Temperatures

Heating is an important factor which influences the growth rate and life span of crickets. In general terms, the higher the temperatures, the faster the growth rate and shorter the lifecycle. Whilst crickets have the ability to survive temporary fluctuations in temperature, the eggs are less tolerant and require relatively consistent temperatures. In below sections we discuss the best heating methods for productive cricket breeding.

Crickets can survive a range of temperatures, however optimal grown is found in a relatively narrow temperature range of 30-35 degrees Centigrade (90-95 degrees Fahrenheit). Productivity and breeding consistency will reduce as you move away from these preferred temperature ranges. In the heat of summer I have had container temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) with no deaths. To do this you need good container design which improves air flow, food and water dispensers which provide unlimited water. These methods are outlined in our books.

Heating Methods

The number one thing which will either supercharge your cricket production or stifle it is choosing the right heating method. Below we briefly describe two common methods, with a full description of all 4 methods in our books.

Heat Lamps

A common method of heating is placing an incandescent light bulb (see photo) at the top of the container. This is not my preferred heating method for the following reasons.

• They are not user friendly (get tangled in cords) and can be a potential fire risk.
• They also are very inefficient for cricket production as they are generally located on the top of the container whilst the substrate is on the bottom. As heat rises, most of the heat escapes out of the container and does not heat the enclosure or the important substrate.

Heat Mats and Heat Coils

The most efficient heating method for cricket production is heated rooms, however this is not commonly available to many people (unless you have a reptile room). The second best method for cricket production for private and small scale commercial production are bottom heaters such as “heat mats or coils”.

A heat mat is a large mat which sits under the container (see photo). Heat Coils are a long plastic coated coil (like a long rope) which can be placed underneath the breeding container. Bottom heaters are preferable as they heat the substrate best, are efficient (heat rises up through the container from the bottom, and are user friendly.

Information in our Manuals…

There is a lot more to this important topic, and luckily our manual goes through all the options with lots of photos and diagrams. Below is a summary of the “Heating and Storage” sections of our Cricket and Cockroach Breeding Manual:

• Tables which provide the various temperature thresholds to manage an insect colony
• Advantages/disadvantages for 4 different heating systems including free solar options. Find out the best method for productive cricket production.
• Learn the thermodynamic principles for efficient heat conservation.
• 20 methods to reduce your heating costs.
• How to estimate your heating costs and manage excessive heat.
• How to store cricket containers so they are easy to access, and feeding can be done without opening the lid. This will allow numerous containers can be stored into a tight configuration, to save space or to increase the number of containers.

To instantly access all the information you need to be successful at cricket breeding, be sure to purchase our book and videos from Our Products page. We provide you with full Skype video training and email support to make sure you succeed.

In tomorrow’s lesson we will show you how to streamline cleaning and to prevent pest from destroying your colony. We will be in touch soon.