Baby crickets in cage, has anyone seen this before?

[traxfish]

Today I was checking on my A. seemani and found a couple dozen or so baby crickets. I wasn't sure how much of a problem this is, if any, but I decided to clean out the tarantula's cage anyway. Anyone had this happen before, and how do I prevent it?

 

[GartenSpinnen]

This is very common issue. The only harmful thing about it is that they probably are an annoyance and seem to get in the water dish and drown. To remedy the situation in the future, let the tank dry out and place a full water dish inside the tank, taking care as to not splash any anywhere else in the enclosure. Leave the water dish in there, and repeat the process every day with a full clean water dish. Every day you will find dead baby crickets floating in the water dish. That should clear it up almost completely for you. If you get tired of it, switch to roaches .

Cheers

 

[traxfish]

Thanks for the prompt response. I flooding the water dish in the cage, and noticed an hour later the tarantula staying on top of the wet soil. I figured this meant he/she wanted more moisture. I will know in the future that the baby crickets are not that big of a deal. I had it on bed-a-beast, but now I have it on potting soil, but I noticed that it doesn't hold moisture as well. I have thought about trying peat moss as a substrate, how is that for a moisture-loving burrower?

 

[ShellsandScales]

Thanks for the prompt response. I flooding the water dish in the cage, and noticed an hour later the tarantula staying on top of the wet soil. I figured this meant he/she wanted more moisture. I will know in the future that the baby crickets are not that big of a deal. I had it on bed-a-beast, but now I have it on potting soil, but I noticed that it doesn't hold moisture as well. I have thought about trying peat moss as a substrate, how is that for a moisture-loving burrower?

I just use chemical free peat from the hardware store. Cheaper than buying it from the pet store. Personally I love it anytime there are baby crickets that I didn't have to raise. Free sling food!!!! Otherwise If it really bugs you don't leave female crickets uneaten in the T's cage.

 

[DreadLobster]

They're not a problem except for the fact that they can escape more easily and they're probably too small for the tarantula to even pay attention to. Just an annoyance. Female crickets are the ones with the needle sticking out of their butts. Thats how they lay their eggs in the dirt. So if you don't want them in with your t's, separate the females in another cage until they lay their eggs. Throw some food in, and if they grow up, it'll save you a trip to the pet store.