Breeding crix

[warnisha]

I am very interested in starting to breed my own becuase with a little beardie they are tending to get costly! So, I am reading and reading on this and see that it isn't terribly hard but there must be a trick to it. If there is anyone on here that is currently breeding crix can you please share? There are tons of roaches posts on colonies but not so many on crix. So lets get one going!!! LOL!

 

[RioReptiles]

I just posted a couple of hours ago on another thread asking basically the same thing

 

[warnisha]

Well, I have decided to give it a try so I will update on the status of our breeding...I bought 20 big ones today and have 1000 1/4's on the way (which I need for feeding, some will be allowed to grow) The more I researched the more I realized I really have everything I need so it should be fairly reasonable to try it! Heck I am not out anything if it doesn't work out!

 

[rcpeacock]

I use coconut fiber(bed-a-beast, eco earth, etc) for the egg laying media. Holds moisture better than soil. You can not let the bedding dry out. Leave it with the adult crix for 4 to 10 days(depends on how many adults you have). 1000 crix= 4 to 5 days, 100 crix=8 to 10 days. I started with dirt from my backyard. Two failed attempts. I then baked my dirt(350 for 1 hour), put it in with approximately 1000 crix for 10 days and :shock: :shock: :shock: -10,000+ babies. Too many for one batch. To help retain moisture, I also put saran wrap over the breeder dish, when I pull it to incubate. You have to air it out some, now and again, or it will get a little mold. Mine mold up all the time and it does not seem to phase the eggs/babies. If it does, thats good, because I usually get several thousand babies anyway it goes. Keep them warm and wet. After I pull to incubate, I have babies start hatching in about five or six days. Once they start to hatch, it seems to go slow for a few days. Just keep the breeder dish moist(I use a spray bottle). Just spray right over the babies. Mine seem to hatch for about a week. I am still trying to get the timing down. I have one batch just starting to hatch. One is big pinhead(1 to 2 weeks). I also have a big batch of 1/4" to 3/8"(3/4 weeks). My first batch was soooooo big, I am still feeding out of it. They have been adults for over a month. They say criks only live 8 weeks. They are adults by six weeks. Maybe for cricket farms. Mine seem to live more like 10 to 12 weeks. Just keep them warm, fed, and watered :mrgreen:

 

[warnisha]

Rcpeacock: a few questions for you...when u pull the breeder container do u put it in another larger container that u can have heat on? Once babies start hatching do u unwrap it or wait till most are hatched? I've got the temp now at 73 but just got set up so....lights on all the time? Or partial? Sorry so manyquestions. There is a lot out there on how to breed just not so much on what to do after they hatch n stuff... thank you!

 

[rcpeacock]

Yes, when I pull the container, I put it in another 18 gallon tote, with heat. I use 60 watt light bulbs and ceramic ceiling type fixtures($1.49 @ Home Depot) inside my bins. Leave the light on all the time, at least until they are a 1/4". I usually just keep them at room temp from 1/4" until I am ready to breed them. It went from 60 degrees to 23, in just a couple of hours here Tuesday, so I did plug all the lights back in. I shoot for 85 degrees with my cricks, but not above 90. They breed better at 85 to 90, but they live just fine at 70/75.

Once they start to hatch, I leave the saran wrap on, but leave it loose. So they can get in and out. If you use coconut fiber, you really do not need the wrap, if you spray it down everyday. I am just lazy, so I use it to help keep in the moisture.

 

[warnisha]

Thank you that is extremely helpful! I am hoping this works for us becuase it has to be cheaper!!!! Even buying them online bulk is expensive esp during the cold months!

 

[benagoh]

I have a question about this thread. On your adult crickets do you leave a light on in their enclosure all the time as well? :?

 

[EXOTIXSA]

After how many days to I remove the egg laying conteiner from the breeding bin and place it in the incubator?

I've also kept the crix in the incubator until they are a month old, they are sprayed daily and fed fish flakes.

 

[warnisha]

I left the egg thing in until I saw eggs then covered it width Saran wrap and put it in another container with lights to keep warm. Then once I saw babies in covered it and waited for them to get bigger keeping the light on and it seemed like forever!!! You have to keep the egg laying container moist which is my biggest hang up! Seems to dry out quickly!!!

 

[EXOTIXSA]

I check them daily, to make sure they're moist and the crickets haven't carried bits of food and egg carton into it.

I've got 3 week old babies in the incubator, I usually empty the containers into a bigger one and I keep the peat moist, feeding them daily, I covered the container with a silk stocking to allow ventilation and prevent escapees.

This is my first attempt at the cricket breeding thing hopefully all goes well and I can get about 4 colonies or more going.

 

[warnisha]

I ended up putting my little guys into the big tank when I ordered another round of crix I only order 1/4's so they have faired well and are actually finally getting bigger. I think I waited about 3 weeks maybe? I figure its trial and error and really it doesn't seem to be going too bad! I do have trouble keeping the bedding moist but I really think its just the top layer that gets dry

 

[EXOTIXSA]

Well good luck!

I"m on a feeder breeding mission.

Mealworms
Superworms
silkworms
Earthworms
7 Different species of roach

and then the crickets!

LOL

 

[suzuki4life]

Good luck with earthworms :lol:

 

[EXOTIXSA]

thanks they're actually breeding better than some of my roaches! LOL!