So, my son recieved a frog for his birthday. Now we need to feed it - live crickets! We are spending what i consider to be way too much (close to $1 per day) feeding this thing. right now we are going to petco and petsmart to get small crickets. they cost $.10 a piece, and by the size of them they should be penny! The frog can't eat the large ones. Does anyone know where we can get them cheaper?
My son and Spot the frog thank you1
I would catch lighning bugs out in the evening and then feed those to him...LOL and then watch the belly light up on the frog. :-) Free and entertaining too.
ps...did the giver of the frog ask you first if it would be alright to do it? I would not be a happy camper with that one. A pet should be a decision for the parents, or at least have their approval. But, that is just my opinion.
I don't know if there is one close to you, but they may be cheaper at a bait shop.
We have a Crested Gecko that only eats crickets & mashed fruit, so I bought a "cricket keeper". It's a little box that you keep the crickets in--alive & happily munching on carrot peelings & other yummy stuff--until you need to feed your critter. Petco & Petsmart charge WAY too much for crickets. Find a small, local pet store, ask them when they get their cricket shipment in--my fav store gets new crickets (all sizes) on Tuesdays. I go & get $2 worth, bring them home & put into their box & they live there for a week or 2. Put an empty tp roll or cut up cardboard egg crating in the box, a wet cotton ball in a corner, sprinkle a little cricket feed in another corner, add carrot or other veggie shavings every day & they will chirp happily day & night, until they become lunch.
At feeding time, take the tube, shake a few crickets off into the cage & put the rest back into the box. Dead crickets & cricket poop stink, so I try to switch the tube into an clean box (I have 2) toward the end of the batch & add the food & wet cotton ball to it. Don't wash the box with soap, just with water & let it air dry & then start over with the "crop" of crickets. Some weeks my gecko eats them all, right away & other times the crickets last for 2 or 3 weeks, cause she just doesn't seem hungry. Good Luck!
There are mail order places but you have to buy a lot! If you know other families with pets who eat crickets this might work to get them and split them up. This next suggestion probably depends on whether or not fishing is popular where you live but have you checked a bait shop? (someone else suggested this)
We have a Gecko and sometimes I get a batch of crickets that don't last long, even though she doesn't eat as much as your frog the cost it bothers me a bit. I started to research growing them myself online but just didn't follow through. I'd love to hear what solution works for you as I should address this at some point.
If you have a fish store check there too. That is where we used to get most of ours. Also your son may enjoy catching some small bugs outside to feed his frog if any are available. Also make sure that there is not a price break if you buy a larger quantity, they will live for awhile if there is dirt in the tank or in a separate cage and give them a little bread to eat.
One petstore I was at had some that you raised yourself, I believe. This might be cheaper. Depending on the type of frog, you may be able to feed it flies and other insects, also. Including any you find in your house or yard.
Frogs... can eat ANY live insect.
I had pet tree frogs.... and, I would myself, go out and catch grasshoppers for it, once a week. And it would last all week or longer.
I kept any insects I caught, in a plastic jug.
They can also eat meal worms.
You want to give a varied diet.... you do not have to "only" give crickets.
You also do not have to, give $1 worth of crickets to the frog each day. That is one container everyday.
Usually, at our pet store locally... crickets are sold in containers of 20... for about $2.00.
Crickets are also easy to care for... you just keep them in a separate container, and put a little oatmeal in it and a sliced carrot (for moisture), and the crickets will last a LONG time. They will eat the oatmeal and the carrot. And of course, have holes poked in the cover of the container for air.
Again, you can catch any insect for the frog.... and at night too, by turning on a light to attracts bugs.
all the best,
Susan
My brother has a bunch or geckos-and other things. He buys crickets at swap meets with lizards and such. I know he goes out near Wheaton and sometimes Aurora so you might try googling lizards +swap meets
Also, he buys the larva so they grow up and don;t die off beforehand.
The back yard? I seem to have plenty!
