small percentage (4%) corn. He also explained to me that if NO corn is used then the crickets will not grow, plus they are very short lived. They use something similar to Chicken mash and to his knowledge the bedding that Grubco uses is the least percentage of corn than other products out there. He told me that if you get a bunch of crickets, you will only need to feed an orange slice every day or so and crumbled dog food to keep them fed. He seemed very knowledgeable and took time to talk to me at length about the meal worm bedding vs. the cricket bedding. Their mealworms are bedded with a wheat bran so absolutely no corn is used for them.
He also stated that he hears things about the aflotoxin stories and that they haven't had any problems with their crickets as long as he remembers.
There! Whew!!!!

--------------------
4 Suggies (Sweet Pea & Big, Itchy & Scratchy)
1 Tibetan Mountain Doggie (Schatzi)
1 Silver Dachshund Doggie (Zigfred; Ziggy)
1 Hermit Crab (Mr. Crabs!)

Cy

Our own heart, and not others opinions of us, forms our true honor.
-Friedrich von Schiller


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

That quote was taken from a very long thread "Aflatoxins in Crickets" back in March if you would care to read the whole thing. It's very informative.

Last edited by Anmaw; 04/21/06 07:13 PM.

Becky
Guardian of Stryder,
my Grandson's Sugar Glider
Re: Safe Crickets [Re: ] #96549
04/22/06 12:38 AM
04/22/06 12:38 AM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Okay, I just talked to Dale at Grubo, and they use a feed/bedding that has a very small percentage (4%) corn. He also explained to me that if NO corn is used then the crickets will not grow,

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

If he's saying that without corn the crickets (species Acheta domestica) won't grow into adults, I will be the first to come forward and say that that is simply inaccurate and very much so! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shakehead.gif" alt="" /> The species itself is a pest insect from overseas that will infest industrial wheat and grain factories. I have reared hundreds of crickets from first instar hatchlings to large adults on corn-less diets. Perhaps he is saying that the corn causes them to grow bigger faster, or perhaps he is simply justifying having corn in the bedding. I don't know, but I do know the above statement quoted is incorrect.

I once read that a representative from Grubco mentioned that it isn't really important to gut-load insects, and from there in my mind his (I don't know if it was Dave or some other company representative) credibility on giving reliable and informative advice went down. Kudos for the successful online insect supply company, but I feel they're rather "iffy" on advising customers.

Just my two cents...

Mikey <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" />

Re: Safe Crickets [Re: ] #96550
04/22/06 12:49 AM
04/22/06 12:49 AM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
I once read that a representative from Grubco mentioned that it isn't really important to gut-load insects

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Mikey,
It's possible you read that from something I wrote way back.. When I enquired it was only about gutloading meal worms, and I was told that it was not necessary because 1. they are bedded in food and 2. their stomachs are so tiny that trying to load them with vitamins etc would not be of any significant use. I don't know if they have ever ran any test or not but he mentioned that the nutritional difference between 'gutloaded' and non gutloaded mealies was practically the same.

I don't remember talking with him about crickets.

Re: Safe Crickets [Re: ] #96551
04/22/06 01:00 AM
04/22/06 01:00 AM

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Yes, I have read that before ( <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> Woah a huge centipede just crawled right over my fingers and across my keyboard) but I still firmly believe feeding the insect quality feed directly contributes to nutritious, good-tasting, and just all around better feeder items.

Though their stomachs may be small, their ailamentary canal (their stomach/s + intestines/gut) can hold a significant amount of food; try squishing a fully gut-loaded cricket in between two fingers and watch all that food come squirting out! Plus, when you consider the minute traces of specific vitamins and minerals that exist in a tiny pinch of herptivite, for instance, you will understand why I feel what he has said to you is, as I stated, inaccurate.

The nutrients all add up at some point, and even if they don't, perhaps it improves things like flavour. Could a cricket that is fed mango and carrot, for instance, taste better than one that is fed potatoes (as is suggested on the grubco site FAQ)? What is there to lose in trying? Would it hurt to chop up a few small pieces of different stuff to throw into the cricket bin for a few nights, seeing as you're likely already chopping up fruits and veggies for the gliders? Just spare a tablespoon for the insects.

I personally would prefer beef that's been fed quality feed, than one that is fed food that may be satisfactory. The crickets are actually omnivorous and will consume a wide variety of food, besides grains/corn/veggies, and you can really utilize that to your benefit. This applies to whether you're feeding herps or gliders or any insectivore for that matter.

If we're dealing with the better gut-loadiing insects like giant roaches, then gut-loading makes even more of a difference!

I also find it peculiar that he would say all that, while they blatantly have a product on sale which is aimed at ensuring the crickets are nutrient-rich so it's "passed on to your animals". Have a look:

http://grubco.netstorekeeper.com/index.cfm?Product_ID=7

Mikey <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" />

Re: Safe Crickets [Re: ] #96552
04/22/06 01:42 AM
04/22/06 01:42 AM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
I don't remember talking with him about crickets.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Ohhhh.... OK! I thought he was talking about feeder insects in general!

To tell you the truth, I hadn't dealt with mealworms until a few years ago when I recieved my second glider. They're all around not the best choice for insect-feeders and the chitin (excluding that "tanning" period after they molt, where they're dazzling white) in their exoskeleton is sometimes a bit much for some herps to handle, so I really rarely ever dealt with them, and hence haven't had a chance to explore gut-loading with the mealies much. Now, I just order them infrequently from the store when I'm at the mall, and stick a carrot and some veggies in the bin the night before their peril. Crickets, however, were always gut-loaded and I was pleased with the results.

His suggestion that corn is required to initiate cricket growth, however,
is still <<---INSERT BUZZER SOUND HERE--->>.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Okay, I just talked to Dale at Grubo, and they use a feed/bedding that has a very small percentage (4%) corn. He also explained to me that if NO corn is used then the crickets will not grow, plus they are very short lived. They use something similar to Chicken mash...

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

LOL I bet for economical purposes, they simply use chicken mash (which I'm assuming is chicken feed, which I'm also assuming can be bought in large quantities for cheap, and I'm also assuming has traces of corn in it) with whatever else they've decided to feed the stock. Hey, the man has a business to run and he's smart!

Mikey <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" />

Re: Safe Crickets [Re: ] #96553
04/22/06 10:32 AM
04/22/06 10:32 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
Ok...getting this thread back on topic...my understanding of the question is are the Grubco crickets safe or do they run the risk of Aflatoxins...

With any cricket that has been fed the dry corn products (corn meal, corn mash, corn cob bedding, etc...) there is the risk of aflatoxin poisoning. It only takes ONE cricket that has been munching on tainted corn products to kill a glider. (or atleast make it extremely ill).

I fed crickets for years with no trouble at all (before I ever heard of aflatoxins). However, some choose not to risk it. This really has to be your judgement call. I now choose not to risk it.

(also, what does Grubco feed the grasshoppers? Can grasshoppers also carry the aflatoxins? Topic for a new thread I suppose)


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But I'd of had to miss the dance


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