Cricket breeding / Set up

[Revival]

How many of you breed your own crickets? I have been considering doing this just to see how it goes. Any tips or advice you would like to share?

As far as their main enclosure, what do you guys think about this....I was told to use two bins instead of one. Cut the bottom out of the main bin and replace it wire mesh. Then place the first bin the second bin. This is for easier cleaning.

What do you guys think?

 

[Blink]

I breed my own crickets and I think it is definitely worth it. As far as bin goes, the bigger the better. I've never heard of the double bin mesh idea, but I'm not sure how well that would work as the crix would have a hard time walking on it. I just use one bin with a heating pad underneath for heat. Without heat, they won't breed. They need a dirt fllled laying bin for eggs. Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[Revival]

I breed my own crickets and I think it is definitely worth it. As far as bin goes, the bigger the better. I've never heard of the double bin mesh idea, but I'm not sure how well that would work as the crix would have a hard time walking on it. I just use one bin with a heating pad underneath for heat. Without heat, they won't breed. They need a dirt fllled laying bin for eggs. Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Thanks for the info! What size bins do you use? What is your method of cleaning it? If I dont visually see the females laying in the soil, how long before you transfer it to another bin? Would the pinheads need heat too?

As far as the mesh goes, I didnt even consider them having a hard time walking on it...haha. I assumed that if they can climb it, they could walk on it. Even for ventilation, what is the common mesh that people use so they cant chew on it? I believe I read not to use fiberglass?

 

[York1]

Blink can you post pics of your setup?

 

[junglefries]

Maintaining the hatchlings can be a LOT of work. Very easy to dehydrate or over/under heat. I prefer to buy quality crickets from a trusted source. Not saying it can't be done, it just wasn't my cup of tea. Easier to breed dubias and trade local pet store for boxes of crickets. Much easier.

 

[Blink]

Thanks for the info! What size bins do you use? What is your method of cleaning it? If I dont visually see the females laying in the soil, how long before you transfer it to another bin? Would the pinheads need heat too?

The current bin I am using for my breeding adult crickets is about 13x19x11. I periodically pick out dead crickets and clean out the poo with wet paper towels. Once in a while I will transfer the cricket out and clean thoroughly with hot water and antibacterial soap. You should only need to keep the soil in for about a week tops, less if you have a lot of crickets. You will need to incubate the eggs with heat and the pinheads as well, but once the babies start to grow, it really isn't necessary.

As far as the mesh goes, I didnt even consider them having a hard time walking on it...haha. I assumed that if they can climb it, they could walk on it. Even for ventilation, what is the common mesh that people use so they cant chew on it? I believe I read not to use fiberglass?

I put the ventilation hole and mesh on the top. That way, they can't really get to it, so it does't really matter what kind of mesh you use.

Here are some pics of my current set up. It is simple and I have WAY less adults breeding right now, but it should give you some idea. I apologize for the poor quality. Here ya go:

 

[Blink]

And another one.

 

[Blink]

Maintaining the hatchlings can be a LOT of work. Very easy to dehydrate or over/under heat. I prefer to buy quality crickets from a trusted source. Not saying it can't be done, it just wasn't my cup of tea. Easier to breed dubias and trade local pet store for boxes of crickets. Much easier.

Wish my cham ate dubia. As long as you provide the pinheads water via spraying their soil, they are fine. I barely lost a single pinhead. That's another thing: it is CRITICAL to keep the soil moist by spraying it every day when incubating the eggs.

 

[JoeVet]

Maintaining the hatchlings can be a LOT of work. Very easy to dehydrate or over/under heat. I prefer to buy quality crickets from a trusted source. Not saying it can't be done, it just wasn't my cup of tea. Easier to breed dubias and trade local pet store for boxes of crickets. Much easier.

Are your chameleons eating the dubias or are they for other animals/trading? Seems many don't have as much luck with them and their chameleons.

 

[Wowbango]

Are your chameleons eating the dubias or are they for other animals/trading? Seems many don't have as much luck with them and their chameleons.

My Cham LOVES Dubias. He will drop everything he's doing soon as he sees them. He will completely ignore other feeders if they're in there at the same time with him. I guess I'm lucky? I still mix in Crickets but many believe they can be left out of his diet as long as i'm mixing other things in.

 

[Blink]

Emoji only eats like two Dubias every month or so. I have now have a colony of pet roaches.

 

[Masked Gecko]

Maintaining the hatchlings can be a LOT of work. Very easy to dehydrate or over/under heat. I prefer to buy quality crickets from a trusted source. Not saying it can't be done, it just wasn't my cup of tea. Easier to breed dubias and trade local pet store for boxes of crickets. Much easier.

I agree but I also say it can't be done. Pinheads are fragile, I think it's just easier to get crickets in bulk. I also breed roaches, they are easy to me and my chameleons love them.

 

[nick barta]

Advice requested: Breed them in a garage or outbuilding, the stink won't be worth it!

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[Revival]

Here are some pics of my current set up. It is simple and I have WAY less adults breeding right now, but it should give you some idea. I apologize for the poor quality. Here ya go:


View attachment 109973

Thanks for the info and pics! So how long before you transfer the pinheads to their own bin? Do you use a heating pad or some type of heat source for the babies?

 

[Blink]

Thanks for the info and pics! So how long before you transfer the pinheads to their own bin? Do you use a heating pad or some type of heat source for the babies?

You're going to want to remove the eggs before they hatch, otherwise you'll have a disaster on your hands (pinheads vs giants! ), about a week after introducing the soil to the adults. Put the egg bin in a separate tank/bin with a heat source. The incubation period really depends on the temperature. Once all the pinheads hatch, I like to leave the soil in with them for a good week and a half to two weeks, just in case. You can remove the soil whenever you want after that, leaving the pinheads in the hatchling tank. During the summer, I only provide heat for the babies in the very beginning. During the winter, I heat them for longer. I find that they grow faster with the more heat provided. I do the entire process just using a single heating pad. First with the adults, then the eggs, then the pinheads, then back to the adults when I want to breed again. Hope this answers your questions.

 

[Revival]

You're going to want to remove the eggs before they hatch, otherwise you'll have a disaster on your hands (pinheads vs giants! ), about a week after introducing the soil to the adults. Put the egg bin in a separate tank/bin with a heat source. The incubation period really depends on the temperature. Once all the pinheads hatch, I like to leave the soil in with them for a good week and a half to two weeks, just in case. You can remove the soil whenever you want after that, leaving the pinheads in the hatchling tank. During the summer, I only provide heat for the babies in the very beginning. During the winter, I heat them for longer. I find that they grow faster with the more heat provided. I do the entire process just using a single heating pad. First with the adults, then the eggs, then the pinheads, then back to the adults when I want to breed again. Hope this answers your questions.

Excellent info! Thank you very much!

 

[Revival]

I plan on using a 18 gallon bin for the crickets. Do you guys think that ventilation on the top is enough or should I do mesh on the front and back too?

 

[Blink]

I plan on using a 18 gallon bin for the crickets. Do you guys think that ventilation on the top is enough or should I do mesh on the front and back too?

Well, I haven't had a problem with just the top, but it doesn't hurt to be on the safe side.

 

[ar15fonsi]

I just started myself , I'm prepping a bigger bin for them, but I placed a container with dirt and the females went to town on that dirt, for two days straight. Today I took the container out and saw a bunch of long semi see through things that I'm assuming it's the eggs.

Now just waiting for them to hatch, fingers crossed.

 

[NvC Dex]

I just started using crickets as a food source for my chams... My question is, How do you keep the bin of the crickets from getting so moist??