What Can I Feed Crickets?

[petepann]

Well I suppose this would be a perfect example of what all the cool kids call "paying it forward". You taught me something useful for sure. I learn new things with every visit to this site.

[flybyferns]

This may help you get started:

http://www.frogforum.net/food-feeder...cket-food.html

http://www.frogforum.net/food-feeder...-crickets.html

[maxQ]

I disagree about the "not" using the potato thing a few people mentioned, I use potato's and many of your large breeders use them also

[JeffreH]

Gary - You will find through the postings that the general consensus was that Potatoes are "okay" and can still be fed, but there are superior options. Regardless, the more variety you can provide the better. Every food items has trade-offs; pros and cons. The more variety you can provide to your feeders the more benefits your herps can reap from them.

A useful link for taking a quick peek at relative nutritional values of common greens, veggies, fruits, and insects:
Nutrition Content
(Avoid feeding anything in RED to your feeders as well)

Solanine is probably not a major concern in most fruits of Solanum plants. In potatoes, the alleochemical is primarily allocated in areas that will be directly attacked by phytophagous insects (i.e. the leaves, stems, etc.) and this is why it is imperative that we do not feed things like wild-caught hornhorms who feed on the plant itself. The potato by itself should not contain too much of the toxin unless exposed to air, in which case the skin of the potato will start to green as the plant up-regulates production of the toxin around surface of the fruit to deter enemies. So, fresh potatoes should be fine on occasion... especially if peeled.

Aflatoxins can be produced from other common food sources other than potatoes, too. Aspergillus spp. are sometimes incorporated in normal dog and cat kibbles... so moldy dry gutload can also result in production of myotoxins.

Moral of the study: feed a variety of fresh food items whenever possible =)