Backyard Black Crickets

[proudpapa56]

OK, so it's that time of year when we start to see Black Crickets in our yard. Some get pretty darn big. They look tougher than Flukers Crickets. Can medium size Whites Tree Frogs handle them?

[Truffs1178]

I wouldn't recommend feeding your frog wild caught food due to parasites and pesticides. You don't know where those crickets have been or what they have picked up.

[proudpapa56]

Very good response, thanks.

[Truffs1178]

I know its not the answer you were looking for but I don't trust wild caught food. The only time I every fed wild caught food to my pets was a wild caught tadpole to my axolotl. He died because of a lockjaw like disease less than a month later.

Thats why I don't like wild caught food. I hope I just saved your frogs from contracting any illnesses.

[demon amphibians]

Nothing wrong with being cautious. And it is true that your pet can get sick if the insect came into contact with pesitcides. And parasites are always a concern. But your pet can catch parasites from store bought foods just as they can from the wild. You can feed your pets wild caught food no big deal but just be careful of where you catch them at. make sure you catch them in a place were you know there are no pestisides. And also avoid spiders and insects that have venom or can sting.

[flybyferns]

Great replies !

You could culture wax worms. They love the moths !
My tree frogs go 'bonkers' over them.

Just before lights out...
I modify the moth's legs and throw them in the cricket bowl with the crickets.
When the crickets bump into them ........they flutter.
It's like an alarm clock !

[Heatheranne]

Lynn, any tips on culturing them? I give Melvina them occas as treats. Might give it a try .

[demon amphibians]

I also want to culture wax worms. I found that moths do make an excellent food item you can even find moth catching contraptions in pet stores. I mean to get a few because my cane toads go crazy for them. practically the only time they will actually eat in front of me is when i introduce moths. I am selling dubia roaches they also make a great meal for any size frog.

[proudpapa56]

I can find and complain about to many moths in my yard and garage until I look for some to use as feeders. Then there's none around. Explain that!

[Bombina Bob]

Black field crickets tend to be much hardier and healthier than Acheta domestica i would collect some and house them like regular crickets but they are seasonal breeders, so breeding is still a challenge, but overall healthy and hardy but like said earlier be careful where you catch them.

[nirotorin]

I attempted to breed these once, but my ex's friend tipped the container over some how, and that was the end. I've read they use them more often in Europe.