What Do Crickets Eat?
Carolina Cricket Farm
Crickets are omnivores. In the wild they eat plants, seeds, fruit, decaying organic matter and small or dead insects. Feeder and pet crickets do well on dry cricket feed or grain cereal plus fresh carrots, potatoes, squash or leafy greens. Give them water through gel or moist produce, not an open dish, because crickets drown easily.
Carolina Cricket Farm is a Dunn, NC farm raising crickets since 1957, now family-run. Here's what crickets eat in the wild, what to feed farm-raised live crickets at home, and what to keep out of the bin.
In this guide:
- What crickets eat in the wild
- What to feed crickets at home
- Safe foods vs. foods to avoid
- What crickets drink
- How to gut-load crickets
- How often to feed crickets
- What baby crickets eat
- FAQ
What Do Crickets Eat in the Wild?
Crickets are omnivores and scavengers. In the wild they eat leaves, grasses, flowers, seeds and fruit, plus decaying plant matter. They also eat protein when they find it, such as insect larvae, aphids and dead insects.
That mix of plants and a little protein is a good model for feeding crickets at home.
What do crickets eat in your house?
Crickets that wander indoors eat crumbs, pet food and plant matter. They will also chew paper, cardboard and natural fabrics when other food is scarce. If you're keeping crickets on purpose, here's how to feed them well.
What to Feed Crickets at Home (Feeder and Pet Crickets)
Give crickets a dry base food all the time, add fresh produce for moisture, and offer a little extra protein. New to keeping them? Start with our guide to unpacking and caring for feeder crickets.
Dry base foods (the staple)
Commercial cricket feed, wheat germ, oats, rolled grains or a plain grain cereal make a good staple. Dry food lasts longer without molding, so it can stay in the bin all the time.
Fresh vegetables and fruits
Carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, collard, mustard or turnip greens, romaine and apple slices all work. Produce gives crickets both food and moisture. Wash it first and remove it before it spoils.
Protein (in moderation)
A pinch of fish flakes or a little dry pet food adds protein. Crickets that run short on food or protein will start eating each other (see the FAQ).
What we feed our crickets at Carolina Cricket Farm
On our farm in Dunn, NC, our banded crickets eat a special high-quality cricket feed, and a state-of-the-art watering system keeps them hydrated.
Want crickets that arrive ready to gut-load? Shop our farm-raised banded crickets.
Safe Foods vs. Foods to Avoid
Cricket food at a glance
| Food | OK? | Why / how to serve |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial cricket feed | Yes | Balanced dry staple. Keep it available all the time. |
| Oats, wheat germ, grain cereal | Yes | Dry base that resists mold. Serve in a shallow lid. |
| Carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash | Yes | Food and moisture. Slice and wash first. |
| Collard, mustard or turnip greens, romaine | Yes | Good for gut-loading. Wash well. |
| Apple slices and other fruit | Yes, in moderation | Adds moisture. Remove before it ferments. |
| Fish flakes or dry pet food | Small amounts | Extra protein that helps prevent cannibalism. |
| Water gel or crystals | Yes | Safe drinking source with no drowning risk. |
| Moldy or rotting food | No | Mold and spoiled food can kill crickets. |
| Unwashed produce, lawn clippings, roadside weeds | No | May carry pesticides that harm crickets and your pet. |
| Open water dish | No | Crickets drown easily. |
| Wet dry food left to sour | No | Damp grain molds fast. Keep dry food away from water. |
Whatever your crickets eat ends up in your reptile or amphibian. Mold, pesticides and spoiled food can kill crickets and make them a poor meal, so keep their food fresh and clean.
Skip the guesswork. Our banded crickets are farm-raised in Dunn, NC on a special high-quality cricket feed and ship Mon-Thu by UPS Ground or 1-2 Day.
What Do Crickets Drink?
Crickets need water, but they drown in open water, even a shallow dish. Safe home options:
- Water gel or water crystals
- A damp sponge, or cotton balls or pebbles in a shallow lid
- Moist produce like carrot or potato slices
Refresh water sources daily and keep the bin ventilated so it doesn't mold. Keep dry food away from the water. For the full setup, see how to keep crickets alive.
How to Gut-Load Crickets Before Feeding Your Reptile
Gut-loading means feeding crickets nutrient-rich food shortly before they become a meal, so your pet gets those nutrients too.
- Separate them. Move the crickets you'll feed next into their own container.
- Feed them well for 24-48 hours. Give nutrient-dense produce and greens plus a dry base.
- Dust if your vet recommends it. Lightly dust with calcium right before feeding, following your reptile vet's advice.
A good cricket matters too. Our crickets were lab-tested at 27.4% protein as shipped (Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories, June 2026).
Keep roaches too? Read our Dubia roach gut-loading guide. (We can't ship Dubia roaches to Florida.) Feeding a gecko? See what to feed a crested gecko.
Feeding every week? Join the Carolina Cricket Club and save 15% on every subscription order.
How Often to Feed Crickets (and How Long They Last Without Food)
Keep food available all the time. Crickets regulate their own intake, so there's no need to measure portions. Check food and water every day or two, and remove soft food before it spoils.
Without food and moisture, crickets weaken fast. For details, see how long crickets live. Feeding weekly? The Carolina Cricket Club saves you 15%.
What Do Baby (Pinhead) Crickets Eat?
Baby crickets eat the same foods as adults, just in smaller, finely ground form. They drown even more easily, so give them moisture through water gel or moist produce only. Raising your own? See our guide to raising crickets at home.
Feeding froglets, baby geckos or slings? Tiny, farm-raised pinheads are the right size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do crickets like to eat most?
Crickets aren't picky. They readily eat grains, fresh vegetables like carrots and potatoes, leafy greens and fruit. Offer a dry base food all the time and add fresh produce for moisture. On our farm, our crickets get a special high-quality cricket feed.
Can crickets drink water from a bowl?
Not safely. Crickets can drown in even shallow water. Give them water gel or crystals, a damp sponge or cotton in a shallow lid, or moist produce like a carrot or potato slice instead of an open bowl.
Do crickets eat each other?
Yes, when they are crowded or short on food or protein. Keep food available at all times, give them space and egg-crate hiding spots, and keep baby crickets separate from adults.
What do you feed crickets to keep them alive?
Give them a dry base food, fresh produce for moisture and a safe water source, all in a ventilated bin. Remove soft food before it spoils. Our guide on how to keep crickets alive covers the full setup.
How long can crickets live without food?
Not long. Without food and moisture, crickets weaken quickly and may start eating each other. See how long crickets live for the full answer.
What do crickets eat in the house?
Crickets that get into a home eat crumbs, pet food, plant matter and sometimes paper, cardboard or natural fabrics. They are scavengers, so almost any organic scrap can be food.
What is the best food for feeder crickets?
A balanced dry base, such as commercial cricket feed or a grain cereal, plus fresh vegetables for moisture. Then gut-load them with nutrient-rich produce and greens for 24-48 hours before you feed them to your pet.
Can crickets eat fruit?
Yes, in moderation. Apple slices and other fruit add moisture and variety. Remove fruit within a day or so, before it ferments or molds, because spoiled food can kill crickets.
Get Healthy, Farm-Raised Crickets Delivered
Our banded crickets are farm-direct from Dunn, NC and ship Mon-Thu by UPS Ground or 1-2 Day. Our Live Arrival Guarantee has conditions, so check the product page for details.
Save on every order. Join the Carolina Cricket Club and save 15% on subscription orders.
Mealworms are coming soon. Join the waitlist.
Questions? Call the farm at 910-694-3025.
Sources: WebMD, What to Feed Crickets (vet-reviewed); RSPCA, Caring for your Crested Gecko (feeder insect gut-loading). Photo credit: carrot photo by Sean Wallace, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Other photos: Carolina Cricket Farm.