Can I feed my mice crickets? - Paw Talk

Lucky_&_Pepper · #1 07-21-2007, 10:42 PM

I was just wondering...when I play with them outside they sometimes go after grasshoppers and flies, so I thought that maybe they'd like an occasional insect in their diet.

22revgirl · #2 07-21-2007, 11:04 PM

cant help ya here srry

halfwaynowhere · #3 07-22-2007, 12:06 AM

i have never done it, i did see some rats go after a fly in the pet store the other day, though. I don't think it will hurt them, but I've read that feeding meat (especially live) might make them more prone to cannibalistic tendencies. its up to you, though. Crickets are a good source of protein...

**Sasami** · #4 07-22-2007, 12:16 AM

I don't see why not

. I've fed crickets to spiny mice and hamsters...they do eat insects in the wild, after all.

Just make sure you buy the feeder crickets (don't feed wild-caught insects) from a responsible petstore and gutload them first like you would with reptiles.

Snark · #5 07-22-2007, 12:11 PM

I have tried it with mine. One has not very much interest, but the other loves catching them! They both only nibble a little on dead ones. But if your rats have hunting instincts, I'm positive they'd like crickets.

Lucky_&_Pepper · #6 07-22-2007, 09:57 PM

A fly flew into their cage outside once, and they went crazy. Three of them went after it and when they caught it they ripped it to shreds. I felt kinda sorry for the poor thing. :/

Vanilla_Rat · #7 07-22-2007, 11:34 PM

Yes,you can give your mice (and rats) the occassional cricket or mealworm.I have done it.Some of my mice liked them,others have not.

luvboyrats · #8 07-23-2007, 11:37 AM

Hmm, I feed insects to my reptiles on a regular basis but did not know it was a good idea to include them in rat/mouse diets. How often would you say they should be fed insects? Do most of them take them readily. I would think that animals that were used to pellet form dried food wouldn't necessarily know what to do with live food.

pinkie1205 · #9 07-23-2007, 04:27 PM

I know my rats go after bugs all the time if they are outside of their cage. Jack dug up grubs one time when he was outside.

I heard someone gave their rats crickets, but some of them got out of the cage and were hiding all around their house....lol...they heard chirping for months.

If you dont want something that moves so quickly like crickets, you could try mealworms. And NO it does not make mice or rats into cannibals.

Snark · #10 07-23-2007, 05:55 PM

I think it really depends on the rat. My lively rat who is also in charge of storing and finding their food, caught it. The calmer one didn't really bother too much to do anything about it. I think especially if you release a cricket (or anythign else) into their cage, some dominant rats may react in order to 'defend' the others.

As for moderation, I would feed as often as you think your rats would like them. But if you feed them a variety of veggies and protien before they are fed off, and they are actually healthy (they have fairly low nutritional value right out of the pet store), then this can become a healthy part of their diet, nut just fun.

And *never* leave any bugs that are able to jump/fly/climb out of the cage!! They will get out and live in your house! I find just the thought horrible...

luvboyrats · #11 07-23-2007, 07:39 PM

I have four chameleons, six leopard geckos, two uromastyxes, and a frog. All eat insects ranging from occasionally to constantly. If just the thought of bugs loose in my house bothered me anymore I'd be stark raving mad. In my experience, no matter what you do you never keep them all from getting out.

Vanilla_Rat · #12 07-23-2007, 09:38 PM

I have two leos and sometimes a few crickets go astray and live in the house.It don't bother me really and if I manage to re-catch them,I just throw em back in the gecko tank or give them to the rats.

I noticed my rats like crickets and mealies more so then the mice.They like to hunt them.

Lucky_&_Pepper · #13 07-26-2007, 03:06 PM

I don't mind crickets all that much; I used to spend a lot of time in the pet store so I'm pretty used to the chirping. Also, there is a large extended family of crickets right under my bedroom, so I actually have to concentrate in order to hear them. :/
I really want a lizard or snake...I had two tree frogs for a while, but my mom made me let them go.
At the pet store they used to feed the rats dead fish...I don't think that was a very good idea.

Snark · #14 07-26-2007, 03:21 PM

All I have is my dear little blue tongue skink, and luckily, he does not need crickets. I have an awful irrational fear of any insects that resemble cockroaches, but I do buy them as treats occasionally.

And dead fish?! Those rats must have got their lives cut in half.

Lucky_&_Pepper · #15 07-26-2007, 03:24 PM

I know. It was awful.