Crickets!

[Edisons 10K]

So...I was at Petco looking at all the various things to either feed or dump/spray onto crickets and other such critters for feeding. I must admit, I was a little overwhelmed with the variety! I figured a canister of Calcium and a canister of multivitamin powder would do it. Maybe I'm over-thinking things (as I tend to do because admittedly I suffer from mild OCD), but I figure it's probably always better to ask the experts than to buy the wrong thing.

Firstly, I did pick up a canister of the Zoo Med ReptiCal so I had some form of Calcium supplement, and there were some sample packets of Reptivite in my goodie bag from Repticon, so I figure I can use that for a bit. I read that the supplements should be rotated (one day w/the Cal, one day w/vitamins, a day or two without dusting with either), but looking at the labels it seems that the multivitamin powder already has Calcium in it. That's still okay? To give a straight Calcium supplement one day in a heavier "dose" and still give them a smaller amount of it the next that's prebuilt into the vitamin powder?

Then there was the question of the powder vs the spray. Has anyone had any experience using the Calcium and/or vitamin sprays? They're made by Zilla brand (the vitamin supplement w/an added "bonus" of containing beta carotene, which I know nothing about...). It's supposed to work just like the powder, only in spray form.

There's also the matter of feeding the crickets. I know there's the basic gut load, which I already have since my roomie has a monitor lizard so I have access to what he uses for his crickets there. He also said that he likes the gel stuff, which he picked up a canister of today at Repticon. I think his was just a basic hydrating gel, but Petco had different kinds of that stuff, too. They're Fluker's brand, and they have a yellowish gel that's got extra Calcium in it, or something called "Orange Cube," which has extra vitamins and kind of looks like gooey sweet potato chunks, lol. So firstly, are those specialty gels even worth messing with? Secondly, if the crickets were to eat this "extra fortified" gel stuff diet, would that mean I shouldn't dust/spray them with the external supplements?

Then there's the question of crickets, in general. We have quite a few Dubia roach breeders in my area, so would it be better for my kids if I shift to roaches after I run through this first round of crickets? Then, of course, there's the question of earthworms. My frogs are just tiny babies right now, so should I do anything with worms at all or wait until they're bigger? I don't want to over or underfeed them, something I'm always very paranoid about when it comes to my dogs, but I don't know enough about frogs to be able to tell if they're too fat or too thin, lol.

Any advice or debate in regards to the above questions would be appreciated. Thank you, as usual, for putting up with my million newbie questions.

[GrifTheGreat]

No spray vitamins.

Reptivite is fine and to use with Repcal. Make sure your calcium contains vitamin D3. Gutloaded crickets are still not very nutritious so dusting them with the supplements will be ok.

Dust with the Calcium D3 every other feeding and dust with the multivitamin once per week, but not on the same day as one another. Babies should be fed daily. Offer the frogs as much as they will eat in 15 minutes. Crickets should be a big as the distance between the frog's eyes.

The worms you can try. Just cut pieces off starting at the tail that are no longer than the length of the frog. Roaches are also fine.

[Mentat]

...There's also the matter of feeding the crickets. I know there's the basic gut load, which I already have since my roomie has a monitor lizard so I have access to what he uses for his crickets there. He also said that he likes the gel stuff, which he picked up a canister of today at Repticon. I think his was just a basic hydrating gel, but Petco had different kinds of that stuff, too. They're Fluker's brand, and they have a yellowish gel that's got extra Calcium in it, or something called "Orange Cube," which has extra vitamins and kind of looks like gooey sweet potato chunks, lol. So firstly, are those specialty gels even worth messing with? Secondly, if the crickets were to eat this "extra fortified" gel stuff diet, would that mean I shouldn't dust/spray them with the external supplements?...

Agree with Colleen/Jerrod recommendations. Gut load crickets with veggies (carrots and lettuce) and cereals (oats and cherios) . Can use the plain gel for their water source; but myself would stay away from those orange gel cubes, they can barely keep the crickets alive .

[GrifTheGreat]

Oh and I forgot your Beta Carotene question. You definitely want your multivitamin to contain Beta Carotene. They convert Beta Carotene into Vitamin A so that you don't overdose the frog with that particular vitamin. Vitamin A is easily overdosed on and can be deadly if done so. Frogs use Vitamin A to produce the sticky Mucus that coats their tongue and the Mucus layer they protect their skin with.

[Edisons 10K]

*blink* Wow. Good to know, lol. No overdosing frogs!

Thank you guys for the tips! If you ever need dog advice let me know. I've been training and generally working with them in professional environments for almost 14 years now.

[Namio]

Hi Alex check out this video on how to tong feed baby frogs with earthworm http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHkU46S...%3DcHkU46Sj4L8

Hi Grif I am curious what's the reason you're against cal/vit spray? Personally I do not like them either but it's more of a preference thing with me. I am hoping you have some insight on the actual flaws of those spray.

[GrifTheGreat]

Hi Alex check out this video on how to tong feed baby frogs with earthworm http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHkU46S...%3DcHkU46Sj4L8

Hi Grif I am curious what's the reason you're against cal/vit spray? Personally I do not like them either but it's more of a preference thing with me. I am hoping you have some insight on the actual flaws of those spray.

Most of the spray vitamins I've seen were to be sprayed onto a reptile's skin. Those are not for frogs.

[Edisons 10K]

Oh, no. These weren't to spray on the animals. They were just like the powders. You spray it onto the crickets.

[GrifTheGreat]

Oh, no. These weren't to spray on the animals. They were just like the powders. You spray it onto the crickets.

Post a link for the product.

[Edisons 10K]

Yep. Here's the Calcium supplement link: Zilla Calcium Supplement Reptile Food Spray at PETCO
And the general vitamins: Zilla Vitamin Supplement Reptile Food Spray at PETCO

[GrifTheGreat]

Yep. Here's the Calcium supplement link: Zilla Calcium Supplement Reptile Food Spray at PETCO
And the general vitamins: Zilla Vitamin Supplement Reptile Food Spray at PETCO

These would work just fine. Be hard not to give an adequate amount without possibly drowning a live feeder though lol!