Attempting to breed crickets :/

[maddie416]

So I figured that I'd save tons of money by breeding crickets for my leopard gecko Pedro...well I figured out its hard than bob from the cricket forum told me. I've been trying for a while and so far no pinheads. This is what I've been doing...

I keep my breeders in a small container I put in there oatmeal and apple slices and A shallow container of dirt. I leave it in there for four days remove it then put it in another container for a week. Nothing happens..? I also have lamps for heating in both cages..nits about 80 degrees in both. Thanks for the help!!

 

[acpart]

I'm moving this thread to the appropriate place. It's a good idea to check the sub-forum to make sure you're posting in the right place. I have chosen not to breed crickets because of the space needed and the smell (though you may do better). I'm no cricket expert, but if there isn't enough moisture, the newly hatched crickets won't survive.

Aliza

 

[rabidmoose]

So I've bred them once, with a few fails. When I had success I made sure the egg substrate was moist, watering it every morning and night. Be sure not to drown the eggs though. Another thing is heat, be a lamp or mat on the crickets all the time. I also made a sour cream container with about 1-2" of sand into my egg container. Hope I helped!

 

[Ryder5406]

Keeping the dirt moist but not drowned at all times. I also use a 2/3 mixture of coco fiber and 1/3 dirt. I wait about a week for them to lay eggs. Then move it into a hatching container. I keep,a heat lamp on the hatching container from the side not directly over top where it might cook and dry out the eggs. I use one of those large cricket keeper to hatch my pinheads. Once hatched I give them a ramp of cardboard to get out of the dirt/coco fiber and down to the food and water. I continue to feed them and water everything for about 2 weeks. The whole time I've got another container in with my breeders. Keep in mind my breeder container isn't big either. About the same size as the hatching tank. I only keep mature males and females. Not many males though about 1 to 5 males to females. When my pinheads get about a 1/4" to 3/8" I put them in a grow out tank. They stay there until I feed them. If they happen to mature I pull them out and put them in my breeder tank. Now my grow out/ feeder tank is an 18 gal tub. I try to keep all of them above 80* with highs in the 90's. Water is the key. Feed fruits,vegetables, etc plus water crystals with water in them. I use a napkin or paper towels with the crystals on top then wet the paper towels twice a day.

I really am starting to have way to many but my Leo's love them compared to mealworms. Getting a colony going of Dubias and hoping they will like them. They have no smell and the crickets stink bad when you get a colony. Even though I clean my bins once a week.