Pinhead Crickets | 1/8″

Pinhead Crickets for Sale Pinhead crickets are the smallest feeder cricket, about 1/8″ and freshly hatched. They are usually the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. Because they are so small, they suit very small animals that larger feeders would overwhelm. They are lean, high in protein, and arrive gut-loaded. Their quick movement also draws a strong feeding response, so they work well for small, fussy eaters. Dust With Calcium Before Feeding Crickets are low in usable calcium, since they carry roughly three times as much phosphorus as calcium. So dust them with a calcium supplement such as TC Calcium Ultra Fine before each feeding. This matters most for the baby and small animals that pinheads feed, since young animals are at risk of Metabolic Bone Disease. Keeping Pinheads Pinheads are delicate and do not keep long, so plan to use them within a few days. Setup Keep them warm and well ventilated, with a little egg-crate or cardboard for hiding. Avoid crowding, which raises die-off. Moisture Give moisture through a gel or water crystals, or a slice of vegetable. Do not use an open water dish, since pinheads drown easily. Containment Keep the container closed, because pinheads are tiny and fast and slip out through small gaps. Choosing a Size Pinheads at 1/8″ are the smallest cricket. As your animal grows, move up to the small 1/4″ size and beyond. Always match the cricket to the width of your animal’s mouth for safe feeding. Best For Dart frogs and other very small amphibians. Baby and hatchling reptiles. Young jumping spiders and mantis nymphs. Small, fussy eaters that respond to active prey. Not Best For Larger animals, which need the small or bigger sizes. Keepers who will not dust feeders, since crickets are low in calcium. Long storage, since pinheads are delicate and short-lived. Recommended Add-Ons TC Calcium Ultra Fine to dust the crickets before feeding. Small Crickets for when your animal grows. Small BSFL as a calcium-rich feeder to rotate in. Wingless Melanogaster as another small feeder option. 32oz Deli Cup to hold and portion the crickets. Frequently Asked Questions What are pinhead crickets? They are the smallest, freshly hatched feeder crickets, about 1/8″, usually Acheta domesticus. Their size suits very small animals. Do I need to dust them with calcium? Yes. Crickets are low in calcium and carry more phosphorus, so dust them before feeding. This is especially important for young animals. What animals eat pinheads? Dart frogs, baby reptiles, young jumping spiders, small amphibians, and mantis nymphs all take them. How do I keep them alive? Use them within a few days. Keep them warm and ventilated, give moisture through gel or vegetables rather than a dish, and keep the lid secure. How are they different from BSFL? Crickets are lean but low in calcium, so they need dusting. Black soldier fly larvae are naturally calcium-rich and do not. What size comes after pinheads? Move up to the small 1/4″ size as your animal grows. Learn More About Feeder Crickets These sources cover cricket nutrition and why dusting and gut-loading matter. Journal of Insect Science: Nutrient Content of the House Cricket. Peer-reviewed research on the nutrition of Acheta domesticus and how diet changes it. ScienceDirect: Gut Loading (veterinary overview). A reference on gut-loading and supplementing feeder insects, with crickets as the classic example. ABVP: Feeder Insect Nutrition. A veterinary overview noting the inverse calcium-to-phosphorus ratio common to crickets and most feeders.