Crickets

[J-Man]

Hi I'm gonna be receiving my first large order of crickets (1000)... I usually just get like 5 dozen at the petstore. Anyway, I've been reading about how to keep them but I figured I'd ask here because I always get great responses from this forum. What would be a basic setup for 1000 1/4 crix? I have a small garbage can with a screen top currently... would that do? Also what should I put in with them? I've heard empty egg carriers, are there any other (better) things to use? I also have cricket feed (flukes, calcium fortified) to feed them. Basically any input is appreciated. Thanks!

[lordkovacs]

i'd supplement the cricket feed with some carrots. they are also good at giving some moisture in the form of food. also, you'll want to get a shallow dish and put those cotton pads (I don't know how to describe them better, sorry!). use these to douse with water. depending on the dish size, you may need two. the garbage can is ok, but to me, for only 1/4's, it seems too deep. every time you reach in you'll get a bunch clinging to your sleeve... not only that, it's dark so it will be hard to grab some.... more clumsy is what I'm trying to get at. perhaps a large rubbermaid, with a large hole cut out hte top and put some very fine screen so they can't get out. perhaps that would be good. just some thoughts...
MIKE

[J-Man]

Sounds coolio. Are the cotton pads you're talking about just round circle pads made out of cotton a little smaller than the size of your palm? If so I know what you're talkin about lol.

What about the question of what to put in with them? Are those cardboard egg cases ok?

[Linds]

Scrap the flukers stuff and go with your own food. They don't really need any additional water as they can get it from their food as well. They do well on high calcium greens (collards, dandelion, etc), fruits (kiwi, melon, etc), veggies (zucchini, cucumber, pepper, etc), and grains (see <a href="http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=165374#post165374">my mealie recipe</a> for some of the grains; they will also eat grain breads, etc). I keep my crickets in a substrate of pine shavings and egg crate and it seems to work fine.

[J-Man]

Sounds good. Thanks a lot both of you.

[lordkovacs]

no worries... and yes i was talking about those circle ones, however, they get dirty easy so you do need to change them. you can't have unhealthy crickets! haha... cottom batting works well too, but the circles come in a nice pretty bag! haha... j/k. If you can weekly cut up some fruit/veg. as linds has suggested, might be more economical. I personally have used carrots, cucumber, and a melon, but carrots are fav. for me cause they last a while, and you can just buy one of those small bags of baby peeled carrots and stick a couple in. Good luck...
MIKE