Your bearded dragon needs a steady supply of live, gut-loaded crickets to thrive — but the wrong order can arrive dead, undersized, or packed with pests, turning a quick restock into a stressful loss. The shelf life of shipped feeder insects varies wildly by seller, and a bad batch forces you to scramble for a backup meal from a store.
I’m Mo Mahin — the founder and writer behind Furric. I compare live insect suppliers by analyzing logistics data, packaging methods, survival rates reported by owners, and the nutritional consistency of each farm’s breeding stock.
Whether you maintain a colony or buy weekly, the right provider keeps your reptile fed without losing money to dead shipments. This guide breaks down the top-rated options for crickets for bearded dragons so you can pick with confidence.
How To Choose The Best Crickets For Bearded Dragons
Not all cricket suppliers feed and ship the same way. You need to match the insect size to your dragon’s age, confirm the seller gut-loads before shipping, and understand their dead-on-arrival policy. Here are the three most important factors to screen before you buy.
Cricket Species: Banded vs. House Cricket
Banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) live longer, resist disease better, and produce far less odor than common European house crickets. They also jump less and are easier for dragons to catch. If a seller offers banded crickets, that is the superior choice for a staple feeder.
Size Selection and Gut-Loading
Feed insects no wider than the space between your dragon’s eyes. Juveniles need small or medium crickets (1/4″ to 1/2″), while adults can handle large (3/4″ to 1″). Gut-loading — feeding the crickets calcium-rich food before shipping — directly affects your dragon’s nutrient intake. Look for sellers that explicitly state they gut-load with high-calcium cricket diet and provide a hydration source like orange cubes or Quencher gel.
Packaging and Live Arrival Guarantee
Shipped crickets need ventilation, egg crate for climbing space, and insulation from temperature extremes. Check whether the seller replaces dead crickets within a specific window (usually 2–3 days of delivery) and whether they require you to photograph the dead insects. Bulk orders (500–1000 count) are economical only if the survival rate stays above 90% for at least a week in your care.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASSETT’S CRICKET RANCH 500 Medium | Mid-Range | Bulk feeding, multi-pet households | 500 count medium banded crickets | Amazon |
| Fluker’s Live Crickets 100 Count | Mid-Range | Weekly restocks, smaller collections | 100 count, gut-loaded, 1/2″ medium | Amazon |
| NutriCricket 110 Live Banded | Mid-Range | Geckos and small dragons | 110 count, 3/4″+ banded crickets | Amazon |
| Gimminy Crickets 500ct Giant Mealworms | Premium | Variety diet, treat feeding | 500 count giant mealworms | Amazon |
| Josh’s Frogs 1″ Large Adult Banded Crickets | Premium | Large adult dragons, bulk monthly order | 1000 count, 1″ banded crickets | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. BASSETT’S CRICKET RANCH 500 Medium (1/2″) Banded Crickets
Basset’s Cricket Ranch sends banded crickets — the species that lives longer, stays quieter, and produces less smell than standard house crickets. At 500 medium crickets per bag, this is the sweet spot for owners with one or two dragons who want a month’s supply without needing a dedicated insect room.
Buyers consistently report 99% alive arrival when weather stays between 70–80°F during transit. Several repeat customers noted that even a week later, only a handful had died when given dog food and a damp paper towel for hydration. The medium size (ordered as 1/2″) sometimes runs larger — closer to 3/4″ — which is still perfectly safe for adult dragons.
Customer service replaces dead crickets if you call them directly. A minority of orders arrived with unwanted stowaways (spiders, centipedes), but those reports are rare compared to the volume of positive feedback praising the value versus pet-store prices.
Why we love it
- Banded crickets survive longer than house crickets with less odor
- Excellent value — 500 crickets for less than a pet store charges for 100
Good to know
- Size can run larger than ordered; not ideal if you need exact 1/2″ for juveniles
- Some shipments have included pest insects or dead crickets during extreme weather
2. Fluker’s Live Crickets, 100 Count Medium (Approx. 1/2″)
Fluker’s has been shipping live insects for more than 70 years, and this 100-count bag of medium (1/2″) crickets is the ideal starting point for new dragon owners or anyone who wants to test a supplier before committing to a bulk order. The crickets arrive pre-gut-loaded with Fluker’s High Calcium Cricket Diet and include an orange cube and Quencher gel for hydration.
Several buyers compared these directly to pet-store crickets that died within three days and found Fluker’s survival rate far better. The 100-count size fits perfectly in a standard cricket keeper and is easy to manage without building a dedicated enclosure.
Some cartons arrive with a few dead crickets (expected with live shipments), but Fluker’s replaces dead insects within two days if you report them. A handful of customers noted harmless Dermestidae beetle larvae stowaways, which are not a health risk to reptiles but can be surprising if you don’t expect them.
Why we love it
- Pre-gut-loaded with high-calcium diet for better nutrition
- Low commitment — easy to store 100 crickets without special housing
Good to know
- Carton packaging can get cold in transit, potentially reducing survival
- Premium price per cricket compared to bulk banded cricket options
3. NutriCricket 110 Live Banded Crickets (Large 3/4″ +)
NutriCricket offers 110 large banded crickets in a bag — a solid bridge between the 100-count starter packs and the 500-count bulk bags. These are banded crickets, so they last longer and smell less than house crickets, and the large size (3/4″ and up) is a good fit for adult bearded dragons that need a substantial meal.
One owner reported that after five days, these crickets were still thriving while Petco crickets from the same week suffered more than 50% mortality. The packaging is secure, and several buyers praised the customer service for handling the rare DOA quickly. However, some orders arrived with significantly fewer crickets than the advertised 110 — as low as 30–50 in one reported case.
The second-batch inconsistency is the biggest risk here: some buyers received all healthy, active crickets, while others got mostly dead ones or a size that ran smaller than expected. If you order from NutriCricket, it’s safest to start with one bag and verify the quality before making it your regular supplier.
Why we love it
- Banded crickets that stay alive longer than house crickets
- Consistently great first-batch quality reported by many buyers
Good to know
- Quantity inconsistency — some bags had far fewer than 110 crickets
- Size variability; second batches sometimes ran smaller than ordered
4. Gimminy Crickets 500ct Live Giant Mealworms
These are not crickets — they are giant mealworms — but they earn a spot here as a high-value treat feeder for bearded dragons that need variety. With 500 mealworms per bag, this is a cost-effective way to add healthy fat and protein to your dragon’s rotation without ordering an entirely separate shipment.
Most buyers report the mealworms arrive healthy and large, with zero casualties in the bag. The “giant” size is genuinely big enough to catch an adult dragon’s attention, and the worms stay alive for weeks when refrigerated. A turtle owner noted that 45 out of 500 were dead in one order but still considered it acceptable given the volume.
The main complaint is inconsistency: some bags arrive with worms that are closer to small or medium despite being labeled “giant,” and a few turned into beetles during transit. Customer service has been described as unhelpful by at least one loyal customer who received the wrong size. Use these as a supplement, not a replacement for your staple cricket order.
Why we love it
- 500-count bag provides weeks of treat feeding
- Healthy, large worms that survive well during shipping
Good to know
- Size occasionally runs smaller than “giant”; some arrive as beetles
- Not a complete staple feeder — mealworms are too fatty for every meal
5. Josh’s Frogs 1″ Large Adult Banded Crickets (1000 Count)
Josh’s Frogs ships 1,000 large adult banded crickets — the biggest single order on this list, designed for keepers with multiple large reptiles or a single adult dragon that eats heavily. The 1-inch size is a perfect mouthful for adult bearded dragons 14 inches or larger, and the banded cricket species gives you a longer viable window than house crickets.
The company uses a mix of USPS, UPS, and FedEx depending on your location and weather, and they include a live arrival guarantee plus a virtual care sheet with storage and feeding instructions. Reviews are sharply divided: many buyers received all healthy, active crickets with minimal deaths, while others received the wrong size (small crickets without wings) plus dead, smelly insects that forced them to buy emergency backup food from a store.
The inconsistency appears tied to seasonal temperature and handling during transit. Winter orders seem riskier, though the company reportedly corrects issues when contacted. If you have the capacity to house 1,000 crickets and need a monthly supply, this is the most economical per-cricket price — but be prepared for a possible size-mismatch on your first order.
Why we love it
- Banded crickets live longer and stay healthier than house crickets
- Excellent per-cricket value for high-volume feeders
Good to know
- Size and quality inconsistency — some shipments arrive wrong or dead
- Requires a proper cricket enclosure to house 1,000 insects
FAQ
How many crickets should I feed my bearded dragon per day?
What size cricket is safe for a baby bearded dragon?
How long do shipped crickets stay alive in the bag?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the crickets for bearded dragons winner is the BASSETT’S CRICKET RANCH 500 Medium because it delivers banded crickets at a price that beats pet stores by a wide margin while maintaining a consistently high survival rate. If you want the peace of mind of a 70-year-old brand with pre-gut-loaded crickets, grab the Fluker’s Live Crickets 100 Count. And for large adult dragons that eat heavy, nothing beats the bulk value of the Josh’s Frogs 1″ Large Adult Banded Crickets — just verify the size on your first order.