How to Make a Cricket Environment

Considered lucky in China, crickets make interesting pets. A perfect learning tool for kids, a relatively quiet and low-maintenance house pet, and an interesting little creature to observe, the cricket makes a unique addition to a home. While crickets have very short life spans of only 8 to 10 weeks, you will want to make them as comfortable in their homes with you as possible. Creating the perfect cricket environment is a matter of the right materials.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Soil
  • Plants and grass
  • Twigs or branches
  • Rocks
  • Dog or cat food
  • Sponge
  • Heat lamp
Show More

Instructions

  1. Making a Cricket Environment

    • 1

      Set up your aquarium. The size of the aquarium will depend on the number of crickets you intend to keep. Crickets dislike being overcrowded, so make sure the crickets all have enough space and hiding places to get away from one another. Clean the aquarium with a nontoxic cleanser and rinse the walls and bottom well. Allow the aquarium to dry thoroughly. Crickets cannot climb up clean glass walls.

    • 2

      Add the soil. Choose a nutrient-rich potting soil, but one without chemical fertilizers, as these can be toxic to crickets. Apply a layer about 2 inches deep in the bottom of the aquarium. You can be creative and mound up small hills, or make the soil deeper in one section than the rest of the aquarium to give the crickets some terrain.

    • 3

      Add plants and hiding spots. Living plants work best in cricket habitats, so consider some plants with large leaves and even planting some grass seed or patches of grass in the aquarium. Set up loose piles of stones and twigs or branches for the crickets to climb and hide in.

    • 4

      Prepare food and water for the crickets. In one corner of the aquarium, place a very small dish with a couple kibbles of dog or cat food. Close by, place a moistened sponge for the crickets to drink their water. Replace the food daily, and refresh the sponge daily as well.

    • 5

      Release the crickets. Allow the crickets to go inside the aquarium and place the lid on the aquarium. The best type of lid is a metal mesh lid also known as a reptile lid. This allows for ventilation and is strong enough to keep the crickets inside. If you live in a cooler climate, place a heat lamp over one section of the habitat, and keep the temperature around 75 to 77 degrees.