How do I stop crickets escaping?

[Carole Selkirk]

Just when I think that I have got this feeding lark sorted it all goes terribly wrong. I started feeding the crickets like everyone said which was fine, now they stink and I tried to clean the egg box thing out of the tank they are in, I started picking them out one by one with the pincers that I use when I feed my T. At least half of them escaped and I have spent a terrified hour trying to retrieve them from every corner of my kitchen. Now they are in another container and I have to somehow get them back in the tank. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! If i put them in the fridge will it calm them down enough so I can pour them back into their tank and if so how long?

[Simon Batten]

I just keep them in the tank take out any rotting apple and put them in the cupboard I find they dont smell too bad and its less hectic than trying to change them over.

All the time in my house I hear a scream and someones like "theres a cricket on the floor" they get everywhere.

[Nicola Dolby]

crickets

Yes, if you put them in the fridge about 10-15 minutes before you want to move them, this will slow them down. They'll stop moving or become sluggish but when they warm up again they'll be the same as ever. The problem is if you leave them in for too long they stop moving permanently.

[Ray Hale]

Crickets are tough old critters. They can withstand low temperatures for some time. I have had them deliverd to me in the morning and they have sat out all day in the cold at about 2 degrees ( thanks for that postie!) When I opened the bag I assumed they were all dead and left them on the side. Two hours later they were all singing merrily.

With regard to them smelling, avoid fruit or potatoe in the tank. I feed them on Koi pellets and keep them dry. Alsd a good tip is to keep them cooler. I keep them in a large pet pal with lid and not in my spider room. This way they stay quite, dont smell and last a lot longer.

Ray

[chris lock]

i feed my crickets brocoli and that does'nt smell i just replace it when it goes brown.
i also house them in a cricket keeper which is great as i dont have to handle them i just take a tube out and give it a shot in to the tarantulas tank.
and yeah they get everywhere those crickets and its usually when someones staying they crawl across the floor!! funny as i never see them escape!

[lee smith]

i use fish flake and calci-gel to feed my crickets which i put in little dishes(milkbottle scewtops) in the cricets tub the smell is pretty unavoidable(cricket poop does smell bad)