- Joined
- Oct 6, 2003
- Messages
- 373
Hello
Just thought I'd make a post about how I keep crickets, and get pinheads for all my infant arachnids.
I buy adult crickets by the box. I set them up in large bins with styrofoam plates for water. I like the plates for the big crix because they cannot drown, all crix can climb styro. And dirty water leads to die-offs.
I keep the boxes clean, because dead crickets stink. The plates are easy to wipe clean.
For food, I use a dry mixture of mixed grain baby pablum and bulk fish flakes. Sometimes I add bulk oatmeal or wheat germ, but that depends on what is eating my crickets. Arachnids alone don't warrant the extra cost, IMO. The fish flakes are for protein.
This adult bin is almost empty, but you can see the arrangement, and the dish of damp dirt for them to lay eggs. I lean the egg carton on the dish, so they can get to it to lay eggs easy. (not seen in this photo, drat)
I am into recycling.
When I rehouse a T, I save the old peat/ecoearth mixture in a bin to use for cricket egg dishes. Because once the crickets hatch out, the dirt is garbage! I fill a bunch of deli cups at once, and then rotate them weekly into the adult cricket bin.
Here is my rack holding mini-bins containing one dish of dirt, dry food and water, and the baby crickets. I have all sizes, usually one week apart in age.
Here is a close up.
For water for little crix, I use a folded square of paper towel. I dampen the towel and change it daily. If I forget one day to give fresh towel, they die. If you dampen used towel, they die. The water must be clean, and given daily, I have learned. Its amazing how fast you can kill off a whole bin by forgetting one day. (Larger crickets aren't as sensitive.) The dish of dirt is garbage when you no longer see white crickets crawling on it. White ones are newly hatched ones.
That's about it.
I use a little clear cup to scoop out whatever size I am looking for. The crickets all grow at different rates, so I can always find the perfect sized food.
Cheers
D.
Just thought I'd make a post about how I keep crickets, and get pinheads for all my infant arachnids.
I buy adult crickets by the box. I set them up in large bins with styrofoam plates for water. I like the plates for the big crix because they cannot drown, all crix can climb styro. And dirty water leads to die-offs.
I keep the boxes clean, because dead crickets stink. The plates are easy to wipe clean.
For food, I use a dry mixture of mixed grain baby pablum and bulk fish flakes. Sometimes I add bulk oatmeal or wheat germ, but that depends on what is eating my crickets. Arachnids alone don't warrant the extra cost, IMO. The fish flakes are for protein.
This adult bin is almost empty, but you can see the arrangement, and the dish of damp dirt for them to lay eggs. I lean the egg carton on the dish, so they can get to it to lay eggs easy. (not seen in this photo, drat)
I am into recycling.
When I rehouse a T, I save the old peat/ecoearth mixture in a bin to use for cricket egg dishes. Because once the crickets hatch out, the dirt is garbage! I fill a bunch of deli cups at once, and then rotate them weekly into the adult cricket bin.
Here is my rack holding mini-bins containing one dish of dirt, dry food and water, and the baby crickets. I have all sizes, usually one week apart in age.
Here is a close up.
For water for little crix, I use a folded square of paper towel. I dampen the towel and change it daily. If I forget one day to give fresh towel, they die. If you dampen used towel, they die. The water must be clean, and given daily, I have learned. Its amazing how fast you can kill off a whole bin by forgetting one day. (Larger crickets aren't as sensitive.) The dish of dirt is garbage when you no longer see white crickets crawling on it. White ones are newly hatched ones.
That's about it.
I use a little clear cup to scoop out whatever size I am looking for. The crickets all grow at different rates, so I can always find the perfect sized food.
Cheers
D.
