HOW TO KEEP & BREED CRICKETS

KEEPING ADULTS..........

• USE A 48"x24"x16" PLYWOOD BOX
• STOCK 2-4,000 PER BOX
• PLACE 2" WIDE PLASTIC TAPE ON THE VERTICAL BOX WALLS 2" DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE BOX TO PREVENT CRICKETS OF ALL SIZES FROM ESCAPING.
• USE 10 CARDBOARD EGG FLATS (12"x12") FOR THE CRICKETS CASA.
• USE A ONE QUART JAR DRINKER FOR WATER. PLACE 2 PAPER TOWELS IN WATER RING TO PREVENT CRICKETS FROM DROWNING.
• KEEP WATER CLEAN AS NEEDED.
• USE SOW OR CHICKEN FEED AS A FOOD. PLACE FOOD ON A PLATE.
• KEEP FRESH FOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.
• YOUR CRICKETS CAN LIVE AT 80-96 DEGREES, BUT THE BEST TEMPERATURE FOR EGG LAYING IS 88-92 F.

GETTING EGGS..............

• FIND A PLASTIC BOX (RUBBERMAID PRODUCT?) WITH A TIGHT FITTING LID. 12"x8"x3" DEEP.
• PLACE 20 SMALL (1/16") HOLES IN LID OF BOX.
• FILL BOX WITH MOIST SOIL OR HUMUS.
• PLACE THE BOX WITHOUT THE LID INTO THE ADULT CRICKETS.
• PLACE THE EGG FLATS OVER THE LAYING BOX SO CRICKETS CAN CLIMB INSIDE FOR LAYING.
• LEAVE EGG BOX WITH ADULTS FOR 8-12 HOURS.
• YOU MAY PLACE A SECOND EGG BOX IN WITH THE SAME GROUP OF ADULTS EVERY 4 DAYS IF NEEDED.

INCUBATING EGGS..............

• TAKE EGGS AND REMOVE ANY DEAD CRICKETS FROM THE SOIL OR HUMUS.(IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS THEN FLIES WILL LAY EGGS ON THE DEAD CRICKETS AND THE FLY MAGGOTS WILL EAT ALL YOUR CRICKET EGGS.)
• PLACE TIGHT FITTING LID ON BOX AND SET BOX OF EGGS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS 80-92 DEGREES.
• AT 82 F THE EGGS WILL HATCH IN 12-16 DAYS.
• AT 92 F THE EGGS WILL HATCH IN 9-10 DAYS.
• START A NEW GROUP OF EGGS INCUBATING ONCE A WEEK.

GROWING BABY CRICKETS..............

• WHEN YOU SEE THE BABIES HATCHING, PLACE THE ENTIRE EGG BOX ONTO THE FLOOR OF A WOODEN BOX THE SAME SIZE AS YOUR ADULTS.
• PLACE FINELY GROUND CHICK FEED ON THE BARE WOODEN FLOOR OF THE GROWING BOX.
• REMOVE THE LID FROM THE EGG BOX AND PLACE A LARGE PIECE OF CARDBOARD EGG FLAT INTO THE BOX OF BABIES SO THAT THE BABIES CAN CLIMB OUT OF THE HATCHING BOX ON THEIR OWN.
• HATCHING WILL TAKE 2-3 DAYS FROM YOUR EGG/BABY BOXES.
• BABIES MUST GET THEIR WATER FROM WET SPONGES PLACED IN SHALLOW LIDS THAT ARE 1/2" DEEP AND 2-3" IN DIAMETER.
• CUT THE SPONGES SO THEY FIT THE LIDS PERFECTLY.
• BABY CRICKETS WILL DIEIF THEY CAN TOUCH STANDING WATER.
• WASH OUT THE SPONGES WELL AND WET AGAIN DAILY.
• WHEN THE BABY CRICKETS HAVE REACHED A SIZE OF 1/4-3/8" THEN YOU CAN USE THE SAME WATERING SYSTEM THAT IS USED FOR THE ADULTS.
• KEEP THE GROWING BOX OF BABY CRICKETS AT 80-94 DEGREES. THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE FOR GROWTH IS 92 F.
• AT IDEAL TEMPERATURES THE BABIES WILL BEGIN EGG LAYING AT 6-7 WEEKS OF AGE AND AT A SIZE OF ONE INCH.

GENERAL CARE............

• TEMPERATURE AND GOOD FOOD ARE THE KEYS TO BREEDING CRICKETS.
• ALWAYS USE A HIGH QUALITY FEED. YOUR REPTILES WILL NOT LIVE AND BREED WELL IF YOU TRY TO SAVE MONEY BY USING CHEAP FEED OR GARBAGE SCRAPS.
• ALWAYS KEEP THE BOTTOM OF THE WOODEN CRICKET BOXES CLEAN OF FECES AND DEAD CRICKETS.
• CRICKETS ONLY LIVE 7 1/'2 WEEKS.
• MAKE SURE MICE, RATS, SPIDERS AND ANTS CAN NOT GET TO YOUR CRICKETS.

Written by: Ron Tremper, Center for Reptile & Amphibian Propagation, Boerne, Texas

04/96