Gnats in my Crickets

[Phoenixguy77]

So I've been trying to start a cricket colony for about 3 months and it goes great for about 3 weeks then it seems that it gets over run with gnats ... any sugestions?

 

[carol5208]

You mean fruit flies? Do you change your fruit and veggies out everyday? If not, that could be causing your problem.

 

[Phoenixguy77]

No its not fruit flies is gnats. i change out everything everyday even change the egg crate every few days.

 

[carol5208]

wow that's weird! I wonder where they come from and what they are attracted to?. Do you have a light in there that would attract them? I have gotten those little fruit flies before but not gnats! Wish I could help ya on that one!!!

 

[kinyonga]

Do they walk with a jerky motion?

 

[Phoenixguy77]

what do you mean by do they walk in a jerky motion?

 

[sandrachameleon]

She means, when the "gnats" move, do they move in straight lines or kinda jerk or twitch when they move? phorid flies have a kinda crazy zig-zag walk
Do they run or fly?
Do they have a hunchback appearance?

phorid flies like damp and fruit Gnats like moisture, so perhaps your bucket is too humid.
Fruit flies like fruit and veg, especially stuff that is well ripe.

 

[reptoman]

Are you putting a large tub with moist soil or something for the crickets to lay eggs in? Try putting just a couple of red plastic cups with some eco-earth(coco fiber). Get the eco-earth wet before putting the cups in. Put a piece of egg crate over top of the cups so the crix have a way to get to the dirt and the females will lay their eggs in there. Check it after a couple of days and spritz the cups to keep them from drying out. It gives gnats less of an area to lay their eggs in so you dont have so many. I have the same problem with my cricket bin. I also use water crystals to keep my crix hydrated and gnats dont breed in that. Hope this helps!

Almost forgot, take the cups out after you see they have been loaded up with eggs or the males will come along and eat them.