Has anyone else done this? Right now I've got a 20 litre rubbermaid bin set up with some soil (approx 3 inches) in the bottom, some orange wedges for them to eat, and I'm working on a water dish for them. I've got approx 4 dozen crickets in there and it's been 4 days without a single death that I can see. Does this sound good to anyone else? And how long should I expect to have to wait before I have some little ones running round?
Breeding Crickets
- Thread starter Nathan`
- Start date
KEEPING ADULTS..........
* USE A 48"x24"x16" PLYWOOD BOX
* STOCK 2-4,000 PER BOX
* PLACE 2" WIDE PLASTIC TAPE ON THE VERTICAL BOX WALLS 2" DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE BOX TO PREVENT CRICKETS OF ALL SIZES FROM ESCAPING.
* USE 10 CARDBOARD EGG FLATS (12"x12") FOR THE CRICKETS CASA.
* USE A ONE QUART JAR DRINKER FOR WATER. PLACE 2 PAPER TOWELS IN WATER RING TO PREVENT CRICKETS FROM DROWNING.
* KEEP WATER CLEAN AS NEEDED.
* USE SOW OR CHICKEN FEED AS A FOOD. PLACE FOOD ON A PLATE.
* KEEP FRESH FOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.
* YOUR CRICKETS CAN LIVE AT 80-96 DEGREES, BUT THE BEST TEMPERATURE FOR EGG LAYING IS 88-92 F.
GETTING EGGS..............
* FIND A PLASTIC BOX (RUBBERMAID PRODUCT?) WITH A TIGHT FITTING LID. 12"x8"x3" DEEP.
* PLACE 20 SMALL (1/16") HOLES IN LID OF BOX.
* FILL BOX WITH MOIST SOIL OR HUMUS.
* PLACE THE BOX WITHOUT THE LID INTO THE ADULT CRICKETS.
* PLACE THE EGG FLATS OVER THE LAYING BOX SO CRICKETS CAN CLIMB INSIDE FOR LAYING.
* LEAVE EGG BOX WITH ADULTS FOR 8-12 HOURS.
* YOU MAY PLACE A SECOND EGG BOX IN WITH THE SAME GROUP OF ADULTS EVERY 4 DAYS IF NEEDED.
INCUBATING EGGS..............
* TAKE EGGS AND REMOVE ANY DEAD CRICKETS FROM THE SOIL OR HUMUS.(IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS THEN FLIES WILL LAY EGGS ON THE DEAD CRICKETS AND THE FLY MAGGOTS WILL EAT ALL YOUR CRICKET EGGS.)
* PLACE TIGHT FITTING LID ON BOX AND SET BOX OF EGGS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS 80-92 DEGREES.
* AT 82 F THE EGGS WILL HATCH IN 12-16 DAYS.
* AT 92 F THE EGGS WILL HATCH IN 9-10 DAYS.
* START A NEW GROUP OF EGGS INCUBATING ONCE A WEEK.
GROWING BABY CRICKETS..............
* WHEN YOU SEE THE BABIES HATCHING, PLACE THE ENTIRE EGG BOX ONTO THE FLOOR OF A WOODEN BOX THE SAME SIZE AS YOUR ADULTS.
* PLACE FINELY GROUND CHICK FEED ON THE BARE WOODEN FLOOR OF THE GROWING BOX.
* REMOVE THE LID FROM THE EGG BOX AND PLACE A LARGE PIECE OF CARDBOARD EGG FLAT INTO THE BOX OF BABIES SO THAT THE BABIES CAN CLIMB OUT OF THE HATCHING BOX ON THEIR OWN.
* HATCHING WILL TAKE 2-3 DAYS FROM YOUR EGG/BABY BOXES.
* BABIES MUST GET THEIR WATER FROM WET SPONGES PLACED IN SHALLOW LIDS THAT ARE 1/2" DEEP AND 2-3" IN DIAMETER.
* CUT THE SPONGES SO THEY FIT THE LIDS PERFECTLY.
* BABY CRICKETS WILL DIEIF THEY CAN TOUCH STANDING WATER.
* WASH OUT THE SPONGES WELL AND WET AGAIN DAILY.
* WHEN THE BABY CRICKETS HAVE REACHED A SIZE OF 1/4-3/8" THEN YOU CAN USE THE SAME WATERING SYSTEM THAT IS USED FOR THE ADULTS.
* KEEP THE GROWING BOX OF BABY CRICKETS AT 80-94 DEGREES. THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE FOR GROWTH IS 92 F.
* AT IDEAL TEMPERATURES THE BABIES WILL BEGIN EGG LAYING AT 6-7 WEEKS OF AGE AND AT A SIZE OF ONE INCH.
GENERAL CARE............
* TEMPERATURE AND GOOD FOOD ARE THE KEYS TO BREEDING CRICKETS.
* ALWAYS USE A HIGH QUALITY FEED. YOUR REPTILES WILL NOT LIVE AND BREED WELL IF YOU TRY TO SAVE MONEY BY USING CHEAP FEED OR GARBAGE SCRAPS.
* ALWAYS KEEP THE BOTTOM OF THE WOODEN CRICKET BOXES CLEAN OF FECES AND DEAD CRICKETS.
* CRICKETS ONLY LIVE 7 1/'2 WEEKS.
* MAKE SURE MICE, RATS, SPIDERS AND ANTS CAN NOT GET TO YOUR CRICKETS.
* USE A 48"x24"x16" PLYWOOD BOX
* STOCK 2-4,000 PER BOX
* PLACE 2" WIDE PLASTIC TAPE ON THE VERTICAL BOX WALLS 2" DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE BOX TO PREVENT CRICKETS OF ALL SIZES FROM ESCAPING.
* USE 10 CARDBOARD EGG FLATS (12"x12") FOR THE CRICKETS CASA.
* USE A ONE QUART JAR DRINKER FOR WATER. PLACE 2 PAPER TOWELS IN WATER RING TO PREVENT CRICKETS FROM DROWNING.
* KEEP WATER CLEAN AS NEEDED.
* USE SOW OR CHICKEN FEED AS A FOOD. PLACE FOOD ON A PLATE.
* KEEP FRESH FOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.
* YOUR CRICKETS CAN LIVE AT 80-96 DEGREES, BUT THE BEST TEMPERATURE FOR EGG LAYING IS 88-92 F.
GETTING EGGS..............
* FIND A PLASTIC BOX (RUBBERMAID PRODUCT?) WITH A TIGHT FITTING LID. 12"x8"x3" DEEP.
* PLACE 20 SMALL (1/16") HOLES IN LID OF BOX.
* FILL BOX WITH MOIST SOIL OR HUMUS.
* PLACE THE BOX WITHOUT THE LID INTO THE ADULT CRICKETS.
* PLACE THE EGG FLATS OVER THE LAYING BOX SO CRICKETS CAN CLIMB INSIDE FOR LAYING.
* LEAVE EGG BOX WITH ADULTS FOR 8-12 HOURS.
* YOU MAY PLACE A SECOND EGG BOX IN WITH THE SAME GROUP OF ADULTS EVERY 4 DAYS IF NEEDED.
INCUBATING EGGS..............
* TAKE EGGS AND REMOVE ANY DEAD CRICKETS FROM THE SOIL OR HUMUS.(IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS THEN FLIES WILL LAY EGGS ON THE DEAD CRICKETS AND THE FLY MAGGOTS WILL EAT ALL YOUR CRICKET EGGS.)
* PLACE TIGHT FITTING LID ON BOX AND SET BOX OF EGGS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS 80-92 DEGREES.
* AT 82 F THE EGGS WILL HATCH IN 12-16 DAYS.
* AT 92 F THE EGGS WILL HATCH IN 9-10 DAYS.
* START A NEW GROUP OF EGGS INCUBATING ONCE A WEEK.
GROWING BABY CRICKETS..............
* WHEN YOU SEE THE BABIES HATCHING, PLACE THE ENTIRE EGG BOX ONTO THE FLOOR OF A WOODEN BOX THE SAME SIZE AS YOUR ADULTS.
* PLACE FINELY GROUND CHICK FEED ON THE BARE WOODEN FLOOR OF THE GROWING BOX.
* REMOVE THE LID FROM THE EGG BOX AND PLACE A LARGE PIECE OF CARDBOARD EGG FLAT INTO THE BOX OF BABIES SO THAT THE BABIES CAN CLIMB OUT OF THE HATCHING BOX ON THEIR OWN.
* HATCHING WILL TAKE 2-3 DAYS FROM YOUR EGG/BABY BOXES.
* BABIES MUST GET THEIR WATER FROM WET SPONGES PLACED IN SHALLOW LIDS THAT ARE 1/2" DEEP AND 2-3" IN DIAMETER.
* CUT THE SPONGES SO THEY FIT THE LIDS PERFECTLY.
* BABY CRICKETS WILL DIEIF THEY CAN TOUCH STANDING WATER.
* WASH OUT THE SPONGES WELL AND WET AGAIN DAILY.
* WHEN THE BABY CRICKETS HAVE REACHED A SIZE OF 1/4-3/8" THEN YOU CAN USE THE SAME WATERING SYSTEM THAT IS USED FOR THE ADULTS.
* KEEP THE GROWING BOX OF BABY CRICKETS AT 80-94 DEGREES. THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE FOR GROWTH IS 92 F.
* AT IDEAL TEMPERATURES THE BABIES WILL BEGIN EGG LAYING AT 6-7 WEEKS OF AGE AND AT A SIZE OF ONE INCH.
GENERAL CARE............
* TEMPERATURE AND GOOD FOOD ARE THE KEYS TO BREEDING CRICKETS.
* ALWAYS USE A HIGH QUALITY FEED. YOUR REPTILES WILL NOT LIVE AND BREED WELL IF YOU TRY TO SAVE MONEY BY USING CHEAP FEED OR GARBAGE SCRAPS.
* ALWAYS KEEP THE BOTTOM OF THE WOODEN CRICKET BOXES CLEAN OF FECES AND DEAD CRICKETS.
* CRICKETS ONLY LIVE 7 1/'2 WEEKS.
* MAKE SURE MICE, RATS, SPIDERS AND ANTS CAN NOT GET TO YOUR CRICKETS.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 861
Check a recent post by "Dragoon" in this section. She has got it perfected to a science. Probably within the last week or two. Her post has photos and everything.
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2005
- Messages
- 603
What do you want the crickets for? as feeders or to just breed and watch. This will determin the best way of keeping them. To breed as feeders, you should have a sand base dry, with plenty of hides. The dry sand will prevent an mite infestation, or other unwanted guests. Provide lots of wet food, like cucumber,tomato, carrots etc. Then introduce your breeding pots as mentioned above.
If its for funn, then just leave them to it, they need warm damp soil to lay and incubate. hatchlings come out around 7 - 14 days after laying. However cickets, especialy black feild crickets are vissious, canables, and will dig up eggs and eat them. Not to worry though they lay hundreds, and you will soon be over run with little babys.
If you do not have any dead, or aduts missing limbs id say your doing good.
If its for funn, then just leave them to it, they need warm damp soil to lay and incubate. hatchlings come out around 7 - 14 days after laying. However cickets, especialy black feild crickets are vissious, canables, and will dig up eggs and eat them. Not to worry though they lay hundreds, and you will soon be over run with little babys.
If you do not have any dead, or aduts missing limbs id say your doing good.