I’ve got two pet toads that I’ve had since they were tiny. I used to feed them fruit flies, but now they’re on crickets. It’s a hassle to keep going to the pet store when I hear crickets outside all summer, but I have no idea how to actually catch them. I hear crickets all around but never spot them! I can grab grasshoppers here and there, but they’re often too big for my toads. Anyone got tips on making a bug catcher, especially for small crickets or grasshoppers, that won’t harm them? Everything I look up just shows ways to kill the bugs!
Catching bugs outside can be risky. They might have been exposed to pesticides or might carry parasites.
If you’re tired of buying crickets, you could try starting a small insect breeding setup. Tons of guides are out there on YouTube.
@Sage
I hear you! Just not sure I have the time to start another project right now. But I’ll check it out when I can.
I don’t know much about catching crickets either, but just be cautious with outdoor bugs. They can carry pesticides or parasites.
You could consider a mealworm or superworm colony instead. It’s pretty easy. Just grab a few cups from a pet store (or order online), and put them in a container with a lid that has holes in it. I used an empty whipped cream tub. Fill it with rolled oats and some high-protein fish food. Keep it somewhere dark, and the worms will turn into beetles, breed, and eventually die off. You might want to wait a bit for the colony to grow before you start feeding your toads, though.
@Fin
Interesting idea! But for some reason, my toads have never taken to mealworms, which is why I ended up switching them to crickets after they outgrew the fruit flies.
I usually just lie down in the grass and wait. Once they think you’re part of the scenery, they’ll start hopping around, and you can just scoop them up with your hands. But they’re everywhere where I live, so it’s not too hard.