ari
Well-Known Member
This is what I do with Crickets - I have had 15x breeding females with 2x breeding males produce enough off spring to last just over 1 1/2 months for feeding - based on feeding 10 knob tails. As most of my knob tails were purchased as juveniles I have been feeding every day, but now every second day as they are almost full grown.
1) Get a big plastic container thats about 50 - 70cms deep so you dont need to use a lid - the lid even with holes in the top reduces air flow - this is why they die alot faster. Good airation is the key.
2) Put a 2-3cm layer of sand on the base of the container.
3) Through in some egg cartons, toilet rolls etc.
4) Food - cat food that is heigh in protein " Friskies " is the best @ 38% protein. And also Nutricia Karicare Gold babies whey dominant starter formula with 53mg of calcium.
5) Orange, apple, carrot, broccoli or lettuce.
6) Most important is moisture - many people believe that crickets get all their moisture just from the fruit & veg - not 100% accurate - get 2 pieces of sponge squeeze it to get rid of the air, then put it under the tap so it is full of water.
7) Small dishes, plastic containers that are about 2-3 cms deep - fill with either fine sand, peat moss etc ( must be kept moist - never let it dry out ) Change over containers every 4-5 days with new containers full of substrate.
8) Temperature very very important - 28 - 30 degrees all the time for breeding.
Incubate the trays in a plastic container with lids on, put holes in the lids for air. Incubate at 28-30 degrees for 2 weeks and then you will have pin heads.
The food for breeders is what you give the pin heads - dont need to crush up the food either. Protein & calcium is the key.
When changing containers full of eggs every 4-5 days, do the same for the wet sponges as crickets will lay in them as well. Keep sponges moist all the time as well.
I have had great success breeding crickets for over 15 years, as I used to use them as food for my Austraian Finches & parrots I used to breed.
Hope this is helpful.
Good luck saving money on crickets
Ari
1) Get a big plastic container thats about 50 - 70cms deep so you dont need to use a lid - the lid even with holes in the top reduces air flow - this is why they die alot faster. Good airation is the key.
2) Put a 2-3cm layer of sand on the base of the container.
3) Through in some egg cartons, toilet rolls etc.
4) Food - cat food that is heigh in protein " Friskies " is the best @ 38% protein. And also Nutricia Karicare Gold babies whey dominant starter formula with 53mg of calcium.
5) Orange, apple, carrot, broccoli or lettuce.
6) Most important is moisture - many people believe that crickets get all their moisture just from the fruit & veg - not 100% accurate - get 2 pieces of sponge squeeze it to get rid of the air, then put it under the tap so it is full of water.
7) Small dishes, plastic containers that are about 2-3 cms deep - fill with either fine sand, peat moss etc ( must be kept moist - never let it dry out ) Change over containers every 4-5 days with new containers full of substrate.
8) Temperature very very important - 28 - 30 degrees all the time for breeding.
Incubate the trays in a plastic container with lids on, put holes in the lids for air. Incubate at 28-30 degrees for 2 weeks and then you will have pin heads.
The food for breeders is what you give the pin heads - dont need to crush up the food either. Protein & calcium is the key.
When changing containers full of eggs every 4-5 days, do the same for the wet sponges as crickets will lay in them as well. Keep sponges moist all the time as well.
I have had great success breeding crickets for over 15 years, as I used to use them as food for my Austraian Finches & parrots I used to breed.
Hope this is helpful.
Good luck saving money on crickets
Ari