cricket colony

[budriley]

Ready to start one but have some questions. I will be feeding 8 leos, how large does the colony need to be to support them all and keep up its size. Also whats the best kind of cricket to raise as far as sound and smell goes. The crickets will only be half their diet, already have mealworms colony about 6 months old.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tongue Flicker]

About 500 crickets should do okay but you have to give them a 6-9 month time frame to multiply. Most cricket sellers will most likely have gravid females ready to lay.

Keeping them in small separate quantities ensures proper sanitation and less cannibalism. Be wary though that huge cricket colonies are prone to a virus that can wipe out your colony

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I recommend Acheta domestica, the gentle brown cricket.

 

[budriley]

Are B Dubia as prone to virus problems, as crickets are. Or would they make a better choiceof second feeder colony?

 

[majahawt]

Are B Dubia as prone to virus problems, as crickets are. Or would they make a better choiceof second feeder colony?

I had about 100 crickets once and I hated it. I've recently set up dubias for breeding and they're so much better. They don't smell, they don't make noise, they don't cannibalise, they can't climb smooth surfaces and they don't jump. Not to mention, both of my leos appreciate them a lot more than crickets! You can read more about housing/health/etc of dubias here

 

[Tongue Flicker]

Roaches are so much easier to maintain and breed. But be sure to check your state laws since i've read there are restrictions as to what species or if not all are illegal to keep.