Two Cricket questions

1. I feed my crickets a mixture of kitten chow, evaporated milk, cricket gut load and alfalfa pelletswhich I grind into a powder in an electric coffee grinder. I also feed spring mix greens. What about potatoes? My crickets seem to get all over the potatoes that are shipped with my order. I feeding them potatoes as a source of protien and hydration a common practice?

2. I have finally had good luck hatching lots of pinheads, but they all seem to drop dead gradually within the first 2 weeks. Can someone describe the ideal setup for raising pinheads.

I am working on my roach colony so that I can rid myself of these little bastards but I would like to master the breeding AND raising phase first.

Thanks

I throw quartered apples and/or potatoes in with my crickets occasionally. I don't think there is much protein in either but both have carbohydrates and lots of water, especally apples. My roaches devour apples also, btw.

I will try apples with the roaches. Do you breed Crickets at all? if so, what type of enviornment do you set the pin heads up in?

Sorry Joe, I don't. I do my best to avoid them as much as possible.

Originally Posted by Jim O

Sorry Joe, I don't. I do my best to avoid them as much as possible.

I don''t blame you....My wife just HAAAAD to have the Beardies.

Although they need lots of water, if they get wet they die quickly. I have had good luck keeping them in 60qt sterilite tubs with no lid, lots of egg crates for them to climb on a bird waterer in 2 corners with cotton balls in the spout, and commercial cricket food (ground up grain). They do need high humidity to shed their old skins though, this is probably why yours are dying, you may need to leave the lid on to raise the humidity, but condensation will be fatal. Good luck.

With crickets I also use carrots. They devour them. I also feed flaked fish food. Like Casey said you'll have to play around with the humidity.

Roaches are easier. They eat about anything and depending on the type breed rather quickly.

Pinhead crickets need to be hydrated so always have a source of water for them. I am sure you know that a water dish is like a 2 year old and the deep end of the pool, it doesn't work. I use wet paper towels for my water. Food wise, what you are using is fine and works. Good luck!