Pinhead Crickets: Tiny Feeders for Tiny Animals
Pinhead Crickets: Tiny Feeders for Tiny Animals
Pinhead crickets are baby crickets, just days old. They're the right size for animals too small for regular feeders: ant colonies, spiderlings, froglets and hatchling reptiles. We raise ours on our family farm in Dunn, NC, where we've been raising crickets since 1957.
Pinhead size chart
| Size | Age | Approx. length | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinheads (3–7 days) | 3–7 days old | about 1/16" | Small and medium ant colonies, tarantula and spider slings, newly morphed froglets and other tiny amphibians, the smallest hatchling lizards |
| Pinheads (7–14+ days) | 7–14+ days old | about 1/8" | Larger ant colonies, growing slings and juvenile spiders, hatchling geckos (e.g., leopard and crested gecko babies), baby anoles and chameleons, small frogs and salamanders |
| Next step up: Small | older than pinheads | about 1/4–3/8" | When your animal has outgrown pinheads: juvenile geckos, growing lizards and frogs |
- Rule of thumb: offer a cricket no longer than the space between your animal's eyes.
- If you're between two sizes, go smaller and feed a few more.
- Sizes vary a little. Crickets grow at their own pace, so allow for about 10% size variation per batch.
Pinhead Crickets for Ant Colonies
It depends on your colony's size and species, but most ant colonies need both a sugar source and protein. Pinhead crickets are an easy, clean protein option because they're small enough for workers to handle. For young or small colonies, offer pre-killed or cut-up pinheads. For bigger, established colonies, 7–14 day pinheads work well. Take out anything uneaten after a day so it doesn't mold. Ant keepers also use fruit flies and other small insects. The key is offering prey your workers can actually carry.
Feeding tips by animal
- Ant colonies: see the section above
- Tarantula and spider slings → Best feeder insects for tarantulas
- Dart frogs and small amphibians → Best feeder insects for poison dart frogs
- Baby leopard geckos → Best feeder crickets for leopard geckos
- Crested gecko hatchlings → Best feeder insects for crested geckos
- Baby chameleons → Chameleon complete care guide and Best feeder insects for chameleons
- Baby lizards in general → Crickets for lizards: complete feeding guide
- New to reptiles → Best feeder insects for beginner reptile owners
Keeping pinheads alive
Pinheads are tiny and dry out fast. Keep them in a ventilated container with egg crate, dry food, and water crystals or fresh produce for moisture. Keep it dry and avoid standing water. Full guide: How to keep crickets alive.
Shipping and pickup
- We ship Monday–Thursday from Dunn, NC. Order by 11:00 AM ET Monday–Wednesday to ship the same day. Thursday orders ship that day only with overnight shipping (order by 11:00 AM ET).
- Live crickets need 3 days or less in transit. If your estimated delivery is more than 3 days, the Live Arrival Guarantee doesn't apply, so choose a faster shipping method.
- We ship to the lower 48 only, not Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico.
- Local pickup at 212 Bait Road, Dunn, NC: order by 10:00 AM Monday–Friday, ready at 3:00 PM.
- More detail: How we ship live crickets
FAQ
What are pinhead crickets?
Pinhead crickets are baby crickets, only days old. We offer two pinhead sizes: 3–7 days old (about 1/16") and 7–14+ days old (about 1/8"). They're the go-to feeder for animals too small to eat regular crickets.
What's the best feeder insect for ants?
It depends on your colony's size and species, but most ant colonies need both a sugar source and protein. Pinhead crickets are an easy, clean protein option because they're small enough for workers to handle. For young or small colonies, offer pre-killed or cut-up pinheads. For bigger, established colonies, 7–14 day pinheads work well. Take out anything uneaten after a day so it doesn't mold.
Which pinhead size should I pick? / How big are pinhead crickets?
For the tiniest mouths (small ant colonies, spiderlings and new froglets), start with the 3–7 day pinheads (about 1/16"). For hatchling geckos, baby chameleons and larger colonies, the 7–14+ day pinheads (about 1/8") are usually a better fit. When in doubt, go smaller and feed a few more.
How many pinheads should I order?
For a single sling or froglet, 25 or 50 is plenty to start. If you have several animals or a busy ant colony, step up to 100–250. Pinheads keep growing after they arrive, so order roughly what you'll use while they're still the size you need.
What do pinhead crickets eat? / How do I keep them alive?
Give them dry cricket food (or crushed fish flakes / oats), egg crate to hide in, and water crystals or a bit of fresh produce for moisture — never standing water. Keep the container ventilated and dry. Full guide: How to keep crickets alive.
Do pinhead crickets ship well?
Yes, when they get there fast. We pack them in ventilated containers with food and moisture and adjust for heat and cold. Live crickets need 3 days or less in transit. If your estimated delivery is more than 3 days, the Live Arrival Guarantee doesn't apply, so choose a faster shipping method at checkout.
When do you ship? / Where can I buy pinhead crickets near me?
We ship Monday through Thursday from Dunn, NC. Order by 11:00 AM ET Monday–Wednesday and your order ships the same day. Thursday orders ship that day only with overnight shipping. We ship to the lower 48 states only (not Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico). Local? Pick up at the farm (see below).
Can I pick up pinheads at the farm?
Yes. Choose local pickup at checkout: order by 10:00 AM Monday–Friday and your order will be ready at 3:00 PM at 212 Bait Road, Dunn, NC.
What kind of crickets are your pinheads?
Our pinheads are banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), a hardy species that stays active and ships well.
Order pinhead crickets fresh from the farm
3–7 day pinheads (1/16") | 7–14 day pinheads (1/8")
See all our live crickets for sale, pinheads to adults.
We ship Mon – Thu
Orders placed after 11 AM ET will go out the following business day on our shipping days: Monday–Thursday. After 11 AM Wednesday, orders ship Monday unless you choose overnight. Local pickup is Monday–Friday — order by 10:00 AM ET, ready for pickup at 3:00 PM.