How to keep your crickets alive longer The Beastie Way

[@thomasbazin1529]

I put a full stop on using crickets. I find them gross, and they keep dying on me bc they rely so much on hydration. And they can get noisy. I only use mealies, superworms and dubias, which I all grow myself. The only thing I have to buy only for them is oatmeal, for hydration I give them veggie scraps from cooking (they all especially love carrot scraps & ends). I can use tiny mealworm 'hatchlings' for my smaller slings, big dubias for big Ts. I've got basically every size covered. They don't attract phorid flies so much, and they can survive for a very long time without hydration (at least 1 1/2 months, during my yearly 'long holiday' abroad). Cheers Dave & CamLady! Keep it up! 🤟

[@melaniezagata4402]

Thanks for the cricket info❤❤❤😊

[@United.Inverts]

One to add is always remove any dead crickets in ur tubs 👍 great video both

[@emilyd661]

Hi from idaho, your spider videos are helping get over my spider issue

[@mrjoshua4308]

Same. Since I have been watching these videos I am not quite as scared of spiders as I used to be. They are super interesting.

[@sharonmclain4158]

​@@mrjoshua4308They are very interesting. So much diversity.

[@traciecabral1794]

I started out like you and now have a pink toe avic

[@leesreptilesandaquatics6368]

I have 168 tarantulas and jumping spiders so I do them in big tubs and cages like you and I got new arrivals coming soon that I'm excited for.

[@susannesamuelsson2930]

Nice to know, interesting 🦗video, dear Dave and Sweet Camera Lady! Have a wonderful day all! 👋♥️

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Thank you! You too!❤️

[@chimpy666]

Be kind be calm and love your crickets.

[@NoahRoy-c1v]

Great video Dave! Great to see how the master keeps his crickets alive. Really enjoyable video. See you on Monday, Dave!

[@MOONOVERMIAMI]

Hello great video information Dave

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Thanks 👍

[@katelarouche2835]

Timely information. I love this channel. Be right back i need to completely redo my cricket set up😂

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Glad to help🙏

[@joegrossman5073]

Dang had to do some late night grocery shopping, I'm late sorry lol. Love your videos keep up the hard work.

[@putteslaintxtbks5166]

I use to raise and sell to pet stores in a few states around me (pet stores) and mice, super meal worms and crickets in large numbers. Plenty of air for my cricket breeder boxes to keep humidity reasonable was one of the number one things. I often used a few layers of news papers for their floors and cardboard egg cartons for their refuge. For water, I used clean sand in a shallow bowl. It is good to get any dead ones out as soon as possible. Things like Nats will multiply on dead ones and if there are any illnesses, if the health one eat at dead ones, will spred that illness.

[@DoctorPolski]

The only thing I would add is to have 2 boxes. 1 with the crickets in and a spare to move them into if you want to easily change the substrate if it is getting messy and/or wet.

[@tommyron]

This is a great topic Dave, and I appreciate your very clear coverage. Keeping a hundred or so Crickets alive for as long as possible has involved some trial and error. In fact the whole greens thing is new to me. I've been using dry cricket food with calcium plus a dish of water gels. I did learn our local shop's delivery day and that has made a huge difference. Many thanks!

[@georgecardiff1946]

Brilliant Dave, great tips Dave on managing the crickets because they can die off fairly quickly, anyway Dave another super job by yourself and camera 📷 lady Dave.

[@graemewright2046]

another fine educational video to help the hobby PROFF, i use porrage oats and cat biscuits in my feeder tubs. some good footage CAMERA LADY. many thanks guys and take care

[@sanderverhage5148]

Mandarins and fish flakes also seem to work very well. But I totally agree. Keep them dry.

[@paulmcateer4911]

So much love from Texas😎 always amazing videos, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us🙌 You have helped me a lot along my journey with arachnids😁

[@fishwizard5964]

I find that potatos are superior to greens. They can be left in much longer and hold water well.

[@TaschaDiez]

We use carrot slices 😊

[@heleninglis9961]

I have a tub of dirt in with my adult crickets for them to lay their eggs in, i them hatch them out for food for my slings. Works perfectly. Not had to buy food for slings for ages now. What doesn't get eaten gets the chance to grow to then be fed to my juvies. Don't think any have made it to adulthood yet, but it's hard to tell because of how many are in the cricket enclosure. I also keep my medium size up in a separate enclosure to the small size crickets. On occasion i do find big ones that have grown out among the small ones. Takes forever. For substrate, i use Aspen snake bedding. Only because that's what i already have for my snakes. Works well for me.

[@GordoDrummer]

Thanks Dave. I've been doing it all wrong this whole time. Much appreciated.

[@iAmKoKash]

Forest Gump ran away 8:05

[@albarosewilliams7443]

This was very interesting. Thank you.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Glad you enjoyed it!❤️

[@richardramey5943]

1. What are you calling "brand" on the bottom ? 2.is the greens -spinach ? 3. What name brand chicken pellets ?

[@Minaz-iViViV]

I raise them too. It's possible keeping them from micro to adults in little boxes, but yes 4 times a week they need attention. I feed fish flakes, shrimp food and salad and yes demp environment is deadly.

[@kennysweeney7073]

Great video guys thank you so much xxxx

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Our pleasure!👌

[@Spiderdan-59]

Dave camera lady, you heard me you've made this video for me 😊 something I've seriously been thinking about and doing!

[@daveslittlebeasties]

You should!👍

[@Spiderdan-59]

@@daveslittlebeasties started today mate, got brown cricket 🦗 bigger enclosure and some bug feed and some of that gel water stuff ,

[@mariestubbs4606]

Very informative Dave great vid.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Thanks 👍

[@konohamarusaurtobi409]

Hi Dave and Camera 📷 lady and love your video's keep up the good work.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Thanks so much❤️

[@brentpearce1516]

Most electricians are good, hard working, honest and caring folk. But the bad ones, the rogue ones, are dangerous and unpredictable!

[@stevenA44]

Sadly, the only pet shop we have where I live is Petco and almost always, their crickets in small boxes are mostly dead. I usually just go on Friday and get loose ones. They're $0.17 each. they never check the ones in the little boxes so they are almost always out of any type of food for hydration. The employees there don't seem to care about them either.

[@Chris_Toop_Tarantulas]

I don’t use crickets they tend to end up smelling after a day so I’m guessing I was keeping them wrong? Brilliant video again guys

[@peterreedtz7359]

Hello, the greens they give your fodder animals are organic greens, greetings Peter

[@58Kym]

They need plenty of air changes, low humidity. If they get too humid they will start dying. I used to give mine bulk fish flake and carrot or orange slices. Avoid too much leafy greens as they raise the humidity, avoid cabbage as I think it might be toxic to them. You can hang sticky fly strips above to catch the phorid flies which seem to accompany bulk grown crickets etc. I wonder how some types of cat litter would go….I always meant to try it. I used to breed hundreds, probably thousands for research purposes at work and it isn’t hard to do.

[@christophercunningham9303]

I keep mine in a large faunariam on 2cm - 1inch of vermiculite, keeps them dry and smell free. Greens and gut loading pellets and they last for ages. As you said like a month till all fed off and I don't get even half what you get as not as many things to feed, yet. 😉😎🤣

[@belindalaing7592]

Really appreciate your educational videos top notch 😊👍🏻

[@sharonmclain4158]

Camera Lady isn't short. She is simply vertically challenged. And never forget, dynamite comes in small packages.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

😂😂😂

[@jgscatsandthings5208]

I keep crickets, red runners, Dubias, Hissers ( and other types of roaches) in huge tubs/ bank boxes. Get the large egg crates for nothing, from a shop that saves them for me. I breed all mine and keep on top of cleaning them all. It saves you loads and keeps you in constant supply. I add to my roaches a couple of times per year, to add new bloodlines.

[@richardramey5943]

What keeps the roaches from getting out of the plastic tubs ? Thanks

[@mal3689]

Broccoli, carrot, butternut squash, but remove after 24 hrs👍 20mm dry cocofibre

[@corinnakl]

I have been keeping crickets for over 40 years.I bred with them in the past when I had more animals who ate them but only buy them occasionally once every two weeks.( I still breed mealworms, Dubia roaches and Pachnoda grub ((and buy the occasional locusts..)).) I gutload them with 100% organic food for at least 5 days before I feed them to remove the pesticides or herbicides in their system. (Its a fact that our non organic foods are contaminated with GMO pesticides or are GMOs itself because the breeder use the cheapest foods available..). Fresh raw veggies and organic weetabix and a little bit of porridge.I make my own H2O balls from orgincally drawn water for my livestock..however its not necessary and high water foods such as paprika, even a piece of tomato, Courgettes, fennel....everything organic...will do fine once bought from any shop. I use larger enclosures for any 'livestock' and cleaned lid tops from large water bottles or other food Jars to prevent spoiling.. Gut cleaning in tiny insects takes about 24-48 hours, depending on the species and contamination.After that its practically having a healing or healed digestive system (because GMOs destroy the gut lining) which then can start to absorb nutrients again which takes another 24 -48 hours...after day 5 the immune system of the insect starts to heal.and improve..Again it depends on the size of the insect and the content of contamination.But 5 days is a safe time after having been fed 100 certified organic foods...

[@richardramey5943]

What is Whertabix ? & Porridge? Thank you

[@richardramey5943]

How do you keep tgecroaches from getting out of the tubs

[@Omnivorous1One]

The biggest disadvantage I found to keeping crickets is the smell. You must keep up on cleaning out whatever your keeping them in constantly or they will smell up the room or place they are kept in.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Keeping them dry will help with the smell and good husbandry 👍

[@bridgethoskins9809]

WOW!!! That's a lot of crickets 😂. Great information.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

❤️❤️

[@aaronbrudenell2571]

Hi Dave, it was great meeting you at the brentwood show! I already use this method for my dubias and crickets and honestly works perfectly! Never had an issue with feeders randomly dying and they live and molt out all the way to adults. I was just wondering, how many frogs in total do you have? 1000 crickets in 14 days :D

[@daveslittlebeasties]

40+ frogs 😂

[@aaronbrudenell2571]

@@daveslittlebeasties 🤯 that’s a lot of frogs !

[@SadieCleary]

I use baby carrots. Full of water and no mess. Lasts forever in the fridge.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Carrots are very good we also use them ❤

[@leesreptilesandaquatics6368]

I keep mine in different 10 gallon tanks all separated by size and I feed them a variety of things along with jelly pods, calcium foods and gut loads my crickets last for months

[@Lee2k4]

I can’t do with the chirping at night just from a box of crickets, I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have a breeding tub full of them

[@AfroRyan]

I live in the same town as Timberline...so crickets are not hard to come by.

[@irinafischer3211]

Hi Dave, how often you offer them greens then? Once they eat it all up, when is the next feeding? :)

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Every couple of days

[@johnlash6511]

I use a few pieces of dry cat food and cricket qinch daily and some mixed veg 1 day each week I have them

[@Hayley0412]

How long do crickets live? I love these videos they are practical and really helpful, thank you for trying to educate my ridiculous brain! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@DragonflyArtz1]

Interesting. I wouldn't have thought to put them in a bigger container. Q for you- Do Spiders react or respond to music? Just wondering.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

They react to vibration so yes I would think so

[@JoanneKew-t9p]

Great Advice, thanks. Have been using bug feed for feeding crickets, so will change to your recommended option. Also add carrots, so just lettuce? Xx

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Carrots are very good too

[@helenaduddy-craven7096]

Loved the video, definitely going to do this . Could you use sawdust for the bottom ? Like what you use for rabbits etc .x

[@daveslittlebeasties]

As long as it’s kept dry 😊

[@nicovl6949]

I keep myn in vampire krab inclosure 100%humidity live long

[@lorimilks870]

I use corn cobb bedding on the bottom

[@kazaroony]

You said a small box of crickets will last about a month with set up you show here. Would you add greens again at any time in that month, or only at the set up? Thanks for all your great videos 🥰🕷️

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Yes, absolutely every couple of days to keep them hydrated 🙏

[@Hvacnc]

What substrate u use for them?

[@tgk3624]

Thank-you for another interesting video. Is it possible to breed the Crickets? Or do they not do well trying to breed them? Have a great weekend, everyone.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Yes we can breed them but I dont have the time or space anymore

[@michaeltaylor2449]

Interesting video Dave with some good advice too I have also heard that Iceberg Lettuce is not good to feed Crickets and other live foods as it supposed to be bad for Tarantulas but am not 100% sure on it whats your take on that ?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Lettuce has no nutritional value due to being manly water

[@michaeltaylor2449]

@@daveslittlebeasties thanks Dave

[@richardramey5943]

Iceburg lettuce has no nutritional value. Leaf lettuce, romane... Etc. Does have nutritional value

[@michaeltaylor2449]

@@richardramey5943 thanks

[@bartsimmo1980]

Do you ever add any sort of supplements to the greens so the crickets are gut loaded with it before feeding?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

No just mixed veggies and chicken pellets

[@heleninglis9961]

Can i ask, where do you get your pellets for gut loading? I switched to a more powdered gut loader since it was cheaper but they don't seem to like it. Going to be buying more pellets tomorrow, just looking for a cheaper option, if possible.

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Chicken pellets

[@heleninglis9961]

@@daveslittlebeasties fab. Will look into getting some. Thank you. Who knew crickets could be so picky?!

[@johnpowell351]

Hi Dave and Camera Lady, do you only give them one feed during the 14 days, or would you offer more than once ? Also, if not eaten in an hour or two, would you remove it ? Lastly, instead of chicken pellets, could dried dog food be used ? Kindest regards, Joanne 🐺

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Feed every couple of days, ideally they clean it up in a few hours so there’s no dampness and yes we can use dog biscuit

[@mitch201211]

Is the bran the Same thing as what is used for mealworm food an beding

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Yes

[@gloriajackson2021]

How often do you give them greens?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Every couple of days ❤

[@dawnt7950]

Great video!! Does keeping the crickets drier keep them from stinking so bad??? Wish they could breed them to smell better!😂

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Yes it stops much of the smell just keep them clean.

[@BlackZtar1]

Do you ever get issues with grain mites? I keep my mealworms (and beetles) on oat flakes, and give them very small pieces of carrot every 3-4 days, and I always end up with grainmites, everywhere! It's so gross 😖

[@daveslittlebeasties]

No as long as I keep them dry

[@Patriots41793]

I dont have any other creatures but for people who just keep spiders and other insects, i dont see the appeal for crickets. They smell, they can jump, theyre harder to keep alive, theyre more likely to eat your spider if they get the oppurtunity. Roaches are better in every way imo. And i understand people may think roaches are yuckier but theres so many species out there that theres gotta be one that you can just tell yourself is a beetle not a roach haha. Great video still, im not hating, just dont see the appeal personally!

[@richardramey5943]

How do you keep the roaches from getting out of the tubs ? Thanks

[@oXslothXoYT]

Hello Dave :) quick question, Ive just recieved 1kg of cork bark, but theres some green stuff growing on some, how would I go about cleaning them/drying them etc etc? its for my T enclosure, I couldnt find a discord or anything to ask you, so had to ask here, sorry! thank you too :)

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Are you sure its not lichen ? on it

[@oXslothXoYT]

@@daveslittlebeasties I think so, someone else said that, I cooked it for abit just incase :) now to figure out how to store my open bag of sphagnum moss & sub 🥹 thank you :)

[@A.Steeeve]

From here and there i've heard that they can be kept in the fridge... 🤔 if yes is true, for how long they would live ? Thanks in adv. 🙏

[@candyscott489]

The cold kills them, they would be dead in the fridge in about 1-2 minutes !! I actually put a few at a time in the freezer for about 30 seconds & then tong feed my tarantula’s 😳😳 I’ve got 21 & this system works for me 😊 You might say just grab them with the tongs, but for me it’s a lot easier to slow them down first !!

[@A.Steeeve]

@@candyscott489 Thanks a lot! 🙏

[@daveslittlebeasties]

They wont live so long in the fridge ?

[@IAmTheHound]

I use locusts instead of crickets. Would you say the advice in this video applies equally to them?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Yes it will locusts like it dry to survive and eat a lot of greens

[@IAmTheHound]

@@daveslittlebeasties thanks mate. Very helpful (likewise the vid).

[@joegrossman5073]

I give my feeder superworms dried oats would that work for crickets like the bran?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Yes it will 👍

[@iAmKoKash]

I use oats in the bottom instead of bran, here Oats is cheaper

[@AshtralanasPets]

Do u give them water gel or crystald?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

No never I dont like it and feel its totally unnecessary if fed correctly they dont need it 👍

[@AshtralanasPets]

@@daveslittlebeasties ok thank you

[@JesseCornsilk]

Is there anything in the chicken feed to avoid? I’ve never used it and don’t want to pass on anything from the crickets to my spiders. Thanks in advance!

[@daveslittlebeasties]

no thats why I use it ?

[@JesseCornsilk]

@@daveslittlebeasties I get that, but I’m referring to the additives I saw at the feed store. I’ve never bought chicken feed and saw several varieties with different added things. My question was should I avoid anything like that. I’m not dumb, maybe I just phrased my question wrong

[@Justmarrie87]

I have smaller chickenfeed they do it perfect on it. But i give water also( coffeepowder lids with rocks in them). And apples.

[@MrPinball1980]

I no longer buy crickets , they bring in Gnats and infested my room in the past. I stick to red runners and Dubia now and don't have a single Gnat.

[@melony71ify]

What about cat litter?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Not tried it ?

[@nanabananaboat]

Hi Dave, I'm a woman viewer and was wondering who is camera lady, your daughter?

[@daveslittlebeasties]

😂she is my wife 😂❤️

[@nanabananaboat]

@daveslittlebeasties Oh my goodness...that's perfect 👌 😃

[@LetsHaveALuke]

I don’t like Dubia roaches because they just bury and hide

[@craneman2201]

only the females

[@traciecabral1794]

What about keeping them on rice!

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Dot tried it ?

[@traciecabral1794]

We use it to dry our phones so it will probably work well, and it’s cheap

[@DustyT-es3px]

Can you use fish food/ fish flakes instead of chicken pellets? I only keep about 15-20 crickets at a time and have several bottles of fish food.

[@castrosexotics]

yes is one of the best food too

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Yes I use it for my Emerald roaches they love it

[@dilwindersingh-x7b]

crickets are the worst. i'm glad canada legalized a tropical roach species.

[@StuartKerr-vp4ph]

you breed tarantulas etc why cant you breed crickets for yourself? surely the crickets you het in arent wild caught - lol just a thought, i woulda thought buying insects as food was for the casual keeper/novice hobbyist only just a thought

[@heleninglis9961]

I keep a tub of dirt in my cricket enclosure, they lay their eggs in it, then I hatch them out. It gives me enough micro crickets to feed my slings. Some of them do get the opportunity to grow, but I don't think I've had any make it to full adulthood yet

[@daveslittlebeasties]

I dont have the time or room to breed enough 😂

[@heleninglis9961]

@@daveslittlebeasties can only imagine the size of the breeding operation you'd need to supply your collection!🤯

[@keithgilham9438]

Haha Dave missed an opportunity there how to keep crickets alive “don’t feed em to your tarantulas” lol nice short sweet video lol

[@Chris_Toop_Tarantulas]

😂😂😂😂👏

[@traciecabral1794]

😂🤣😂

[@daveslittlebeasties]

Thanks 👍😂😂