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I have no problems getting thousands of pinhead crickets out of a 500 per week adult order and I have been getting better at keeping them alive but I still seem to have a lot of die off. I keep them in a 20 qt rubbermaid container with lots of egg carton. I use flake fish food and a mixture of powdered dog food, guinea pig food and wheat bran for the main food with carrots and occasionally some fresh greens. For water I am using water gel and what ever they get from the greens and carrots. Since I went with the gel my survival rate has gone up. If I think of it I will also soak some of the egg carton to get it wet and then put that in the tub for them to drink off it.

Still, it seems I have a lot of die off. Any tricks that any of you have figured out to help them survive would be appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

What are your temps? Humidity?
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

Temps are between 75 maybe at night at the lowest up to maybe 85 when all the lights are on. Humidity fluctuates but probably doesn't go below about 60% I don't keep a lid on the tubs but I might try that. At first I was concerned about condensation but I only have gel in a couple of caps so I don't think it will be an issue. At the very least I'll just place the lid loosely on top. I suspect humidity is the issue but I know how deadly any water droplets can be to pinheads so I was trying to avoid them. I'd bet I got at least 5,000 crickets in my last hatch and that was only the first batch from that 500 adults. I screwed up and got 1000 adults this time so In a couple of weeks I should be over run with pinheads.

>>Temps are between 75 maybe at night at the lowest up to maybe 85 when all the lights are on. Humidity fluctuates but probably doesn't go below about 60% I don't keep a lid on the tubs but I might try that. At first I was concerned about condensation but I only have gel in a couple of caps so I don't think it will be an issue. At the very least I'll just place the lid loosely on top. I suspect humidity is the issue but I know how deadly any water droplets can be to pinheads so I was trying to avoid them. I'd bet I got at least 5,000 crickets in my last hatch and that was only the first batch from that 500 adults. I screwed up and got 1000 adults this time so In a couple of weeks I should be over run with pinheads.

Sorry I didn't get back with you but with pinheads over crowding is the best way to keep them alive. Sounds weird but the competition for food actually gets them growing faster, survival of the fittest. 1000 pinheads in a 16oz deli cup feed proper fruit and vegetables will seam over crowed but will grow very quickly...
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis