Why Crickets Are the Worst Feeder Insect (And What to Use Instead)
Matt Goren
Why Crickets Are the Worst Common Feeder Insect
This is not a controversial opinion among experienced reptile keepers — it is the consensus. Crickets have been the default feeder for decades simply because of availability and tradition, not because of quality. By every objective measure except initial price, crickets are inferior to modern alternatives.
The Cricket Problem List
| Problem | Impact |
|---|---|
| Smell | Strong ammonia odor within 48 hours. Permeates rooms. |
| Noise | Males chirp loudly and constantly, especially at night. |
| Bite reptiles | Uneaten crickets chew on sleeping reptiles — eyes, toes, vents. Documented injury. |
| Escape | Jump, climb, squeeze through tiny gaps. Chirp from inside walls for weeks. |
| Die fast | 30-50% die-off within a week. Constant waste and reordering. |
| Parasites | Documented pinworm and cricket paralysis virus loads. |
| Poor Ca:P (0.13:1) | 7.7x more phosphorus than calcium — actively depletes calcium. |
What to Use Instead
Discoid Roaches — The Direct Replacement
Everything crickets try to be but better: 20% protein (same or higher), 7% fat (comparable), 0.77:1 Ca:P (6x better). Plus: no smell, no noise, no biting, no escaping, no die-off. Cannot climb smooth surfaces. Live for months. Gut-load exceptionally. Legal in all 50 states.
If you switch from crickets to discoid roaches and change nothing else about your husbandry, your quality of life as a keeper and your reptile's nutrition will improve immediately.
Silkworms — The Premium Upgrade
1% fat, zero chitin, 83% moisture, serrapeptase enzyme. The finest supplemental feeder available. 2-3x per week alongside roaches.
BSFL — The Calcium Fix
9,340 mg/kg calcium — the only feeder that does not need dusting. 1-2x per week fills the calcium gap that crickets leave.
Hornworms — The Hydration Treat
85% moisture with bright color that triggers explosive feeding responses. 1-2x per week.
The One Cricket Advantage
Crickets are cheap per unit. That is their only remaining advantage — and when you factor in 30-50% die-off waste, the per-feeding cost is comparable to discoid roaches.
Make the switch and join the thousands of keepers who have upgraded from crickets to premium feeders.
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
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