Help me on Crickets

[wosh]

Hi, Everyone
I am a newbie here, but I read a lot and research a lot.
The only problems I am facing is The feeder crickets.
They die so easily and smell so bad. I live in Maryland and I usually bought 500 of crickets at once. But they only last about 2 weeks. I feed 10 to 15 per day, the rest are died in the tank.
I set up the tank like other people did base on reading posts and youtube videos.
I don't know it's because now is winter and they just cant live as long as people said, or I just dont know how to take care of them.

I current use Superworms for food sources and crickets from petsmart(pricey) .
I've been reading some people said Superworm is too fat and cant be the main diet. But they are much easier to keep.

Please help me here how to keep my crickets alive
Or is there any other insects worth to breed and lower the cost.
ＮＯ　ＲＯＡＣＨＥＳ！　I am afraid of them. 　

 

[teoo OoT]

get a big critter keeper and put some of the small reptile wood chips down in it, thats what i do and it doesnt smell at all now.

 

[SoCal Soldier]

Hi, Everyone
I am a newbie here, but I read a lot and research a lot.
The only problems I am facing is The feeder crickets.
They die so easily and smell so bad. I live in Maryland and I usually bought 500 of crickets at once. But they only last about 2 weeks. I feed 10 to 15 per day, the rest are died in the tank.
I set up the tank like other people did base on reading posts and youtube videos.
I don't know it's because now is winter and they just cant live as long as people said, or I just dont know how to take care of them.

I current use Superworms for food sources and crickets from petsmart(pricey) .
I've been reading some people said Superworm is too fat and cant be the main diet. But they are much easier to keep.

Please help me here how to keep my crickets alive
Or is there any other insects worth to breed and lower the cost.
ＮＯ　ＲＯＡＣＨＥＳ！　I am afraid of them. 　

Hey well how many animals are you feeding those 500 crickets too? Cause I usually buy 250 for my Cham and two crested geckos and I ususally stock up again bi-weekly with minimal loss. I use the big cricket keeper with all the tubes and extra egg cartons and plenty of food and water cubes. If they are bunched up they will kill each other. and the smell is a given but that's why I don't buy over 250 so by the time the smell barly kicks in im already out of crickets. This is a basic way, soon I am going to make a container to hold more but the main thing is do not let them bunch up in a small container, plenty of ventilation, plenty of food and water. As for the cold try putting it somewhere warmer or make something like wrapping a blanket or something I am sure someone has a cure for the cold weather on here. Good Luck and Welcome!

 

[fluxlizard]

Adult crickets only live a few weeks. Buy 1/2 to 3/4" crickets.

 

[Albula]

Get a wide spackling knife and clean the poop out of the tank every other day.

 

[mabrams]

Go to Walmart, and buy a plastic storage container with a lid - something medium sized, say 18" by 12", and make sure it's deep enough that they can't hop out when you open it (maybe 10"). Cut a large "window" on each side, and hot glue some screen over these windows. This ventilation will make all the difference in keeping the smell down, and reducing die off. Make sure they have a source of moisture - either moist fruits/veggies, changed often, or a moist crystal type product like "Fluker's Cricket Quencher". Don't buy them too large, and remove any dead crickets promptly - if done right, there should be very little die off. One more suggestion - try changing your cricket source, if they keep dying. You may not be starting with healthy crickets.

 

[happiness]

I'm having issues with my crickets as well and I live in maryland too!

I purchased 1000 of them and am out in about a month.. when I only use 13-17 per day.. should last me 2 months but they don't :\ and I have the recommended setup & I purchase 1/8th size.

Would love to know the secret to keeping and breeding them! :\