Crickets

[BugBoy99]

Okay, so what do you use if not a substrate? Where do the crickets lay their eggs?

[fish4all]

For egg laying I used straight sand, nothing added. And I boiled it to sterilize it. To prevent mold I also sterilized the screen, the container and the lid. Coconut coir fiber is also sterile. The key is to keep the mold out. Don't leave any wetness in the container from food or water. Use water crystals, they actually prevent mold. Use carrots, celery, and other moist but not wet food. No cucumbers, don't use really ripe or bruised apples, avoid excess wetness at all costs. Humidity is key, I know, but keeping the entire cage as dry as possible works. Change out egg crates monthly, weekly if needed.

For the eggs, use a sterile container with no substrate to put the egg container in. Make sure it stays humid but keep it dry from all excess moisture on the lid, bottom and anywhere else.

And my crickets liked to stash food, find it and get it out.

For the baby crickets, put a piece of plastic mesh on the bottom so they have some traction and can get to the food and water crystals easily. You can do this in the adult cage also if you find they are having trouble moving around on the bottom.

The humidity is an average 85% here and doesn't drop below for very many days a year. They call Washington state the Evergreen state for a reason. If it isn't a tree, grass or weeds, the moss and algae will make it green.