Pesticides

[Exo]

I just received my first T and I am wondering if it is safe to feed it crickets that have been fed non-organic produce. Right now, I am feeding them oganic greens, but organic stuff is hard to find where I live. I've searched this forum and others and it seems that people have mixed opinions on this subject.Some think that pesticides are absorbed inside the produce,others say that non-organic stuff is safe as long as you wash and peel it.

I just want to know if anyone feeds their crickets (or roaches) non-organic produce, and if so, are their Ts are living long healthy lives without many
molting problems, mysterious deaths,ect.

Thanks for any input you can give me.

 

[G. pulchra]

I have never had a problem feeding them produce. Just be sure to wash it well with cold water first.

 

[Exo]

So non-organic produce is safe as long as I wash it?

 

[BrynWilliams]

I'd recommend feeding your livefood things with a low external surface area as these foods provide lots of space for pesticides to accumulate (e.g. broccoli is particularly bad because it's you can never be sure it's properly washed).

Things like carrots and apples are great because you can easily wash them properly, but also it takes only a couple seconds to peel them hence reducing the risk further.

 

[Exo]

Pesticides aren't absorbed directly into the produce?

 

[violentblossom]

Pesticides aren't absorbed directly into the produce?

I wouldn't think so.

 

[Exo]

That's good because I want to give my crickets oranges, and organic oranges cost a fortune here.

 

[Satellite Rob]

Don't worry about it.I feed my cricket a frozen Peas,carrots and corn mix I buy in
a bag.I run a little hot water on it first to defrost it.I sometimes give them potato
skins or apple slices.But to feed crickets organic that going little overboard.

 

[Exo]

I try not to overboard, I just don't want my first T to die of pesticide poisoning. I'll just make sure that I wash everything well and mabey remove the peels from the oranges just to be sure.

 

[MizM]

We feed our feeder insects with the same food we eat. I like to think that any produce sold in the US is safe, although who knows nowdays?

 

[Hedorah99]

Unless the crickets all drop dead after eating the producs, you should be OK.

 

[mxslanksta]

i feed my crix flunkers orange cubes and i havnet had a problem

 

[Bill S]

Pesticides aren't absorbed directly into the produce?

Depends on the pesticide. There are some that are "systemics" which are absorbed into the plants tissues to make them poisonous to plant pests. (Remember that not all pesticides that are deadly to insects are harmful to warm-blooded animals, which is what "safety" is measured on.) On the other hand, some insecticides are derived from plants, so could pass the criteria for "organic" - yet would still kill insects. Also, there are genetically engineered crops that have "inbuilt" insecticides, and may still pass the criteria as organic.

What people WANT "organic" to mean and what it really means in the marketplace are different things, and "organic" may not be any better for your crickets than regular produce. (On the other hand, legal definitions have tightened up since "organic" first became popular. The father of a friend of mine did some research on organic produce in California many years ago. At that time all produce was legally considered organic, since the only alternative in a technical sense was "inorganic". It was a common practice for farmers to sell their best fruits and vegetables to markets as standard, and the poorer quality fruits and vegetable - the ones that didn't measure up to supermarket appearance standards - to health food outlets as "organic".)

 

[Exo]

If the produce has been sprayed with systemic pesticides,then there isn't really any way to tell if I'm giving my crickets poisoned food or not.

The last thing I need is my T eating poison crickets.

 

[Exo]

What do others on this board feed their crickets(or roaches)?

Just trying to decide what's safe and not.

 

[Bill S]

What do others on this board feed their crickets(or roaches)?

Fresh vegetables (not organic) and leftover crumbs of rodent food (tek-lad, or something like that). I also keep snakes, so I maintain a mouse colony. I buy lab block in 50 lb bags, and there is always a bunch of dust and crumbs at the bottom of the bags. Crickets love it.

But.... I don't really try to breed crickets. I keep an aquarium with a continuous supply of crickets that gets refreshed each week. There is some breeding going on in there, and baby crickets appear all the time. (There's a deep layer of soil on the bottom of the tank that the crickets can lay eggs in.) But the tank is intended just as a holding tank, not a breeding operation.

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Well, I've been experimenting with my dubia roach colony since I got it in April, and right now I feed them layer crumbles (chicken feed) and Fluker's Cricket Quencher. I'll throw in a slice of apple, squash, or the like occasionally, and keep them at about 85 F. I just checked and I have TONS of nymphs in there, probably more than I need!
I was having problems avoiding mold at first, until I switched to using mostly dry food and the gel.
I'll probably never feed crickets to any tarantula again. Even my tiniest slings are taking nymphs.

 

[MizM]

Well, been keeping for almost 20 years now and have always fed my feeders the leftover fruit and vegetables that we eat. Haven't had a problem to date. If you are that worried about their dietary intake, there are commercial cricket feeds that you can buy at your local pet store. Now, if you feel you must give them Evian water, that's a cause for worry!!!

 

[Exo]

Now, if you feel you must give them Evian water, that's a cause for worry!!!

I'm crazy, but not THAT crazy!

I guess I was worried Since this is my first T.

Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[binary71]

We feed our feeder insects with the same food we eat. I like to think that any produce sold in the US is safe, although who knows nowdays?

I agree.

I feed my colony of hissers and dubia mainly dry food but once a week i give some fresh washed veggies and have never had a problem. When i was raising crickets i would do the same and i only used potato slices for their moisture. as long as they are washed thoroughly they should be fine.