How do you grow crickets?

[Hecka]

Crickets can be so expensive especially when I want to get a lot for my beardie. The cheapest place I've been to had them at $.07/ea when you buy more than 24. I was wondering if it is possible to just get a "mother" cricket or how do they mate?? Has anybody tried growing their crickets and had any success?

 

[augsburg1530]

Crickets are horrible to breed as they stink to high heaven and have an enormous die off rate. I raise dubia roaches which are much better than crix. You can check out http://www.aaronpauling.com for lobster roaches. You can buy them for about $7 per thousand. I used to buy 5,000 at a time from him and they are great feeders.

Eric

 

[patrickb]

Hecka, do a search for "cricket breeding" in the Feeders section of the forum. Lots of good info there detailing the process and the stuff. It is basically simple once you get the process down, but does require a lot of maintaining to keep the bins clean and the crickets alive.

Roaches like Eric mentioned are the best alternative, though Lobster roaches in particular climb, which most people don't like. Turkestan roaches are a good alternative to the Lobsters since they can't climb and out breed crickets. Dubias are probably the best roach species to breed, but are a bit slower to get established, but definitely worth the wait.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I will move your thread to the feeder forum which is more geared towards breeding your own feeders.

Tracie