Dubia Roach Shortage? How to Switch to Banded Crickets (Cricket Keeper & Feeding Guide)
Carolina Cricket Farm
When Dubia roaches are out of stock, farm-raised banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) are the easiest, healthiest live feeder switch for bearded dragons, geckos, chameleons and frogs. With a simple plastic Cricket Keeper (the ventilated keeper box with black hiding tubes) and the same fresh vegetables you already use to gut-load roaches, you can store, feed and dispense live crickets all week without touching a single bug.
Carolina Cricket Farm is a Dunn, NC farm raising crickets since 1957, now family-run. Because slow-growing Dubia colonies periodically sell out in popular sizes, here is how to match your pet's Dubia size to farm-raised banded crickets, what Cricket Keeper to buy, and how to set it up and feed your crickets step by step.
- Best Dubia substitute: Banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) are hardy, low-odor, quiet, and lab-tested at 27.4% protein as shipped.
- Size rule: Roaches are wider than crickets. A reptile eating Small Dubia usually takes Small (1/4–3/8") or Medium (1/2") banded crickets; Medium Dubia maps to Medium (1/2") or Large (3/4").
- Buy a Cricket Keeper with hiding tubes: Crickets climb into the dark tubes on their own, so you just slide a tube out and tap them into your dusting cup.
- Feed & hydrate on two lids: Keep dry cricket feed or oats in one shallow lid, and water gel or fresh carrot/squash slices in a second lid. Never use an open water dish.
- Ships everywhere in the lower 48: Banded crickets ship Mon–Thu by UPS Ground or 1-2 Day—including to Florida. (We can't ship Dubia roaches to Florida.)
In this guide:
- Why banded crickets are the ideal switch during a Dubia shortage
- Dubia roach to banded cricket size-matching chart
- What Cricket Keeper to buy (and how the black hiding tubes work)
- Step-by-step: how to set up your Cricket Keeper
- How to feed and hydrate crickets inside the keeper
- How to tap, dust and feed crickets to your reptile
- Shipping, local pickup and the Carolina Cricket Club
- Frequently asked questions
Why Banded Crickets Are the Ideal Switch During a Dubia Shortage
Dubia roaches take months to mature, so when reptile keepers stock up at once, Small and Medium nymphs can temporarily sell out. While our Dubia colonies restock (you can join the restock alert on our Live Dubia Roaches page), your reptile still needs consistent, gut-loaded live protein. For a quick side-by-side, see Out of Dubia? What to feed instead.
At Carolina Cricket Farm, we raise banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) only. If you haven't kept crickets in a while, banded crickets are a major upgrade:
- Hardier and longer-lived: Banded crickets handle shipping and room-temperature holding (70–75°F) far better, giving you a reliable week-plus supply per box.
- Cleaner and quieter: They produce noticeably less odor than older feeder strains, and immature sizes (Pinheads, Small and Medium) don't chirp at all.
- Proven nutrition: Our banded crickets were lab-tested at 27.4% protein as shipped (Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories, June 2026).
- Better hunting enrichment: Slower feeders sometimes get ignored by picky geckos or bearded dragons. The quick hop of a banded cricket triggers a natural hunting response.
- Legal in all lower-48 states: We can't ship Dubia roaches to Florida. Banded crickets ship legally to all lower-48 states, including Florida.
Dubia Roach to Banded Cricket Size-Matching Chart
Pick a cricket no wider than the space between your reptile's eyes. Because Dubia roaches have a wide, oval body and banded crickets are narrower and longer, a cricket of the same inch length is actually slimmer and easier for your pet to chew and swallow.
Which banded cricket size replaces your usual Dubia size?
| Your Usual Dubia Size | Matching Banded Cricket Size | Approx. Cricket Length | Best For (General Guidance) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny Nymphs (newly hatched) | Pinheads (3-7 days: 1/16") or Pinheads (7-14+ days: 1/8") | 1/16" to 1/8" | Hatchling geckos, dart frogs, mantis nymphs, spiderlings |
| Small Dubia (smaller pets) | Small (1/4-3/8") | 1/4" to 3/8" (~dime radius) | Juvenile crested geckos, juvenile leopard geckos, young bearded dragons |
| Small Dubia (older juveniles) | Medium (1/2") | 1/2" (~penny width) | Sub-adult leopard geckos, adult crested geckos, juvenile bearded dragons |
| Medium Dubia | Medium (1/2") or Large (3/4") | 1/2" to 3/4" (~nickel width) | Adult leopard geckos, sub-adult & adult bearded dragons, veiled chameleons |
| Large Dubia | Large (3/4") or Jumbo (3/4" -1"+) | 3/4" to 1"+ (~quarter width) | Adult bearded dragons, monitors, large frogs, adult tarantulas |
When in doubt between two sizes, always size down—you can offer a few extra smaller crickets at each meal.
Need feeders this week? Our farm-raised banded crickets are in stock from 1/16" pinheads up to 1"+ jumbos and ship Mon–Thu by UPS Ground or 1-2 Day.
What Cricket Keeper to Buy (and How the Black Hiding Tubes Work)
The biggest reason Dubia keepers hesitate to buy crickets is containment: nobody wants crickets jumping out of a tub when you open the lid. A purpose-built Cricket Keeper (also sold at pet stores and online as a Kritter Keeper or cricket pen with dispensing tubes) solves that problem completely.
3 features to look for when buying a Cricket Keeper
- Removable black hiding tubes (dispensing tubes): The best cricket keepers come with 2 to 4 dark plastic tubes that slide through flip-ports in the lid. Because crickets love dark, tight spaces, they climb inside the tubes on their own. At feeding time, you simply slide one tube out—its cap closes the hole automatically—and tap the crickets out into your feeding cup. You never have to reach into the bin.
- Slotted, heavily ventilated lid: Crickets hate stagnant, humid air. A slotted plastic or screen top lets moisture escape so food doesn't mold and odor stays near zero.
- Slick, clear plastic walls: Banded crickets cannot climb clean, smooth plastic walls, and a clear body lets you check food and water in two seconds without popping the whole lid off.
What size Cricket Keeper should you get?
- 100 to 250 crickets: A Small or Medium Cricket Keeper (roughly 9" × 6" × 7" up to 12" × 8" × 8") with two hiding tubes and one piece of cardboard egg crate.
- 500 crickets: A Large Cricket Keeper (roughly 12" × 8" × 10") with four hiding tubes and 2–3 vertical pieces of egg crate.
- 1,000+ bulk crickets: A smooth-sided 10- to 20-gallon plastic storage tote with a large window cut into the lid and covered in aluminum or fiberglass screen mesh, plus vertically stacked egg flats.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Your Cricket Keeper
Have your Cricket Keeper set up before you open your shipping box so unpacking takes less than two minutes. For more unpacking tips, see our complete feeder cricket care guide.
- Keep the floor bare: Do not put dirt, paper towels or wood shavings on the bottom of your Cricket Keeper. A bare plastic floor stays dry and takes 30 seconds to wipe clean between shipments.
- Stand cardboard egg crate vertically on one side: Place 1 or 2 pieces of cardboard egg flat upright against one end of the keeper. Vertical flats keep droppings from piling up where crickets walk and double their living space.
- Slide the black hiding tubes in at an angle: Rest the open bottom ends of the tubes on the floor or against the egg crate so crickets can walk right inside.
- Set two shallow lids on the open side: Use two clean jar lids, bottle caps or shallow plastic feeder dishes—one strictly for dry food and one strictly for hydration and fresh produce. Keeping them separate stops dry grain from getting wet and souring.
- Tap and shake your crickets in: Open your Carolina Cricket Farm box indoors, lift each egg flat by the corners, and gently tap the crickets straight into the keeper. Let them warm up and settle at 70–75°F (mid-70s is ideal) for 30–60 minutes before the first feeding.
How to Feed and Hydrate Crickets Inside the Keeper
If you already keep foods on hand to gut-load Dubia roaches, you don't need to buy anything new to feed crickets. Banded crickets thrive on the exact same two-part setup: a constant dry staple plus safe moisture and fresh produce. Read our full breakdown in What Do Crickets Eat?
1. Dry base food (keep in Lid #1 at all times)
Fill the first shallow lid with commercial dry cricket feed, plain rolled oats, wheat germ or crushed plain whole-grain cereal. Dry food doesn't mold in a ventilated keeper, and keeping food available 24/7 prevents hungry crickets from nibbling on each other. On our farm in Dunn, NC, our crickets eat a special high-quality cricket feed and drink from a state-of-the-art watering system.
2. Safe hydration & 24–48 hour gut-loading (put in Lid #2)
Never put an open dish of liquid water in a Cricket Keeper—crickets drown in even a quarter-inch of water. Instead, use Lid #2 for safe moisture and gut-loading:
- Water gel or water crystals: Pillow packs or polymer water crystals let crickets drink safely with zero drowning risk.
- Fresh gut-load vegetables: Washed slices of carrot, sweet potato, russet potato, squash, zucchini, or dark leafy greens (collard, mustard or turnip greens) hydrate your crickets and pack their stomachs with vitamins for 24–48 hours before you feed them to your reptile.
- Fruit in moderation: A thin slice of apple or orange is great for quick hydration—just remove soft fruit within 24 hours before it ferments or molds.
Check the two lids every day or two: top off the dry oats or cricket feed, swap out old vegetable slices for fresh ones, and keep the keeper in a comfortable room (70–75°F) away from direct sunlight or cold drafts. See how to keep crickets alive and how long crickets live for more holding tips.
How to Tap, Dust and Feed Crickets to Your Reptile
Once your crickets have settled and gut-loaded inside the Cricket Keeper, feeding time takes less than a minute:
- Pull one black tube: Open the flip-port on the Cricket Keeper lid and slide one dark tube out, keeping a finger over the open end if needed.
- Tap into a dusting cup: Hold the tube over a tall plastic cup with a pinch of calcium or vitamin powder (per your reptile vet's schedule) and gently tap until the right number of crickets drop in.
- Swirl and serve: Gently swirl the cup to lightly coat the crickets, then offer them to your reptile with feeding tongs, in a deep smooth-sided dish, or a few at a time in the enclosure.
- Remove leftovers: After 15–20 minutes, take out any uneaten crickets so they don't hide in the tank or bother a resting pet overnight.
Want 15% off every feeder delivery? Join the Carolina Cricket Club for automatic recurring shipments of farm-raised banded crickets—pause, skip or change sizes anytime.
Farm-Direct Shipping, Local Pickup & Restock Alerts
Carolina Cricket Farm has raised live crickets in Dunn, NC since 1957. Whether you are covering a temporary Dubia shortage or adding banded crickets into your permanent rotation, here is how our farm delivers:
- Fast shipping: Orders ship Monday–Thursday via UPS Ground or 1-2 Day. Place your order before our 11:00 AM ET cutoff for same-day dispatch (Mon–Wed). Thursday orders ship that day only when overnight shipping is selected; otherwise they ship Monday so your feeders never sit in a carrier warehouse over the weekend.
- Local farm pickup in Dunn, NC: Pickup is available Monday–Friday—order by 10:00 AM ET and your crickets are ready at 3:00 PM ET at 212 Bait Road, Dunn, NC.
- Live Arrival Guarantee: Our Live Arrival Guarantee has conditions; check the Live Crickets product page for full details.
- Waiting on Dubia roaches or mealworms? Sign up for instant restock alerts on our Live Dubia Roaches page (note: we can't ship Dubia roaches to Florida). Mealworms are coming soon—join the waitlist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch my bearded dragon or gecko from Dubia roaches to banded crickets right away?
Yes. Most bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, chameleons and frogs readily accept live banded crickets—and many hunt even more eagerly because crickets jump and move. Just pick a cricket no wider than the space between your pet's eyes and gut-load for 24–48 hours before feeding.
What size banded cricket replaces Small, Medium or Large Dubia roaches?
Dubia roaches are wider than crickets of the same length, so match by width: Small Dubia map to Small (1/4–3/8") or Medium (1/2") banded crickets; Medium Dubia map to Medium (1/2") or Large (3/4") banded crickets; and Large Dubia map to Large (3/4") or Jumbo (3/4"–1"+) banded crickets. For tiny hatchlings, start with pinhead crickets.
What is a Cricket Keeper and how do the black tubes work?
A Cricket Keeper is a clear, ventilated plastic insect enclosure with dark removable tubes that slide out through the lid. Crickets naturally crawl inside the dark tubes to hide. At feeding time, you slide one tube out and tap the crickets into your dusting cup without touching or chasing them.
What do I feed crickets inside a Cricket Keeper?
Keep a shallow lid of dry cricket feed, plain rolled oats or crushed whole-grain cereal available at all times, and add fresh washed produce—like carrot, sweet potato, squash or collard greens—on a separate lid for moisture and gut-loading. Read our full guide on what crickets eat.
Can I use the same gut-load vegetables I use for Dubia roaches?
Yes. If you already keep carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash or dark leafy greens for your Dubia roaches, your crickets can eat the exact same produce. Remove soft produce within 24–48 hours so it never molds.
How do I give crickets water without them drowning?
Never use an open bowl of water—crickets drown in even shallow puddles. Offer water gel or crystals, a damp sponge in a shallow lid, or moist vegetable slices like carrots and potatoes.
How many crickets fit in a standard Cricket Keeper?
A small plastic keeper (around 9" × 6" × 7") comfortably holds 50 to 250 small or medium crickets. A large keeper (around 12" × 8" × 10") holds 250 to 500 crickets when you stand extra cardboard egg-crate flats vertically inside. For 1,000+ bulk crickets, use a tall, smooth-sided plastic bin with a screened lid.
Can banded crickets ship to Florida?
Yes. Farm-raised banded crickets ship to all lower-48 states, including Florida. We can't ship Dubia roaches to Florida.
Order Farm-Raised Banded Crickets Today
Don't let a Dubia shortage interrupt your reptile's feeding schedule. Grab a ventilated Cricket Keeper, toss a slice of carrot and dry feed on two lids, and let our farm-direct banded crickets do the rest.
Ready to restock your feeder bin? Order live banded crickets farm-direct from Dunn, NC, or call us at 910-694-3025 if you need help picking the right size.
Sources: WebMD, What to Feed Crickets (vet-reviewed); RSPCA, Caring for your Crested Gecko (feeder insect gut-loading). Photo credits: ventilated insect keeper photo by Corpse Reviver, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; carrot feeding photo by Sean Wallace, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Farm and size comparison photos: Carolina Cricket Farm.