How to Make a Cricket Farm for Crickets

Crickets are a primary food source for a variety of small pets. Breeding and caring for crickets in a cricket farm is an easy process at home that can save you time and money. Proper sanitation and a suitable breeding environment are important components of keeping healthy cricket farms. Constructing an easy-to-clean cricket farm from basic materials is a simple process.

Things You'll Need

  • Large plastic container with lid
  • Window screening
  • Hot glue gun
  • 2 small plastic trays
  • Small plastic food container with lid
  • Knife
  • Vermiculite
  • Paper towels
  • Tropical fish flakes
  • Heating pad
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the lid from a large plastic container and use a sharp knife to cut a rectangular hole in the center of the lid. The hole should be at least half the size of the lid. This hole will provide air circulation in the cricket farm and help maintain low humidity levels and reduce mold.

    • 2

      Cut a portion of window screening to the same dimension as the hole you made in the lid.

    • 3

      Glue the window screening to the lid using a hot glue gun and set the lid aside for the glue to set.

    • 4

      Place two small plastic trays inside the plastic container. Soak a paper towel with tap water and place it in one of the trays to serve as a water dish. Fill the other dish with tropical fish flakes.

    • 5

      Remove the lid from the small plastic food container and cut a small, circular hole 2 to 3 inches in diameter. The small hole will provide an entryway for crickets to move in and out of the small plastic container, which serves as an incubator for cricket eggs.

    • 6

      Fill the small plastic food container two-thirds of the way full with vermiculite and moisten the soil with a spray bottle. Vermiculite is a sterile medium that retains moisture well and provides a good substrate for incubating cricket eggs.

    • 7

      Place a reptile heating pad under one side of the cricket farm and plug in and turn on the heating pad.

    • 8

      Place the incubator in the cricket farm and situate it over the heating pad. Cricket eggs develop best in temperatures between 82 and 86 degrees.

    • 9

      Add crickets to the cricket farm and securely fasten the lid to prevent the insects from escaping.

    • 10

      Change the water-soaked paper towel each day and ensure that there are always fish flakes available. You can supplement their diet by placing an orange or leafy greens in the enclosure once each week. Cricket eggs take two to three weeks to hatch from the incubator.