A Few Questions About Breeding Crickets

[GHolmesRage]

Considering the number of reptiles I now have, and the cost of feeding them, I decided to start my own cricket colony. So I went out and purchased 150 adult sized crickets, and a huge tub to keep them in. I also provided them with a lay box, some fresh veggies, a commercial cricket food, and water gels.

So first off, does it sound like i'm doing everything okay so far?

Second, are paper towels any better than water gels besides cost?

I've read that adding heat can increase growth/hatch rate. Is there truth to this?

Lastly, instead of seeing the females stick their 3rd prong in the dirt to lay their eggs, they've been tunneling head first down into the dirt. Is this normal(I haven't observed them too intently, but when i have i noticed many doing this)

 

[EnchantmentGecko]

I would buy a few more adults on your next trip to the store. Also provide egg flats or cartons for them to hide in. so that's all fine.

If your are providing enough veggies you don't need another water source.

A gentle heat of about 80 will help but isn't needed if you don't want.

Digging is normal for them.

A few tips if you aren't opposed.

I would change the lay box every 2 weeks and incubate it either at 80 degrees or on to of a human heating pad. Babies should hatch about two weeks later and then you can move the whole lay box to another smaller setup of their like the adults until all the pinheads hatch and are big enough not to worry about being eaten by adults. Adults will eat eggs and pinheads if they can catch them.

If you choose to heat the colony I would just use a human heating pad.

 

[GHolmesRage]

Also about how often should I be cleaning out the bin I store them in? It only takes a few days for them to litter the bottom with poop, but I don't wanna clean it any more than I have to. At what point does it start becoming a health hazard to the crickets?

 

[EnchantmentGecko]

As far as I know it doesn't for a while. It just becomes a stink hazard. As long as there is plenty of food and water they will be fine. Cleaning it about once a week should suffice.

 

[ReptileWorld]

EJ covered the major points very well just wanted to add my 2cents. The heat is very important when incubating the eggs and rearing the young. most baby bins are kept at approx 90f. this will have them eating more and growing faster.

i find breeding the Dubia to be much easier and even the meal worms. The dubia i like because i dont have to move them around and can have a colony going in one large enclosure and just pull out what i need. the meal worms are just super easy and when the babies start to be seen there are thousands so we use them for feeding the reptiles as well as fishing and the extra i give to my friends that keep fish and birds.

 

[GHolmesRage]

EJ covered the major points very well just wanted to add my 2cents. The heat is very important when incubating the eggs and rearing the young. most baby bins are kept at approx 90f. this will have them eating more and growing faster.

i find breeding the Dubia to be much easier and even the meal worms. The dubia i like because i dont have to move them around and can have a colony going in one large enclosure and just pull out what i need. the meal worms are just super easy and when the babies start to be seen there are thousands so we use them for feeding the reptiles as well as fishing and the extra i give to my friends that keep fish and birds.

Where do you get your dubias from? A local pet store? Or an online site? If so, could you recommend a good site to order them?