Cricket half dead

[JackRabbit0612]

Everyday one of my banded crickets is half dead, laying upside and moving slowly. I don't see any mold in the damp substrate which has hardened. Could it be the habistat insect snack? I feed them carrots every 2 days.

 

[Sue E.]

Everyday one of my banded crickets is half dead, laying upside and moving slowly. I don't see any mold in the damp substrate which has hardened. Could it be the habistat insect snack? I feed them carrots every 2 days.

I dont feed crickets anymore, but I remove my other feeder insects from what they come in and put them in a cricket keeper lined with about an inch of quaker old fashioned (NOT instant) oats. The tub container that lists only 100% oats and nothing else as ingedients. Then add in some fresh veggies that you would feed to your dragon...arugula, collard greens, turnip greens, kale. Add a slice or two of fresh apple and/or thickly sliced fresh peeled carrot. You'll have to watch the veggies and esp the carrots and apple slices though and change them every two days or so or as they dry up. This provides the insects with hydration and nutritious food. I cant see why that wouldnt work for crickets also. My feeder insects then last a long time and are healthy and juicy for my dragon. Add in a couple pieces of egg crates for the crickets, turned vertically so the crickets have somewhere to hide. I dont feed my insects any commercial or prepared or dried foods like those orange cubes or yellow gel things, or any meat based food. Hope that helps! This also works for superworms or dubias..I keep one cricket keeper per species of insect. It does NOT work for silkworms, which only feed on mulberry leaves, or for hornworms. Those latter two I just keep in their original containers. Bsfl and mealworms dont need to be gutloaded at all.

 

[JackRabbit0612]

I forgot to say I keep mine in a small cricket pen so that you don't have to. Yes I feed every 2 days. Must be the snack then.

 

[AHBD]

I forgot to say I keep mine in a small cricket pen so that you don't have to. Yes I feed every 2 days. Must be the snack then.

Can you post a pic of the cricket keeper ? Did you have them shipped or store bought and were they lively when you got them ? What was the damp substrate ?

 

[JackRabbit0612]

Store bought. Yes I dont put dead ones in my keeper. Wood fibre I think.

Can you post a pic of the cricket keeper ? Did you have them shipped or store bought and were they lively when you got them ? What was the damp substrate ?

 

[Sue E.]

Store bought. Yes I dont put dead ones in my keeper. Wood fibre I think.

That is the same type I use for my dubias and superworms.

 

[AHBD]

Store bought. Yes I dont put dead ones in my keeper. Wood fibre I think.

Yes I know, you said they were half dead so I wondered. The damp wood fiber prob. not good, use dry oatmeal and not too much veg. of any kind.

 

[JackRabbit0612]

Not they, just one.

 

[Rocky2022]

If you put them in and shake them with your tongs they'll eat it. Not the black ones but I've been known to do this at time or 2.

 

[JackRabbit0612]

If you put them in and shake them with your tongs they'll eat it. Not the black ones but I've been known to do this at time or 2.

Me too

 

[AHBD]

Not they, just one.

I meant to post a picture of your cricket set up. Try them on oatmeal and no dampness. Also, if they are crowded they can start dying , if they came from a container at the pet store that had dead ones in it that can release ammonia and cause them to act like this and die. Lastly, if they are at the end of their lifespan.

 

[Rocky2022]

I meant to post a picture of your cricket set up. Try them on oatmeal and no dampness. Also, if they are crowded they can start dying , if they came from a container at the pet store that had dead ones in it that can release ammonia and cause them to act like this and die. Lastly, if they are at the end of their lifespan.

Yes, the crowding is what I experience.

They live too short for my liking. I try to get my boys to eat as many as they can in 3 days.
I buy them less often and buy less of them.

 

[Sue E.]

Yes, the crowding is what I experience.

They live too short for my liking. I try to get my boys to eat as many as they can in 3 days.
I buy them less often and buy less of them.

I was so glad when Kai refused to touch crickets anymore! They are smelly and due way too easily! My dubias live forever since I feed them, as do my superworms.

 

[JackRabbit0612]

Apologies

 

[AHBD]

It might help if you change to just a light substrate of oatmeal and use a piece of cardboard egg crating so they can hide. Hopefully the ones at the store are healthy too.