ok I buy my dragons a box of 1thousand crickets. i keep them in a 10 gallon with a tank cover. i have egg cartons. For food I baught those little orange cubes that are water food and vitamins. The problem is a hand full of them will just die. Wondering why they die ...... Im not sure if I should buy a heat pad for them. If anyone has a clue plz comment.

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B.D.C !!!

LOL,,,,i too buy bulk,,,and always get maybe 10 percent dead within the first week or so. It's always happened so I pretty much assumed this was normal. Anyone else ?

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Now when you say they just die, do you mean MOST of them of just a few? I have never been able to save 100% of crickets in a tank probably since crickets arent naturally used to being housed that cramped in nature, im sure a few die from stress or getting attacked etc. If you think about it a 10 gallon for 1000 Crix is a bit crowded.
Crickets will usually be comfortable at room temp so I doubt a heat pad is needed and water pillows or Gut-load will prolong life but they arent exactly Parrots in terms of life span either

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-Ron

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If you can manage it, get a 20 gallon for them. I used to use the cricket food and drink but it was getting expensive. I feed them fish flakes and carrots and have found that less die. You should expect to lose about 10% in the first 48 hours. No heat should be necessary if you keep them in the house. How long does 1000 last you?

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Val
www.reptilerescuerichmond.org

I believe its normal for crickets to die off...even from the store...I buy only about $5 worth each week and some of those die so I am not surprised that some die out of 1000. Good luck...Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Yup perfectly natural when we get a shipment at my store about 5- 10% die you have to realize that they are cannibalistic and each eachother... We keep 1500 in a 40 gallon and keep 1000 smaller crickets in a 20 high with no problems... I order a box of a 1000 every 4 weeks or so? keeps my animals happy

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The best way to make more live to provide as much ventilation as possable, if you have a deep enough open topped enclosure then this will work best as if the humidity is to high this will kill off your crix....a mesh top works well too.

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I'll think of something to put here soon.......

Also consider that crickets have a VERY short life span, approx 8 weeks! If you are buying adults they may just be succumbing to "old age"

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Merlin,
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And most companies know about the die off and ship an extra 5-10% with every order. Not that I want to try and count them. lol

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Yea they are pretty cramed up. Cuz usually after 2-3 days they start to smell really bad so I took out the live ones cleaned the tank cuz it i'll be full of dead ones. But then 2 days later more dead in the bottom. My house doesnt get that cold, coldest 70c. But it ****s cuz I buy a box and a **** load die. Not sure if the crickets are really dumb and cant find the food. Usually i'll throw in peices of carrots and they'll demolish that. and I dont like buying in smaller quantities because my dragons eat like monsters

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B.D.C !!!