Crickets - Livefood Rearing, breeding and buying crickets livefood
Crickets are the most commonly used livefood in
captivity, with virtually all pet shops stocking these.
There are various different types of cricket, not
all that different from each other, but some suitable
for different species of invertebrate/reptile than
others. Available are the adult black cricket, juvenile
black cricket, adult brown cricket, juvenile brown
cricket, and band striped cricket.
Crickets
are available from most livefood stockists, inlcuding
local pet stores, and large pet stores, such as Jolyes.
They usually come in small, ventilated tubs, as you
would get other livefood (locusts, mealworms) in. These
come with a piece of eggbox inside, for the
crickets to grip onto, and hide on. A layer of bran will
be sprinkled on the bottom of the tub, and it is good to
keep them with a constant supply of this. If you are looking
at using large amounts of crickets, it may be worth while
to buy in bulk, rather than in tubs. Online wholesalers
supply locusts in the thousand, which can be a much more
ecomonical way of feeding your herps.
Crickets will eat anything, from vegetables,
down to old pieces of carpet!. However, the best food types
would be vegetation, such as cabbage remains, old leaves
of fruit or branches, and various other vegetable matter.
You can also purchase pre-made formulae, which contains
various mixed up foods, ground into a powder. Dry food such
as cornflakes, oats and biscuits can also be fed. It is
also good to provide some source of water, so a small bowl
with damp/wet cotton wool is good to provide.
Crickets must be kept in a dry enclosure,
with humidity at a minimum. Damp conditions can cause the
crickets to die of mould or fungal infection. Breeding is
relatively easy. A bopwl with some damp tissue/cotton wool/soil
can be provided. The female will use her ovipositor (a tube
on the back of her abdomen) and insert this into the laying
material, and lay her eggs. The babies will emerge within
about 2 weeks or so, if kept in the right conditions.
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