Crickets

[Elaine Ross]

Ok, I know this may be a really daft question but how do I keep the crickets alive longer. What should I be feeding them? I give them water but dont have a clue what they eat.

Thanks
Elaine

[Warren Beattie]

Fishflakes and bits of apple usually keep mine going a little longer.

[Elaine Ross]

Excellent. Thanks Warren. I always have apples on hand and can go and get some fishflakes today.

Elaine

[Colin D Wilson]

I've just decided to start keeping crickets again for food after a long time of only using locusts, mealworms etc due to the fact of having some slings and smaller scorps to feed.
Crickets are natural scavengers and help the eco system in the wild by eating decaying plant and animal matter.
As they are omnivors they will eat virtually everything you put in their tank, and whatever nutritious foods you feed them will be passed onto the spider (or at least a good percentage of it)
I tend to feed mine on scraps of meat, veggie bits, salad stuff, cheap meusli or similar and a variety of fruit (even if its a little mouldy you can still use it as this is what they would feed on in their natural environment).
keep the food in a dish (so you don't have to clean their tank out as often) and provide a shallow water dish at all times (i put a layer of gravel in my dish so they dont drown)

For locusts it's quite simple, spray the inside their tank every couple of days and provide a supply of greens and salad to eat.

[Elaine Ross]

Thanks Colin, very informative. I will follow your advice especially as it will be of great benefit to my T's.

Elaine

[KJ Vezino]

I use carrots instead of apples. I find that apples mold pretty fast and the carrots dry out before they get a chance to mold.

[Johanna Turner]

Elaine

With regards feeding I think you've got enough info there. On the side of housing I would highly recommend a Lee's cricket Keeper as it gives them more space to move around and it's easier for chucking a couple in at a time because they climb up the tubes that are supplied with the cricket keeper - Lee has them at the Spider Shop I believe now.

(If you need to pull out individuallu again this is easier than in the tubs they come in as you can get your hand in and take one out a little easier)

I keep my micro crix in the tub they come in, the locusts and larger crickets go in the cricket keeper.

[Elaine Ross]

I use carrots instead of apples. I find that apples mold pretty fast and the carrots dry out before they get a chance to mold.

Thanks Kevin, I will bear that in mind

Elaine

With regards feeding I think you've got enough info there. On the side of housing I would highly recommend a Lee's cricket Keeper as it gives them more space to move around and it's easier for chucking a couple in at a time because they climb up the tubes that are supplied with the cricket keeper - Lee has them at the Spider Shop I believe now.

(If you need to pull out individuallu again this is easier than in the tubs they come in as you can get your hand in and take one out a little easier)

I keep my micro crix in the tub they come in, the locusts and larger crickets go in the cricket keeper.

Great minds Johanna lol. I just ordered one along with some crickets from LiveFoods this very morning. I went ahead and ordered it because I'm always worried that the larger crickets will chew their way out of the one they arrive in (urgh I'm not keen on crickets). I try not to touch them if I can help it. Those forceps thingies come in really handy

Elaine

[Johanna Turner]

(urgh I'm not keen on crickets). I try not to touch them if I can help it. Those forceps thingies come in really handy

Elaine

Lol! I'm amazed at how many people have spiders and happily do anything with them but loathe the live food!

[Helen Roberts]

I use forceps also cos I don't like the look of crickets/locusts nevermind touching them lol. Just looking at adult locusts makes me cringe. Tho with the amount of Ts, scorps and of course my lizzie I look after they don't tend to last very long.

[Elaine Ross]

Lol! I'm amazed at how many people have spiders and happily do anything with them but loathe the live food!

Johanna if you think I'm bad with crickets, you should see me when I look at those horrible little mealworms (shudder) lol.

I had my B. boehmei climbing on my hand when I was putting her waterdish back in after washing it. I just let her be there but didnt let her climb up my arm incase she fell. It was so cool but I'm not going to make a habit of it.

I use forceps also cos I don't like the look of crickets/locusts nevermind touching them lol. Just looking at adult locusts makes me cringe. Tho with the amount of Ts, scorps and of course my lizzie I look after they don't tend to last very long.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that feels squeamish with crickets lol. Thanks Helen

Elaine

[Richard Goram]

Oak leaves are a very good cricket food, as apparently they are quite high in chitin, one of the main components of a tarantulas exoskeleton. They are seasonal but the crickets love them and they don't last long in their tank. Cheap as well! They also love cabbage and cucumber.

[Elaine Ross]

Oak leaves are a very good cricket food, as apparently they are quite high in chitin, one of the main components of a tarantulas exoskeleton. They are seasonal but the crickets love them and they don't last long in their tank. Cheap as well! They also love cabbage and cucumber.

Thanks Richard. I'm lucky that we have a number of large Oak tree's within easy distance of my home. I dont have to walk far lol. I always have both cucumber and cabbage here also as my parrots love them.

Elaine

[Neil Richardson]

Dry cat/dog food, or weetabix seemed to go down well when we used to use crickets.

[Elaine Ross]

Dry cat/dog food, or weetabix seemed to go down well when we used to use crickets.

Thanks Neil Thats handy to know as I always have either wheatabix or oatabix in the house.

elaine