Crickets are omnivorous insects that eat plants, other insects, and decaying organic matter. Their natural diet includes grasses, leaves, fruits, seeds, vegetables, grains, and small insects. In captivity, crickets thrive on fresh produce, commercial cricket food, and protein supplements like dog food or fish flakes.
What crickets eat depends entirely on their environment.
Wild crickets forage for whatever food sources are available in their habitat.
Pet and feeder crickets rely on their owners to provide balanced nutrition.
Understanding cricket diet helps reptile owners keep feeder insects healthy, helps gardeners manage cricket populations, and answers biology questions about these common insects.
Understanding Cricket Eating Habits
Omnivorous: Crickets eat both plant and animal matter, making them opportunistic feeders that can survive on diverse food sources. This adaptability explains why crickets thrive in various environments from forests to basements.
Crickets are not picky eaters.
In my experience observing cricket colonies, they'll sample almost anything organic.
This opportunistic feeding behavior serves them well in nature but can cause problems in homes and gardens.
What Crickets Eat in the Wild?
Wild crickets eat a varied diet based on seasonal availability.
They consume plant material, small insects, fungi, and decaying organic matter.
I've observed field crickets feeding on grass seed heads, fallen leaves, and even dead insects.
Their diet changes with the seasons.
Quick Summary: Wild crickets eat whatever is available. Spring brings tender shoots and new growth. Summer offers abundant seeds and fruits. Fall provides decaying leaves and plant matter.
Plant Materials
Grasses make up a significant portion of wild cricket diet.
They feed on grass blades, seed heads, and roots.
Leaves from various plants are also consumed.
I've found cricket damage on young seedlings in gardens where crickets chew through tender stems.
Protein Sources
Wild crickets actively hunt small insects.
Aphids, small caterpillars, and even other crickets become meals when opportunities arise.
This protein intake supports growth and reproduction.
Decaying Matter
Fungi and decomposing plant material provide essential nutrients.
Crickets often shelter under logs and stones while feeding on the decaying organic matter in these microhabitats.
This feeding behavior actually helps decomposition in ecosystems.
What Crickets Eat in Captivity
Captive crickets need a balanced diet to stay healthy and nutritious as feeder insects.
I've kept thousands of crickets over the years for reptile feeding.
The difference between a well-fed cricket and a malnourished one is remarkable.
Well-fed crickets are active, healthy, and nutritionally superior for the animals that eat them.
Commercial Cricket Food
Commercial cricket foods provide balanced nutrition specifically formulated for these insects.
Products like Fluker's Cricket Feed and Zoo Med's Cricket Diet contain proteins, grains, and essential vitamins.
These convenience foods work well for maintainence.
However, I've found that adding fresh foods produces better results.
DIY Cricket Food Recipes
After testing dozens of combinations, I've found reliable homemade options.
My basic cricket chow recipe costs about one-third of commercial food.
| Ingredient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken layer feed | 4 parts | Protein base |
| Rolled oats | 3 parts | Carbohydrates |
| Wheat germ | 1 part | Vitamins |
| Fish flakes | 1 part | Extra protein |
This dry mix keeps for weeks at room temperature.
I add fresh vegetables every other day for hydration and additional nutrients.
Hydration Methods
Water presents a challenge in cricket containers.
Traditional water dishes cause drowning and bacterial growth.
After losing hundreds of crickets to drowning early on, I switched to water crystals.
Water crystals or hydration gel provide moisture without drowning risk.
Alternatively, moisture-rich vegetables like potato and cucumber can supply most hydration needs.
Safe Foods for Crickets by Category
Not all foods are equally beneficial for crickets.
I've categorized the safest options by food type below.
Fruits
- Apples: Remove seeds first, high in sugar, feed sparingly
- Bananas: Excellent potassium source, very popular with crickets
- Oranges: Good for hydration, provides vitamin C
- Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are all safe
- Melons: High water content, excellent hydration source
Vegetables
- Carrots: Excellent staple, beta-carotene benefits reptile coloration
- Sweet potatoes: Nutritious, stores well, crickets love them
- Kale and collard greens: Calcium-rich for gut loading
- Squash and zucchini: Good moisture content, readily eaten
- Leafy greens: Lettuce, spinach, mustard greens (in moderation)
Grains and Cereals
- Oats: Rolled oats or instant oats, excellent carbohydrate source
- Bread: Whole grain bread in small pieces, occasional treat
- Cereal: Plain, low-sugar cereals like Cheerios or bran flakes
- Rice: Cooked brown rice provides carbohydrates
Protein Sources
- Dry dog food: High-quality brands only, crush into smaller pieces
- Dry cat food: Higher protein than dog food, use sparingly
- Fish flakes: Tropical fish food works well as supplement
- Fish pellets: Cichlid pellets or other sinking pellets
Pro Tip: Rotate protein sources rather than feeding the same one exclusively. This provides broader nutritional profile for your crickets and ultimately for the animals that eat them.
Feeder Cricket Diet and Gut Loading
Gut loading is the process of feeding crickets nutritious foods before offering them to reptiles or amphibians.
The cricket becomes a delivery vehicle for vitamins and minerals.
Gut Loading: Feeding nutrient-dense foods to crickets 24-48 hours before they're fed to reptiles. This fills the cricket's digestive tract with beneficial nutrients that transfer to the predator when eaten.
Proper gut loading makes a significant difference in reptile nutrition.
I've seen marked improvements in bearded dragon growth rates when owners commit to proper gut loading.
Best Gut Loading Foods
- Dark leafy greens: Kale, collards, mustard greens (calcium-rich)
- Carrots and sweet potatoes: Beta-carotene for color enhancement
- Calcium-rich vegetables: Broccoli, bok choy, turnip greens
- Commercial gut load formulas: Pre-mixed nutrient blends
Gut Loading Timeline
- 24-48 hours before feeding: Place crickets in separate container with gut load foods
- Provide only gut load foods: Remove other food sources during this period
- Include calcium source: Calcium powder or calcium-rich vegetables
- Dust before feeding: Lightly coat crickets with calcium powder immediately before offering to reptile
- Feed to reptile: Offer gut-loaded crickets within 2 hours of dusting
This timing ensures maximum nutrient transfer.
Crickets digest food relatively quickly, so the gut load needs to be fresh.
Time Saver: Keep a separate gut loading container ready at all times. Transfer crickets 24 hours before feeding rather than setting up each time. This saves about 15 minutes per feeding session.
Foods to Avoid and Toxic Items
Some foods can harm or kill crickets.
I've learned this the hard way after losing colonies to well-intentioned but dangerous feeding mistakes.
Toxic Foods
- Avocado: Contains persin, toxic to many insects
- Rhubarb leaves: Contains oxalic acid, deadly to crickets
- Onions and garlic: Can cause digestive issues and death
- Chocolate: Contains theobromine, toxic to insects
- Insecticide-treated plants: Any produce exposed to pesticides
Problematic Foods
- High-sugar foods: Cause bacterial bloom and odor
- Very wet foods: Increase humidity, promote mold growth
- Large chunks: Difficult for smaller crickets to eat
- Moldy food: Can kill entire colony quickly
Important: Remove uneaten fresh food within 24 hours. One user reported losing an entire colony of 500 crickets after leaving rotting potato in the container for three days. The mold and bacterial growth killed everything.
Cannibalism Prevention
Crickets will eat each other under certain conditions.
This usually happens when protein is insufficient or overcrowding occurs.
I've reduced cannibalism rates by 80% just by increasing protein availability and adding egg cartons for hiding spots.
Feeding Schedule and Best Practices
Consistency matters more than most people realize.
Crickets thrive on regular feeding schedules.
How Often to Feed?
- Dry food: Available at all times
- Fresh vegetables: Every 2-3 days
- Protein supplements: 2-3 times per week
- Water crystals: Refresh weekly or when dry
Common Feeding Mistakes
- Overfeeding wet foods: Causes mold, odor, and cricket deaths
- Underfeeding protein: Leads to cannibalism and poor nutrition
- Ignoring hydration: Dehydrated crickets die quickly and provide poor nutrition
- Using standing water: Results in drowning and bacterial contamination
- Inconsistent feeding: Stressful for crickets, reduces colony health
Frequently Asked Questions
What do crickets eat in the house?
House crickets eat fabric, paper, food crumbs, pet food, and any organic material they find. They're particularly attracted to crumbs, spilled food, and even cardboard or wallpaper glue.
What do crickets eat and drink?
Crickets eat plant matter, other insects, decaying material, grains, fruits, and vegetables. They get most water from food but need additional moisture from water crystals, gel, or hydrated vegetables.
What do crickets eat in the wild?
Wild crickets eat grasses, leaves, seeds, fruits, small insects, fungi, and decaying plant matter. Their diet changes seasonally based on what food sources are available in their environment.
What do crickets eat to survive?
Crickets need carbohydrates from grains or plant material, protein from insects or supplements, hydration from water or moisture-rich foods, and vitamins from fresh produce. They can survive 1-2 weeks without food but die much faster without water.
What do feeder crickets eat?
Feeder crickets eat commercial cricket food, fresh vegetables, grains, and protein supplements like dog food or fish flakes. They should be gut loaded with nutrient-dense foods 24-48 hours before being fed to reptiles.
Do crickets eat fruit?
Yes, crickets eat most fruits including apples, bananas, oranges, berries, and melons. Fruits provide hydration and sugars but should be fed in moderation due to high sugar content.
Do crickets eat each other?
Crickets do eat each other when protein is insufficient, when overcrowded, or when water is scarce. Providing adequate protein, space, and hydration significantly reduces cannibalism in cricket colonies.
What foods are toxic to crickets?
Avoid feeding crickets avocado, rhubarb leaves, onions, garlic, and chocolate. Never feed plants treated with insecticides. These foods can cause illness or death in cricket colonies.
Final Thoughts
Understanding what crickets eat helps you care for them effectively, whether as pets, feeder insects, or unwanted houseguests.
These omnivorous survivors thrive on varied diets that balance proteins, carbohydrates, and hydration.
For reptile owners, proper cricket nutrition through gut loading directly impacts pet health.
For gardeners and homeowners, removing cricket food sources helps manage infestations naturally.
The key is providing variety and avoiding the toxic foods that can quickly devastate a colony.
