Breeding and enclosure types

[Brock]

What kind of enclosures do you guys have that you breed your cresties in. I have a very natural 20g, moss covered, a vew sticks that span the length of the cage, pothos, ficus, and christmas cactus. I've noticed most breeders use very simple enclosures, such as a few sticks going from end to end for climbing, newspaper/paper towel substrate, and a few dishes for water, food and fruit.

I've had animals in natural vivaria before and have been unsuccessful when I try to breed them, and I don't know why that is because all their needs are met. Now I have two very nice cresties and don't want to blow it, so should I try the more simple enclosures like many breeders do? I've got a large extra plastic storage container that would do quite nicely.

Also, I just got my male, and I've had my female for a year, is it too late in the season for them to start breeding although they are both of breeding age/health? Should I keep them separate until next spring? And what tempuratures do you guys have breeding pairs at in the daytime?

-Brock

[mmichele]

how old is your male natural enclosures will do fine do you dust your crickets what kind of friut mixture do you use. your females age is fine but if i were you i would hold of at least 1 more month. I would separate them till next spring. just room temputure is fine

[Cloudkicker]

Hi Brock, I keep all my breeders in pairs in the largest of the exo-terra tanks. They're all set up with live plants grapevine and corkbark with a nestbox hidden in the back. I keep all my babies on paper towel in kritter keepers until I am satisfied that they won't injest any substrate if they miss a cricket. As for keeping the tank simple or complex for breeding, it doesn't really matter, cresteds will usually breed either way. I personally keep my pairs together most of the year round and only seperate them a couple months before breeding season to allow them to bulk up. Lastly, my daytime temperatures are somewhere around 78F-80F and my night time temperature is around 74F-75F. Hope this helps you,
-Andrew-