How Long Do Pinhead Crickets Live?

A pinhead cricket is a popular term with reptile keepers when referring to crickets after they have hatched. Black or brown field crickets are a staple food for bearded dragons, leopard geckos and chameleons.

  1. Life Cycle of a Cricket

    • Each stage of an insect's life cycle is known as an instar, and crickets have nine instars from egg to mature adult. A pinhead cricket will molt its exoskeleton as it grows through each stage and has a total life expectancy of eight to 12 weeks if kept in an ideal environment.

    What are Pinhead Crickets used for?

    • Crickets are kept as live food for pet reptiles, and the first instar, or pinhead crickets, are used to feed newly hatched baby reptiles. They are too small to be of use as food for most adult reptiles but can be kept in a suitable container to grow to an appropriate size for larger reptiles.

    Keeping Crickets Alive

    • Pinhead crickets are vulnerable to damp and mold and so they must be kept warm and dry in a ventilated, lidded plastic tub. They are usually sold in a suitable container and if this is kept at room temperature with a slice of potato, some bran and a small piece of wet sponge or cotton wool as a drinking source, the pinhead crickets will thrive and grow into adults. Food must be replaced every day, and any dead crickets should be removed from the box right away.