straws are like the most universal tool for me. i cut the ends off so they are pointy and use them to scrape frog poo off of my plants/walls of tanks, i use clear ones to herd crickets into my chubby frog's waiting mouth, and i have some taped in corners of my baby milk frog's tank as little froggy sitting areas(they are really small frogs). very useful things.

i use tongs to feed crickets that i accidentally squished, but most of the time if i drop something in front of my chubby it doesn't matter if its alive or dead she will try to eat it.