1. What are you using the heat tape with? I use it on my racks, I use the insulated clips that big apple sells and run it along the shelves of each rack underneath the back of the tubs.
2. What size crickets are you getting, how many at a time and what are you keeping them in? There are many different reasons they could be dieing. If you are ordering adult crickets and not using them fast enough they will run their natural course of life and die faster. Try getting the 3/4 inch as opposed to full grown. A side benefit to 3/4 inch is they don't chirp yet so your room doesn't sound like a field in the summertime.
Lose the "water pillow", they are junk. I have found that Ectotherm cricket yummies work great, they provide water and food in a nice big cube. It isn't too expensive if you get it in the gallon size container. I also keep a bowl of cricket chow in the tub just for variety. Overcrowding and overheating will also kill them, make sure they have enough room, and leave the eggcrates that they came in in the tub with them. i also put in about a half dozen used paper towel rolls. They provide extra places for them to hide, as well as making it easier to get the crickets out and into the dusting cup prior to feeding.
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Sam
Gecko Den
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