Water crystals

[jdog1027]

I have bred crickets for years and years. I've tried several different watering methods. I've used everything from DIY water dispensers made from 20oz. drink bottles to paper towels in a dish soaked with water, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. When I first saw the water crystals hit the shelves years ago, the word 'gimmick' was just ringing out in my head at high volumes. I just didn't think that they were anything more than just that- a gimmick. I had a table at reptile show 3 weeks ago and talked to the people next table over from Premium Crickets. I picked them for details about their process, and the subject of watering and water crystals came up. He gave me a good sized packet of them to try out, because I was skeptical. Well, long story short, I have lost 3-4 batches in a row after taking out the standard paper towel waterer I make them. I have fairly consistent luck at raising crickets. I had over 100 Veileds hatch out about 2 months ago, and I have never had to order small crickets for feeders. I've always enjoyed a self-sufficient approach as to not have to depend on anyone but myself to provide what I need. It's very gratifying to me. I had to break down and order crickets last night because I have run out of 1/4"s and the only thing I have changed about my process is using these water crystals. Honestly, do all you members out there that use these things have success with them??? I can't help but think this change in my case has led to these batches to fail. Any testamonials, opinions and suggesstions will be greatly welcomed.

 

[ShortStack]

I have successfully bred crickets about a month ago, and have been using water crystals to hydrate them from a week after birth. I use them for my superworm beetles as well. NEVER had an issue using them.

 

[moviemanmania]

Do you think they drowned? Or were they thirsty to where they started cannibalizing each other? I use potatoes and lots of greens and a small dish of water crystals for the breeding colony. The most die off I have is from the damn virus that kills most of my breeding crickets.

 

[jdog1027]

Drowned? I have always used the paper towel or water dispenser and you will inevitably have some drownees, but it is a sub-fraction compared to how many seem to survive ok. I decide to give these water crrystals a try, and had a batch of 2000-3000 die out over a period of 4-5 days. Same feed, vegetables, temperatures etc., only instead of having the paper towel water dish I had the crystals. This has repeated over the last 3-4 batches I've hatched out. I am switching back to the paper towels to see if there is a change for the better. I considered the possibilty of having aquired the CrPV virus, but none of my older or previously grown batches seem to be dying off. Note: I only switched the water crystals to my pinheads- I continue to offer water dispensers to the 3/8" and up, becuse they are much less likely to drown than pinheads. Is there a specific formula for mixing the crytals? It had no insrtuctins at all on the packet, so I just added water until small crystals formed. Would this even make a difference?

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

There's no formula for making them, just add water until they're bigger. I don't breed crickets myself but I order bulk week old crickets and often have a good amount of those reach near adult size before they're fed off. I have always used water crystals and have never had a single problem with them. I like how easy and clean they are and have successfully kept thousands of crickets for months per batch on water crystals for hydration. Fwiw. Sucks about yours though.

 

[Whammo72]

This is a good question. I have had no problems with giving crickets about 1/8 inch and slightly smaller water crystals I have not tried with pinheads. I mix one ounce with 3/4 gallon water so its not too sloppy wet (normal is 1 once with one gallon water). The last couple times I tried to breed I had the idea of putting hydrated water crystals in with the breeding substrate to keep it moist and had 0 crickets... I was thinking maybe the crystals actually absorbed all the water instead of helping hydrate. I'm not sure.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Perhaps there is something in the particular crystals you have.
WHile I generally dont use water crystals (using fruit and veg as primary hydration source) I recently tried some of the new Repashy stuff. I havent noticed any problem with it.

 

[carol5208]

I use oranges. Never used any kind of water crystals or paper towels, etc. I just got some crickets and I just cut up some orange slices. Kammerflage Kreations gave me that idea.

 

[jdog1027]

This is a good question. I have had no problems with giving crickets about 1/8 inch and slightly smaller water crystals I have not tried with pinheads. I mix one ounce with 3/4 gallon water so its not too sloppy wet (normal is 1 once with one gallon water). The last couple times I tried to breed I had the idea of putting hydrated water crystals in with the breeding substrate to keep it moist and had 0 crickets... I was thinking maybe the crystals actually absorbed all the water instead of helping hydrate. I'm not sure.

Thank you for the measurments, I will try this, as I was not putting anywhere near that much water into the crystals. I also considered using them in the hatch substrate for cricket eggs, but if you had bad luck I'll refrain.

Perhaps there is something in the particular crystals you have.
WHile I generally dont use water crystals (using fruit and veg as primary hydration source) I recently tried some of the new Repashy stuff. I havent noticed any problem with it.

The crystals were given to me by the Premium Cricket table at the show. I sure that these are the same crystals they use. I'll have to see about the differences with different 'brands' of them. I also provide vegetables at all times, but I've always used a waterer of some type as well.

I use oranges. Never used any kind of water crystals or paper towels, etc. I just got some crickets and I just cut up some orange slices. Kammerflage Kreations gave me that idea.

Vegetables are always provided in mine as mentioned, but I always have a back up waterer. I live in Alabama and summer months are punishing, so I always have 2 hydration methods through vegetables and a waterer.


Thanks for all the suggestions and replies. Thanks also Ferret, Shortstack and Moviemania