Stupid crickets keep dying.

[Rogue5861]

Best way to do it would be probably in a rack system, that way could keep multiple sized crickets heated at same temp on one heatcord. Given space i would of had a cricket cycle going but i cant do it at the moment.

Roaches are alot easier to keep and love to be left alone, best to keep 2 colonies and only pick at 1 or alternate between them week on week off.


Rick

 

[mad_at_arms]

Humidity will kill crickets, aim to keep it low. Temp range from 20-30c. The higher the temp the quicker they will reach the end of their life span.

 

[CantBeatALBINOS]

i know its been said before but geeez !! $7 for a box of crickets is intense!!! i pay $3 or $4 for a chinese container and they last in that for about a week or two(depending on how hungry my mums blue tongue is haha) and thats in the container they come in aye and ive never had any problems other then them eating each other.. hahah

 

[Cypher69]

Most pet shops in Syd sell 2 containers for $15.
Sorry I can't remember the brand names of cricket suppliers (to pet shops) but there's one who uses smaller egg cartons in the containers & the crickets strive longer in them.
The other brand where the egg carton is cut to the exact size of the plastic container tends to result in crickets dying sooner.
I've no explanation why but just an observation the pet shop owner has passed to me.

 

[Rogue5861]

Adelaide pet shops are 3 for $12 (pieces brand). Used to be 3 for $10.


Rick

 

[Rogue5861]

Most pet shops in Syd sell 2 containers for $15.
Sorry I can't remember the brand names of cricket suppliers (to pet shops) but there's one who uses smaller egg cartons in the containers & the crickets strive longer in them.
The other brand where the egg carton is cut to the exact size of the plastic container tends to result in crickets dying sooner.
I've no explanation why but just an observation the pet shop owner has passed to me.

Small carton ones are "SA mealworm breeders"? Full ones are "Pieces Enterprise".


Rick

 

[Thyla]

Small ones could be biosupplies (who have been bought by Aquatic Solutions I believe?).
Biosupplies crickets I have found to be far better quality than Pieces, they also contain less unwanted pests than Pieces.
Yes some pet shops will sell 2 for $15 but that only because the stock is old and most have died off. Always have a good look at the crickets inside. Pay attention to the state of the carrot. The older and moldier the carrot, the higher chance the crickets will be in bad shape and die soon after buying.
My two sense worth...

 

[Cypher69]

Yeah the Pieces Enterprise seem to perish faster.
There always seems to be more humidity trapped with the bigger size egg cartons used.
And the other brand also has air holes on the sides, not just on the lid.

 

[Rogue5861]

Sa mealworms ones come with a different substrate to the pieces ones, alot drier and the crickets seem alot healthier.

I just bulk buy my crickets now, alot cheaper if your feeding multiple animals (or even one juvi beardie).


Rick

 

[ronhalling]

Ok this info is from a bulk breeder in the Northern Rivers Distric of NSW : (Q) why leave the carrot 2 hours before putting in with the crickets (A) upon cutting the carrot nature has equiped it with a clotting factor in the form of betacaratine, if you put the carrot str8 in with the crickets the betacaratine forms a slime covering on the carrot to ensure no more moisture is lost from the open pores, so unless your crickets inundate the carrot enmass they will be defeated and hence they will get no moisture from the carrot and it shrivels and then rots, just make sure after 2 hours you completely wipe the carrot peices with paper towel to remove the protective slime. this breeder recomends taking the crickets out of the chinese or travel containers and putting them in a 7 lt systema on a bed of priority kitty litter (this not only lowers the humidity but also helps to remove CO2 from their environment, take the egg box hide out from the travel container and replace it with enough new egg carton to cover the entire bottom of the systema, this prevents overcrowding in the cells and stops the crickets from cooking themselves with contact heat, then empty the entire contents of 2 packets of gutload and the equivalent amount of fine calcium powder on top of the egg carton cells. he also recoments a 4w heat mat with thermostat set to 26-28 deg c for the cooler months. He also reckons that if every month you put the used kitty litter into another 7 lt systema with egg box cells and have it on a 4 watt heat mat and thermostat set to 30 deg, it is not uncommon for your crickets to have layed eggs in the substrate and you might end up with a second generation hatch. I hope this was helpfull to those having probs with their crickets, the info was from a reputable breeder who supplies the pet shops ....................Ron