I'm tempted to....

[Jrl6130]

I'm really tempted to buy crickets in bulk around 1000-1500 but how would I store them?!? Would I be able to keep them outside in a VERY well ventilated rubber made?? Thanks!!

 

[william488]

I just got 1000 of them myself, I keep them in my storage room off my livingroom in a big rubermade tote. I have to move them over to another tote every few days to keep the smell down, its too cold out where I live at night for me to keep them outside. it got down to 39 last night. 1000 of them are going through the food faster then I can put it in their container, lol

 

[mommisgurl]

In my honest opinion, I'm glad I started ordering in bulk 1,000's..Mine goes through an easy 1,500 a week,and going to my store to get that would completely clean out my wallet..

I think you would be fine with that,as long as the temps don't get too low..
I have my Sterlite bin in my room,and I never notice the smell because they don't..if you clean it out regularly. I have a 19 gal clear one with a snap top lid. I cut a square hole in the top,duct taped some screen wiring in it,and your done. All you need is egg crates and food,and you'll be good I order 1,000 at a time,and I clean it out every other day (sometimes every day depending on the crickets) I went to Walmart and got a small little brush and dust pan,and that's how I clean my bin out. They get lettuce and a special gutload with water everyday,and I never have more than 3-4 die in the spaces between when I clean the bin It's really not as bad as people say it is..I've never had a problem with it. My toad tank smells more than they do,and his doesn't smell that bad at all :roll:

Hope thats helps a little

 

[ashleyelsha]

ok, how do you keep the crickets from running up your arms, dustpan, and broom and hopping out when you clean the container???

 

[mommisgurl]

ok, how do you keep the crickets from running up your arms, dustpan, and broom and hopping out when you clean the container???

Haha I work at petsmart..so I'm completely used to them and how to handle them,along with a few tricks :lol:
When I go to clean it out,I take out their food,and then I start with one side of the bin..I shake out all their egg crates to one side,and then I sweep with the little broom..never had one jump on me,or crawl on my arm..if they do,I just shake them off..I do have to be careful to make sure the entire egg crate is empty of crickets,or they end up outside :lol: I also have a deep bin to help with the jumping out..the bigger the get,the higher than can jump unfortunately -.-
The bin also has grooves in them,so I sweep all the poop etc to the middle,brush it into the dustpan,and set the dustpan aside. I then replace the egg crates on that side,and then do the same thing to the other. They all congregate to where ever the egg crate is. Once I'm done sweeping,I replace all egg crates,put back in the food...DONE

 

[ashleyelsha]

I'm not afraid of crickets, but I don't want to lose them all that's why i ask. And the last batch I had were mean and kept biting me, a lot! Never had such aggressive crickets before.

The problem is, when you tilt the bin to one side to sweep out the poo, the poo slides to the side you tilt it to as well as the crickets... so you still aren't getting it completely clean??

Another theory.. could one keep a cricket container with a screen bottom, so the poop just falls out the screen and has like a tray underneith that could be removed and cleaned? I am trying to think of an easier way to keep crickets. I only keep mine alive for 24-48 hours to gutload before I freeze them, but it's still a pain trying to transfer them into clean containers or bags to freeze without getting poop into the containers and without getting bitten.

 

[mommisgurl]

I'm not afraid of crickets, but I don't want to lose them all that's why i ask. And the last batch I had were mean and kept biting me, a lot! Never had such aggressive crickets before.

The problem is, when you tilt the bin to one side to sweep out the poo, the poo slides to the side you tilt it to as well as the crickets... so you still aren't getting it completely clean??

Another theory.. could one keep a cricket container with a screen bottom, so the poop just falls out the screen and has like a tray underneith that could be removed and cleaned? I am trying to think of an easier way to keep crickets. I only keep mine alive for 24-48 hours to gutload before I freeze them, but it's still a pain trying to transfer them into clean containers or bags to freeze without getting poop into the containers and without getting bitten.

Hmm..I'm really surprised that you got such agressive ones..I've never had that problem before..

I actually don't tilt the bin..at all. I just remove the egg crates on one side,and sweep it all to the middle,then sweep that into the dustpan,and then do it on the other side. Never tilting it,just removing the crates to sweep underneath them

Hmm..I don't see why you couldn't do that..though you'd probably have to find a way to only let the poop through and not crickets. I could see that being possible with big crickets..not small ones..

 

[ashleyelsha]

The last batch I got from gahnns was like that. They literally attacked my arm when I out it in the bin or tried to move the egg crates around. And they were hopping all per the place they never really congregated under the egg crates. It was bad...

 

[mommisgurl]

Wow...that's crazy! You should email them and tell them!

 

[Bobbijo2u]

I catch my crickets with a fish net for an aquarium. I never have them running anywhere.