I'm having good success with organic soul with percolate and another natural water absorbant
It's covered with small Mexican pebbles
Getting the correct water used and plants is all needed
when getting crickets from large bin give it a good kick or shake to knock the crickets down of perches.
when I did use crickets I would put 50 or so into a gut load enclosure that you buy....it has the black tubes they crawl up in to hide, which allow you to take them out without fear of...
If you live in Chicagoland I could give
Actually a swap between breeders would be a smart thing to do
Or get as many breeders as you can and swap in a round way
Id either cover the walls with a cement type board or spray on expanding insulation....which can be in dark colors....it would look like massive tree trunks