Crickets Dying and Turning black

[BryanP]

Like the title says,

Crickets will show up ok but after a week or so they start to die off and turn black.

I buy 500 at a time and house with lots of egg crate.

I use bug burger and cricket crack and I also have 1 water pillow from Zilla.

I have a heat lamp since its in the low 60s where I live and with the IR thermometer the egg crate is in the 60s - 80s F

I am wondering if that is a symptom of dehydration?

Thanks

 

[Dragon1516]

take the heat lamp out thats the problem they are insects they don't need it 60 is not too cold for them.

 

[Dragon1516]

And offer more water crystals or what ever you put in there to hydrate them.

 

[Michelle Maxwell]

You know mine do that too get then and the next day some are dead its frustrating cuz then the others stat to die off cuz I will NOT put my hand in the container to get the dead ones out

 

[Dragon1516]

crickets die it happens keeping the container clean is key in lowering that number.

 

[BryanP]

Thanks everyone.

I think I will remove the heat lamp and I am getting a cricket waterer so that they will have plenty of water.

What do you guys use to clean the container? I have been told just water but wonder if I should use some sort of disinfectant?

 

[Graves923]

Clean container and no addition heating should keep the die off low. I keep around 300 small crickets at any one time. I keep them in two separate containers each with about 150 crickets so they arent overcrowded. I dont have any water crystals or other water sources in the containers as they get all the hydration they need from the fresh veggies I feed in addition to the dry gutload. I just finished feeding off one container and had maybe 3 or 4 dead crickets out of the around 150-200 I kept in there.

I also keep them in the storage cabinet under my chams enclosure so they arent stressed with the house lights on. Crickets naturally stay in the darkness as they are nocturnal.

 

[Graves923]

Thanks everyone.

I think I will remove the heat lamp and I am getting a cricket waterer so that they will have plenty of water.

What do you guys use to clean the container? I have been told just water but wonder if I should use some sort of disinfectant?

I use water and a little dish soap. Just make sure to rinse well and dry before adding crickets.

 

[JacksJill]

You may need a larger container. 64 Qt or 12 Gallon size and only warm one end so they can warm or cool as necessary.
Ventilate the lid by adding a glued in screen in the top and/or sides. Tape or vaseline around the top to keep them in.

 

[Nadine83]

To me it sounds like your crickets are in poor health from the start (from company you purchased them from.) If too many crickets turn black and die it's typically due to underlying illness/disease. Crickets can handle extra heat (especially if breeding, heat is needed). Keep the heat to one side of tank. That way they can move if they get too warm. Be sure to have adequate ventilation (stale air can bring poor health and mold which will kill crickets quickly.) Clean cages once a week and Change out egg cartons and food when soiled/old. Remove all dead/ ill crickets so they don't spread disease to the healthy stock. Personally though I would try ordering from a different supplier.

 

[Ilike4hornedchams]

My 2 cents, I was having the same exact issue, buying 500 cts and having MASSIVE cricket plagues killing of 80% in just a week on rare occasion but it turns out giving them more heat (I use a heat pad not a light but lights are most recommended), seems to do them wonders! I only see a max of maybe 50 die off now. Huge improvement. To improve further I should start using a heat lamp, and provide more water (I feed them real veggies and bug burger tho which they love and repashy hydroload, but it gets eaten so fast, yet if I put in too much it molds super fast too, like 2 or 3 days and its not a health hazard to the crickets.. A balance is tricky)