Quote Originally Posted by Shoemoo View Post
Check with the large cricket breeding operations that supply pet stores and zoos if you want something premade. They will not be cheap.

I used to order crickets by the 1,000 when I owned a lot of lizards. What I did was get a large Rubbermaid or Sterilite bin and cut windows in the top and cover them with screen. Make sure you get one that has a tight fitting lid and high enough sides so the crickets can't jump out when you open it. Stack square egg crates vertically in one side, leaving the other side bare. Do not put any substrate in the bottom.

You must provide food and water because they are cannibalistic and will start to nosh on one another otherwise. Feed and water the crickets on the bare side of the enclosure. Feed them ground up dry dog food, the cheaper the better. Use cut oranges or grapefruit for water. Crumple some rough paper into a circle and sit the fruit in the middle peel side down. This is so the crickets can climb up onto the cut surface. Throw out the paper and fruit when it gets moldy.

When you get ready to clean the bin, mix up a solution of a couple of tablespoons of bleach to a gallon of water and wet a paper towel. Take out the fruit and any remaining food and shake the cage so all the crap falls to the bottom. Wipe down the bare half and slide the egg crates over. Shoo the crickets into the cartons and repeat for the other side.

I don't see how a commercial cage would be any more convenient.

One more word about crickets if you want to keep them alive for awhile. Once a cricket goes through its final molt and gets wings, their life is very short. Only a week or two at best. Most bulk suppliers will let you order crickets by age and size. Buy the next smallest size below adults. They are almost as big as the adults and will live a lot longer. Another advantage is they can't chirp until the adult stage
Thanks for all the information about keeping crickets. This will come in very handy.