If not cared for and given a good place to live, crickets can get sick and die. Fortunately, you can easily create a healthy environment if you follow the right steps. First you have to prepare a clean container or habitat with a size large enough for crickets. Next, you have to feed him regularly and provide him with an adequate source of water to keep him healthy. If everything is done correctly, crickets can survive for 8 to 10 weeks.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Creating a Healthy Environment
Step 1. Prepare a 4 liter container for every 100 crickets
Crickets breed in large spaces, so you have to provide a large area for them to live in. Make sure the container has good ventilation at the top. You should use a closed container to prevent the crickets from jumping out.
You can use a glass or plastic container
Step 2. Clean the container using a mild bleach solution to get rid of bacteria
Before placing the crickets in the container, make sure you have cleaned the container. Mix cold water with a little bleach. Dip a washcloth in the solution and wipe the inside of the container. Wait for the container to dry before you add the crickets.
- Unclean containers can contain harmful bacteria or chemicals that can make crickets sick.
- Do not use chemical cleaners as they can harm the crickets.
Step 3. Insert the egg carton into the cage for the crickets to shelter in
Take some egg cartons and tear them into pieces. After that, insert the cardboard pieces at the bottom of the container for the crickets to live in. This will provide shade and space for the crickets to thrive.
If not given the right habitat, crickets can fight each other for space
Step 4. Keep the cricket container at an ambient temperature of 24–32°C
Place the crickets in a dark place so that the temperature is always stable and stays healthy. If the temperature inside the container is too cold, the crickets can die and eat each other. If the temperature is too hot, the crickets will not live long.
Step 5. Clean the container 2 times a month to keep the crickets healthy
Carefully remove the crickets and place them in another container with ventilation holes. Clean the bottom of the container to remove any dirt or debris from the carcass of the crickets. After that, clean the inside of the container using a cloth that has been moistened with a diluted bleach solution (mixed with water) to remove bacteria and germs.
Dirt and dead crickets can make crickets sick
Step 6. Move the new crickets into their habitat as soon as you bring them home
Crickets will suffer if they are in a small and narrow space. Do not leave the crickets in the carrier for too long because it can kill them. Transfer the crickets to a clean container as soon as you get home.
Make sure the cricket carrier box has sufficient air holes at the top
Part 2 of 2: Caring for Crickets
Step 1. Give food in the form of corn flour, oatmeal, or cricket food
Place the oatmeal, cornstarch, or cricket food on a plate before you put it in the container. Crickets will make this food a regular source of nutrition. Crickets don't usually overeat.
Step 2. Place a damp sponge or fruit slice to serve as a water source
Crickets can sink in a small dish filled with water. For this reason, provide water from another source, such as a sponge or fruit slices (such as apples or guavas). The crickets will suck up the liquid inside the fruit or sponge.
Step 3. Always keep food and water in the container
Sources of water and food should always be available in the container so that the crickets can eat and drink when they want. Keep the food fresh by picking it up and replacing it with a new one every week. If using fruit, always replace the fruit every day so it doesn't rot or introduce bacteria into the cricket container.
