Keeping Crickets from molding!

[m00n1e]

Hey all I recently switched over to feeding in the crickets container instead of putting them in his viv after learning that trick on here, and after a little bit of adjusting, he loves it just surrounded by crickets it is a feeding frenzy. But tonight I noticed the scraps I had put in for the crix last night were molding and there is even mold in the corner. I have only had this cricket set up for 2 days and I've been keeping it cleaned out, but i guess not properly. Does anyone have tips on how they keep their crickets or how to keep them from getting moldy? I won't feed him these but need to know how to keep these suckers!
Here's some pics, A cricket paradise I thought..

 

[ynevar]

I haven't had any problems with mold in my cricket tank and I will give you a few suggestions.

Instead of the holes in top, I'd cut out a large portion of the lid and replace that with aluminum screen. If you use nylon screen material they will chew their way out of the cage. :shock: Either use a hot glue gun or liquid nails. I used a hot glue gun on my dubia bin and about fifty glue sticks... I didn't want that thing coming loose LOL!

I would take everything out, throw out the egg crates (if you have to use paper towel tubes cut up or toilet paper tubes that works too) and clean the whole set up with hot bleach water and rinse it well until you can't smell bleach anymore. If the crickets themselves are moldy, I'd probably destroy them.

I put the water crystals and food in a separate dish that makes cleaning easier. I also use dry cricket food (most cricket suppliers have a blend that they will sell you. I mix Mulberry Farms cricket food and BeardedDragon.co Super Gutloader Chow and they go crazy for it. I change the water crystals daily and the food. If I put a piece of vegetable in there, if it is isn't gone, I take it out the next day to avoid any mold.

Hope this helps.

Oh yes... P.S. I put the food in sour cream/yogurt type container lids instead of directly on the floor of the container so that makes for easy cleaning. WHICH I do every day. I take out any dead, any molted exoskeletons and waste out of the tank daily. Is a few minute chore but you'll have healthier crickets for sure!

 

[m00n1e]

Thank you so much for taking the time I really appreciate the tips!

 

[ynevar]

I also keep the water crystals in a lid too. I change those every day without fail. (Don't wash them down the drain, put them in the trash, scrape every bit. They can clog up your drains) GAH!

Put my cricket tank on the counter so you have an idea of what I do.


crickets by ynevar, on Flickr

I keep the food and water away from the egg crates and paper towel tubes.

I hope it helped.

Marcy