My First Winter... Nervous

[Poly]

Thanks for the info John!

Any suggestions at how to set up a good cricket tank?

Also, do the worms have to be kept in a fridge, or is a cool (60-75F) basement alright?

[John]

If you're just keeping the worms, not feeding them, then the fridge is best. If you're feeding them, don't refrigerate them.

Cricket tank - if you're culturing them then look at our article. If you just want to maintain them, then set them up in a well ventilated container with hiding places (such as cardboard egg crate), regularly changed food, and a clean water source in which they can't drown. They will do better if kept in a warm dark place.

[Poly]

Yes, well I'm keeping the worms in a 5 gallon pail, so I will be feeding them/moving the soil around quite frequently. You recommend leaves to feed them, I assumed they ate the soil?

[pac]

if you try to breed them i could help you out because i breed my own crickets pretty easy and breed pillbug isopods to very easy

[Poly]

I better get this all straightened out...

Here is the website I'm going to be getting my insects from: Canadian Feeders - Your One Stop Feeder Shop!

Canadain Night Crawlers-Check 100 for 16$ great price! Easy to care for/my toads main source of food.

Crickets-Check... BUT minimum ammount they ship is 250 for 14$!!! What am I going to do with 250 crickets that only last for 2 to 4 weeks!? What size of tank should I keep them in? How can they last longer? What do I do with their feces?

Waxworms-Check... again BUT minimum ammount they ship is 250 (but for 5$), but I think the toads will go through them a little faster, same boat as the crickets, what do they eat, how do I keep them, and in what do I keep them!?

Feeling pretty nervous for my first winter, the only thing I got down pat how to keep is the worms, so I feel a little confident. (I have a stock pile of 200 worms right now in a 45Gallon plastic tub with screen lid, how long will they live? I've been adding rotten leaves, apple cores and banana peels to the soil.)

Thanks Guys!

~Royce

[BG]

I'm happy for you poly. You are all set for the winter.

[Poly]

You are all set for the winter.

That...Was...The...Most...Reassuring...Thing...Som eone...Has...Said...To...Me...Yet... xD

Thanks!

EDIT: Not sure why it puts a space between "Som" and "eone" in the edit part there is no space, but when I post it, there is a space?

[flybyferns]

Hi Royce,

Maybe you are interested ? I posted some pics on keeping crickets. See "Gourmet Crickets" -- a few hours ago.
I have not had to purchase crickets for a very long time. It's easy, but a bit time consuming keeping them fed and clean.
When raising your own , you know they are always well fed.

Lynn

[Poly]

Hi Royce,

Maybe you are interested ? I posted some pics on keeping crickets. See "Gourmet Crickets" -- a few hours ago.
I have not had to purchase crickets for a very long time. It's easy, but a bit time consuming keeping them fed and clean.
When raising your own , you know they are always well fed.

Lynn

Hi Lynn,

I'll deffinatly have to check out your thread! Let me know what you think of this: I will be keeping my crickets in a cut-in-half 45 gallon steel drum, with a screen lid, had to think of a container that would hold 250+ crickets, the drum has PLENTY of floor space, and lots of room for eggcrate, plus it's a smooth surface so it's easy to clean.

Thanks!

i dont see that either but that's what all the website says about canadian nightcrawler. I use eurpean one for that reason. let me know if it actually works out=)

Haha I sure hope it does!!! All I can get is Canadian ones, aww well, I'll be keeping them in my basement, so the temps will be cool anyway, if it gets warmer, I'll just put some freezer packs under the container to cool it down (since they will all probably be at the bottom anyway )

Thanks