How to Make Crickets Live Longer
Crickets generally live 8 weeks in total, but the lifespan may actually range from 6-8 weeks. If you want to maintain your crickets' health as long as possible, it will be wise for you to pay attention to how you feed and water your crickets, in order to keep them healthy. A healthy batch of crickets also will be a nutrient-rich source of food for any of your other pets to whom you plan to feed them.
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Things You'll Need
- 3 plastic-lined lids
- Dry cricket food
- Corn meal
- Dry cat kibble
- Powdered milk
- Pet food grade calcium supplement
- Tropical fish food
- Sponge or cotton wool
- Vegetable slices
Instructions
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Things to keep in mind
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Keep the water feeder clean. Keep a moist sponge or wad of damp cotton wool in a lid, preferably in one that is made or lined with plastic in order to prevent rust developing in the water supply. You may use distilled water, but regular tap water is fine and has minerals that can't be gotten from distilled or filtered water. Change the water feeder daily. (Standing water can kill crickets.)
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Feed the cricket nutrient rich food. A good source of dry food can be maintained easily, without mold and mildew developing. In another lid or small, open container, place dry corn meal, tropical fish food or cricket chow. If you prefer, you can create a nutrient-rich kibble by shaking dry cat kibble in a dry mixture of 90 percent powdered milk and 10 percent pet food grade calcium supplement.
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Feed the cricket fresh vegetables and fruits. As you prepare your salads, save a few scraps for your crickets before you add the dressing. Place in a separate lid from your dry food and water and be sure to change daily to avoid mold and mildew from growing in it. Sliced pieces of citrus fruit can be a good source of water for the cricket as well.
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Make sure your supplier provides you with both male and female crickets. Female crickets live longer when they mate more than once.
Additionally, female crickets tend to live longer when they mate with crickets with faster chirps. If you want to do an experiment by choosing faster chirping males with which to mate your females, the males and females can be distinguished by the number of eruptions on the cricket's back: the male has two whereas the female has three. First, separate out males into an individual container or tank. Have 3 or more containers on hand to place those males into, separating by chirp speed. Divide females equally between each container of males. Care for each container of crickets in the same way, giving adequate food, water and nutrition. See which container of crickets hosts the longest living members.
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Tips & Warnings
Keeping your crickets in a clean, dry glass tank can be a good way to keep bacterial sells to a minimum. If you prefer, use wood shavings in the bottom of your tank, but be sure to clean after every life cycle.
Chopped up egg crates provide a nice dark environment for your crickets to play in.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit cricket image by Gail Oswald from Fotolia.com cricket image by Eric Isselée from Fotolia.com
