Best way to buy crickets in bulk? and maintain them?

[nair88]

i just use an 18-gallon plastic tote with a screen replacing most of the top. here's a picture of the little cricket city:

but i'm sure glass is fine too

 

[ersl12]

Thanks for the picture! We had a similar plastic crate, but had to throw it out because of the smell. I like the screen idea and toilet paper rolls!

 

[Agonistes]

I use this site for cricket information, it has a lot of nutrition and gut-loading options : http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Live Food, Crickets.htm

 

[ersl12]

Thanks!

 

[Gail]

Have you though about getting a colony of dubia? Once they are established you basically have free feeders and they don't smell near as bad as crickets plus they don't jump nor will they nibble on your dragon if some get left in the tank overnight.

 

[Agonistes]

Have you though about getting a colony of dubia? Once they are established you basically have free feeders and they don't smell near as bad as crickets plus they don't jump nor will they nibble on your dragon if some get left in the tank overnight.

Not my topic, but I thought I would add that Dubia give me goose-bumps. The thought of having them in my house and the notion that the cats might one day get into them and knock their tank over scares me! Although they are much easier to maintain, I will note.

 

[discojan]

I've used paper towels as substrate and hides; every 4 days or so I change the paper towels and it helps reduce the smell and keep the crickets clean. I ordered 1000 from reptilefood.com, and gut load them with whatever veggies I feed the dragons. That many crickets eat a surprising amount of produce! One whole collard leaf a day, plus oranges, berries.

 

[bhigginsjr88]

I keep my crickets in a rubbermaid container but I use the shredded coconut substrate that a lot of people use for rainforest style terrariums. I put just enough in so its about 1/2*inch to 3/4 of an inch thick covering the entire bottom of the container. It helps extremely well with the smell and it also gives crickets a place to lay eggs.