Keeping Large Quanities of Crickets

[CSMGecko]

What is the best way to keep crickets. I am having issues with keeping them alive. I have put them in a large tub and put them in the garage but it gets too cold and they either go into their hibernation state or die. I have tried keeping them in my gecko room but that gets too hot and they start to smell horribly. I have been thinking on keeping them in the garage but setting up a tank with a heat lamp.

Any suggestions????

 

[acpart]

I keep mine in a 10 gallon tank with egg crate in the back of my kitchen. I find that if I keep the water crystals fresh and sift out the dead crickets regularly, the smell isn't too bad.

Aliza

 

[tlbowling]

I had made a rubbermaid container into a cricket bin, and just cut 2 large squares in the top, and cut the screens out of the box that the crickets were delivered in and duct taped the screens to the top. I kept them in the basement. You have to always keep fresh food and a water source in there for them, and there will be some dead ones that you have to clean out, they always do have an odor...unfortunately.

 

[ZooKeeperKarin]

I do the same as Tara, except I cut out almost the entire top of a Rubbermaid tub, leaving a border just enough to duct tape screening. I secure it really well so I can put a heat lamp on top with a 40W bulb. I keep it in my basement. I put cardboard egg crate in there so they can choose their own temp... in the shade or right by the light.
I do almost the entire top because I think they need as much air flow as possible.

 

[tastyworms]

You should endeavor to keep the crickets at a temperature between 70 and 80 degrees at all times. This will keep the maximum amount alive. Crickets are cold blooded just like geckos. The heat lamp is a good idea, an under tank heater like you would use for geckos would work too. Take the temp of the container at night and during the day, and just to keep it in the aforementioned parameters and they'll do fine.