Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Basically, I'm getting my first reptile (a Leopard Gecko) in the next few weeks, along with 250 crickets. But, due to a total lack of space in my room, the only place I have to keep the crickets is at the bottom of my wardrobe.

So, my question is, how bad do the crickets smell, and will it make my clothes smell at all? I mean, wandering around smelling like an insect doesn't seem to appealling.

Thanks

- Matt

In a 35 gal tank and I cant smell them unless I stick my nose in the tank then they smell sick..

I would suggest thinking about breeding roaches. They don't smell anything like crickets and are much easier to keep alive. In a short time you won't have an insect bill either. Goodluck,Clint

Ive been having a bit of a challenge trying to breed crickets though i have managed to breed a few just not as many as i'd like. But with roaches, would i be able to keep them in a 30 Gal garbage can without them crawling out? Are their diet similar to that of crickets? Whats needed for water, i find it easy with crickets by using cricket gutload water crystals, is there a similar product on the market or can i use them for roaches as well? I'd be very interested in hearing about your setup and experience with breeding em if thats not alot of trouble.
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Jaye- " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

I started w/ hissers, while doing the cricket thing I feed them both oranges and various greens, dried dog food as roaches need protien in there diet or they go cannabal. I don't give either water as they get plenty from all the fresh fruit and vegs. The hissers are big but breed slow. I just got a shipment of lobster roaches and from what i've read they breed like rabbits. I have these in 15 Gal rubbermaid containers w/ a 2-3" band of vasoline spread around the rim. Aspen shavings as substrate and fast food drink containers as furniture. They do need to be heated to 85-90 degrees as they are tropical species, I've read the hotter the better they breed. Which given that fact it would be a near impossibility to end up with an infestation. Their life cycle is much longer in comparison to the 6-weeks of crickets. Hissers can get 3-years and lobsters?? The cage smell is very earthy like compost. So far its been all pros. Sexual maturity for the lobsters is around 60 days so it's going to take a couple of months before I can stop ordering crickets I can't wait. Anymore Q's just ask, Clint

Clint...once your lobsters kick in you won't be able to get rid of them fast enough! I have had them for just over a year. I got 250 last May. I have thousands! And I feed them off and get rid of groups of them and STILL have thousands. I found too, unlike hissers that really NEED heat, my lobsters are on the cool side of the herp room and they are still outrunning me. The only difference in care is I grease the top of the tub. Otherwise, same as crix.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

I can't wait to be done with crickets. My cages are in my bedroom right now and its a real bummer when a couple decide saranade each other. As far as keeping up with the production, I've got three hungry Ackies that are up to the task. I just got 300, any idea how long before I have a sustainable population? I was figuring giving them 60 days before I started dipping into them. Any info on them would be appreciated, I know a little about them, but there is more info on hissers available. Clint

Where are you guys ordering from and how much do they run you? No way they are anywhere as cheap as crix! Man i'll do anything to stop ordering crix every month. As far as breeding them goes they tend to bred better in my monitor enclosures than in theirs lol.
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Jaye- " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

I bought mine at california silkworms. No they are not cheap, but once you have a colony established its smooth sailing. as is right now I spend $30 a month on crickets. Clint

>>I can't wait to be done with crickets. My cages are in my bedroom right now and its a real bummer when a couple decide saranade each other. As far as keeping up with the production, I've got three hungry Ackies that are up to the task. I just got 300, any idea how long before I have a sustainable population? I was figuring giving them 60 days before I started dipping into them. Any info on them would be appreciated, I know a little about them, but there is more info on hissers available. Clint

Honestly, if I had it to do over, I would start feeding them right away. As soon as you are seeing a few litters of babies I would start feeding off. I feed mine to my smaller savannah monitor (would love to try ackies some day!) and my son's beardie and three turtles, two half grown pyxie frogs. Until a few weeks ago I was feeding them to 7 geckos too. I can't get rid of them quick enough. And I refuse to set up another tub!
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron