Another update, I had my first batch of pinheads hatch on Feb 13th. I've been counting as I remove them for feeding, and the 18 adults I had started with in the breeder bin produced roughly 500 crickets. Most of these 500 have gone on to be eaten, there's maybe 50 left for feeders, and a select few have laid eggs which began to hatch May 16th. So just over 3 months for a full generation cycle.

None have died from anything but frog related injuries or a few accidental squishings on my part. Of the last "250" store bought ones, I pulled 178 out alive for feeding and 96 that had died in the bin over the course of 6 weeks, so the ones I hatched seemed hardier? No changes in heating (17C-26C) or humidity, or diet.

I was getting concerned that my latest pinheads wouldn't be large enough for feeders before I ran out of big crickets until I checked my mealworm bin. I've scouring it every few weeks cursing at them for not breeding, but this time I found hundreds and hundreds of new mealworms! Some look to be a couple of molts old, so these should be ready to eat in a couple of weeks.

Cheers.