Crickets are dying at an incredible rate

[joejoe519]

I buy a hundred crickets and 50 die. I have them in a medium plastic reptile container. Lid on top with plenty of ventilation. I feed them flukers cricket food and quencher. I have egg carton for them to hide in.
Do they need light? I keep them warm but in the dark constantly.
Any tips or links to a good thread for keeping crickets????

 

[SuperRad]

Hmmm. Are they drowning? you using cricket gels? Temps should be about 70-80 . I don't keep mine in the dark, but i'm s ure that shouldn't be a problem. Is the container your using sterile? Was it cleaned with non harmful chemicals?

 

[ChromaChameleons]

How long are you trying to make 100 last?? Are they fully grown. They could be dying of old age or canabalising themselves.

 

[ChromaChameleons]

and what are you gutloading with?

 

[DarkRapture]

ventilation is key!

also, how warm are you keeping them? anywhere between 75-85F is the best.

how quickly are they dieing? i usually get about 100 adult crix at a time and a few die each day for whatever reasons; when i get 100 or so medium crickets, i only have a few die in a few days. it seems the bigger the habitat, the fewer die - at least that is what i've noticed in my experience.

TIPS:
*fresh food everyday - veggies & greens & dry gutload
*for the fresh food try to use only what they can eat in a day, it will become moldy or rotten and cause an outbreak of bacteria killing off a bunch of the crix
*water every day (sponge, moist paper towel, or special watering system)
*provide cross ventilation in the cage/container if possible
*full aluminum screen opening in the lid ~ if homemade
*place egg carton vertical so poop and dead crix don't collect in piles inside, instead it all falls to the bottom
*sweep out dead crix and poops a few times a week - everyday if there is a high mortality rate
*total darkness is ok but having a day/night cycle may benefit survival

well, i hope that at least some of that was useful. and if i forgot anything....

 

[joejoe519]

Thanks for all the help. I have not been using any veg. for gutload. I use the dry flukers food only. Maybe they are getting too cold in my basement. I live in Canada. Anyways, thanks for the tips.