Sometimes I find crickets where I did not even think possible. Today I Fed my bearded dragon a good 20 or so crickets and I did not see one get out of the bag. 10 minutes later I find one INSIDE my shirt jumping around. A few days ago I also found one in my upstairs bathroom...my crickets are stored downstairs in the garage behind a metal door...
Crickets, Crafty as hell
- Thread starter endrien
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BrightReptiles
Badhabits727
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I'm done with buying bulk crickets, this being one of the reasons. They somehow get everywhere, and I can never figure out how they are escaping.. Besides, they smell horrible compared to worms. After these past two weeks keeping a large quantity of crickets for the first time, it's back to buying 200 at random to cover a days feeding.
:main_laugh: The problem is what your storing them in and how you are transferring them.
I am done as well, they are just too much hassle compared to worms. We are in the exact same boat, as I bought 1000 crickets for the first time 2 weeks ago and will not be doing that again when they are gone.
They are stored in sealed bins with mesh too small for a pinhead to fit through. Transported in a sealed plastic baggy dumped directly in my tanks.
Dimidiata
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I hate them, found one in my shoe. Im switching hopefuly to a all worm diet some time soon(if at all possible.)
Start with healthy young crickets. They need space and lots of ventilation. I house them in a 10 gallon tank with egg crates stacked upwards and scoop up the waste daily the best I can and believe it or not they hardly smell. They do not do well in plastic bins with little ventilation or in crowded conditions. They need to climb. I make sure one corner has the water and veggies, the other corner the dry food. The center is the standing egg crates. The trick is that they have space and a complete ventilation on top.
They can escape plastic bins but not glass tanks. I tried bins years ago and that's how I know. Now I have zero problems.
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You didn't read my post very well...
They are transported from my garage to my room in plastic baggies that are sealed, all of a 15 second trip.
The bins are too tall to jump out of, but also have tape lining them, they have a screen mesh that allows air flow but none to escape.
Compared to worms they die much easier and quicker, and from now on will be a few times a month type of food.
The bin would probably hold around 30 gallons of water.
BrightReptiles
Badhabits727
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One tip I can give you if you decide to keep crickets in bulk again is this: Egg cartons and carrots.
You want as many cartons in the tub as you can, and I typically put 4 full size carrots broken in half throughout the tub. The reason crickets have such a high mortality rate is because they will fight over hiding, and will eat each other when food is not easily available. I recommend carrots over potatoes, simply because they don't go bad as easily and don't put off such a fowl odor.
You want as many cartons in the tub as you can, and I typically put 4 full size carrots broken in half throughout the tub. The reason crickets have such a high mortality rate is because they will fight over hiding, and will eat each other when food is not easily available. I recommend carrots over potatoes, simply because they don't go bad as easily and don't put off such a fowl odor.
BrightReptiles
Badhabits727
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I've also heard that leaving moist sponges in each corner helps a TON, but haven't tried it.. I imagine you'd have to wash it daily though because any time I've left something moist in with crickets it winds up covered in eggs, which sounds to me like a gross PITA to me.
This is the current setup.
Egg cartons + toilet rolls with carrots.
I guess you have houdini crickets, lol
I have zero deaths anymore. It might be your cricket supplier is not keeping them healthy or as follows
They drink lots of water so must have water at all times. Not just fruits, I mean real water. I use water gels and pieces paper towel soaked in water which I change daily.
Good gutload must have at least 18% protein.
SPACE. The whole bin should not be full of crates, only half. There must be walking space for the crickets at both corners where the food and water is.
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