First you will need a container to keep them in...I recommend a large plastic container....you can get them at any department store. To make the cover just cut out the top of the container and glue in a screen with a glue gun. Next you will need something for them to hide in...egg crates are perfect for this..it increases the surface area giving them more room to run as well as places to hide in. You will also need a water source. I use an empty lid of a container of some kind, like a peanut butter lid...and cut out a sponge to fit inside the lid. The sponge soaks up the water and then the crickets can drink without fears of them drowning. You may also want a catch can of some kind, so that you don't have to handle them much if this bothers you.
Maintenance
Crickets like to be kept warm. The optimum temperature for crickets is about 80 degrees. They will live at room temperature but they grow and breed much better if they are kept warm. I use a regular light bulb for heat and light. Just hang a 100 watt bulb over their container for sufficient heat.
Feeding Crickets
Crickets eat a variety of grains and cereals. You may purchase commercially prepared feed or you may choose to feed them yourself from items around your home. You can feed crickets corn meal, barley, wheat, and a variety of vegetables. You can feed them dog food as well but it isn't recommended because of the lack of nutritional value for your reptile for which the cricket is intended. You may want to supplement their diet with vitamins so that your reptile is proper nourished.
Cleaning
Once a week or so you have to clean out the container that the crickets are in. All you need to do is wipe out the bottom of the container and replace the old egg crates. You may also want to rinse out the sponge with water to keep it clean as well. Every day you might want to check the sponge to make sure that it is moist and remove any damp food.
Breeding
Breeding crickets is fairly simple. Place both males and females in a container with some moist soil. 3 pairs of mature crickets will be sufficient to breed hundreds of crickets. Make sure you keep the soil moist. The females deposit their eggs with their ovipositor into the soil. the eggs should hatch in about 2-4 wks. Care of the young is the same as the adults.
(female on top male on bottom)
