Product description
Live banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) for bearded dragons, leopard geckos, chameleons, frogs, tarantulas and other insect eaters. Crickets move and hop, which gets picky eaters hunting. Choose X-Small to Large in counts from 50 to 1,000, packed with egg crate and a slice of potato or carrot for moisture.
Sizes and counts
| Size | Body length | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| X-Small | 1/8" | Hatchling geckos, dart frogs, small spiders |
| Small | 1/4-3/8" | Baby bearded dragons, young leopard geckos, small frogs |
| Medium | 1/2-5/8" | Juvenile dragons, adult geckos, chameleons |
| Large | 3/4" | Adult bearded dragons, larger lizards and frogs |
Body length does not count legs or antennae. Counts: 50 (12 oz cup), 100, 200 and 250 (24 oz cup), 500 (two 24 oz cups) and 1,000 (shipped in the farm's box). Pick a cricket no longer than the space between your animal's eyes.
When your box arrives
Open the box right away and move the crickets out of the cups. Crickets that rode in a cold truck can be slow at first, so give them time at room temperature before deciding any are dead. A few losses in a cup are normal; we pack extra to cover them.
How to keep crickets alive
Never put crickets in the fridge. Cold kills them. Keep them at room temperature, about 70-80°F, in a plastic tub with a screened or vented lid and plenty of egg crate so they can spread out. Crowding and poor airflow are the most common reasons crickets die.
- Water: use water crystals or slices of potato, carrot or leafy greens. Skip open water dishes, because crickets drown in them.
- Food: cricket feed, oats or a commercial gut-load diet.
- Cleaning: remove dead crickets and old food every day or two. A strong smell means the tub needs cleaning.
Feeding tips
Feed the crickets a good diet for a day or two before you offer them, then dust them with calcium powder. Like most feeder insects, crickets are low in calcium. Offer only what your animal will eat in about 10 to 15 minutes and take out any crickets left in the enclosure, since loose crickets can nibble on a resting reptile.
Shipping and live arrival
We ship from Stephenson, Michigan by UPS, Monday through Wednesday only. Live arrival is guaranteed on UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Next Day Air, and on UPS Ground where it arrives in 2 days or less (most of MI, WI, MN, IA, IL, IN, OH and KY). Checkout marks every option with or without the guarantee. UPS 3 Day Select has no live arrival guarantee. Crickets in counts of 250 or more ship by 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air, or by Ground to Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota.
If crickets arrive dead, take a photo of them on a white paper towel with the shipping label in the shot and email it to hello@pioneerfeeders.com within 2 hours of the UPS delivery scan, with "LAG Claim" and your order number in the subject. A claim covers a cup or order where most of the crickets arrived dead; a few losses in a cup are normal, and we pack extra to cover them. Approved claims get a free reship on the next ship day, or store credit or a refund at our discretion. Full terms are on our Live Arrival Guarantee page.
Cricket FAQ
Can I keep crickets in the fridge?
No. Unlike mealworms, crickets do not go dormant in the cold. Keep them at about 70-80°F.
What are banded crickets?
Banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) are a different species from the common house cricket. They are a little smaller at the same age, have a dark band across the back, and are kept and fed the same way.
Do banded crickets chirp?
Adult males chirp. Younger crickets and females do not.
How long will my crickets live?
Kept warm, fed and with good airflow, they keep for a couple of weeks. Order what your animal will eat in that time.
Why are my crickets dying?
The usual causes are cold, crowding, wet bedding, standing water or a tub that needs cleaning. Spread them out on egg crate and remove dead crickets often.
What size should I order?
Use the space between your animal's eyes as the limit and check the size chart above. If you are between sizes, go smaller.
Which shipping option should I pick?
2nd Day Air and Next Day Air always carry the live arrival guarantee; Ground carries it where checkout says so. In cold weather, the faster services spend less time in the truck. Need something with less hopping? See our live mealworms and live superworms.