How can I prove to my mom that crickets aren't disgusting? I also have a few questions about the crickets?

Question

i really would like a leopard gecko because they're so interesting and beautiful. but my mom disapproves of keeping live crickets in the house because she's terrified of bugs. I just have a few questions for those people who own anything that eats bugs...

my mom says that they'll escape from the cricket keeper. how often does that happen? and can I keep the crickets outside underneath our gazebo where there's shade? thanx!

Answer 1

I have 2 leopard gecko's and a panther gecko and they are cool pets.

The crickets are not grose, and i have only had them excape one time and thats when my cat decided he wanted to play with them...lol

I have no idea about keeping them in the gazebo b/c i keep mine in my spare bedroom.

Answer 2

I have a crested gecko that eats insects so i have crickets, they don't escape from the container unless it doesnt have a lid or carelessness, as for outside an annimal could knock of the cricket keeper allowing the insects to escape, or they could die from the tempature.

Answer 3

u cant cause they are dicusting

Answer 4

Buy her rose colored glasses and tell her they sing a pretty song? But I don't really see anyway around your Mothers reaction to insects. Many people have them. I love insects myself, I find them fascinating!

Here is some help with your last question though, that might even help your Mother feel more comfortable about their escape into her home.

I hope this helps you out. Faira

http://www.reptilecare.com/crickets.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_3443_keep-cricke...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 5

I no longer have had crickets escaping, for almost a year now, because I went ahead and got a huge rubbermaid too tall for them to jump out of and left them in there.  They are physically incapable of jumping out of the thing, because it is so huge.  I used to try those little cricket keeper things and they would get out all the time.  Its all in the container you use.  Keeping them outside depends on the weather.  If it is too hot, they can easily die from the heat.  But if you live in a more temperate climate, they should be okay.  

Answer 6

First of all, crickets are disgusting and I don't feed them to my reptiles.  Here is a better solution for feeding because crickets, smell, make noise (even though they're "wingless"), cost a lot (to feed, buy, house, etc.), and are actually not as healthy:

Feed mealworms 2 days, then skip a day (and do this over and over) until your leopard gecko is 1.  Give 3 each feeding.

Feed mealworms 2 days, then skip a day, then one day, skip a day (over and over) until you leopard gecko is 2. Give 4 each feeding.

Once 2+ feed your leopard gecko 5-7 mealworms every other day (and give 4 wax worms once a week.  You may also add in other iinsect larvae as a treat: silk worms, butter worms, Pheonix worms, etc.  My leopard gecko is 3 now and is doing great on this diet.  Maintaining a good weight, active, healthy, and very sweet.  Phillipe di Vosjoli (author of The Leopard Gecko Manual [you should get it, great book] and my favourite herpetologist) states: "There is no insect that is proven to extend the lifespan of your leopard gecko more than mealworms."  And the current longevity record is held by a 31 year old male whose primary diet is MEALWORMS.

Let me tell you a little about "mealies":

They come in jars of 50, 100, and 500 at Petco and 100 cost about $4.

They stay IN THE JAR and are kept refrigerated (use an old basement or garage fridge if you have one).

They are kept refrigerated so they do not metamorhesize into beetles.

Once out of the refrigerator they will "wake up" and your leo will be enticed by their movement in the food dish.

Good luck with your leopard gecko!  It took me 6 months to convince my mom to let me get my leopard gecko (2 months for my crested gecko, now she likes lizards so it was faster), hopefully it will be faster for you!

Oh and if you want to do crickets, you can keep them in the garage, basement or outside (on mild days only).

Answer 7

Ok I have two leopard Geckos and they are really cool. You could feed them Meal worms. Or dead crickets that come in a container, they are as good as the alive ones the only thing is you need tongs to make it seem alive so your Gecko will hunt.I keep my Crickets in a keeper and they sometimes get out, not every time. If they do get out catch them so you do not bring other bugs inside. Also the only reason they should got out is from carelessness.Hope I could help. And if your mom hates bugs then she hates bugs. I don't think she will warm up to a cricket. LOL =)