Waxworm/Cricket breeding info/questions

[cataldo]

***Crickets:

I have tried numerous times to breed cricket, all failed. I have tried smaller and larger containers with 10-12 crickets(adult) in each all the way to 1,000 crickets together with food(bought from wormman), and potato slices (fresh every two days).

*I used 12 crickets in smaller tupperware with soil/peat moss as bottom with food / potato.
*I used larger container with 12-15 crickets with soil/peat mix as bottom w/ food, water
*I've used same as above only MINUS peat, using only top soil as bottom.
*I put containers (screen topped and not screen topped) into larger cricket containers so they could lay and then remove containers later. with peat moss and then tried soil as bottom
*I tried moist soil and dry.
*I tried variation on heating, including: ceramic heat emitters, 75W standard light bulb light(for heat) 24hours-7days w/heat on and having heat on timers with 8-12 hours on and rest off.


What am I doing wrong??? All i end up with is the usual dead adults, even after 10 days removing, nothing.

****waxworms:

I did alright with mealworm breeding but now, I'm trying waxworms. I have the bedding provided from wormman.com(bran/honey mix) I put many waxworms into different containers. I had them all pupate and I *see* wax moths inside the container now. I added the waxpaper, bedding and use heat emitters without any light(so they stay active). It's usually between 80-100F. I was heating with a timer, but now with colder weather, I put it on 24-7. I see lots of "RED spots" and little spots on the sides and on some waxpaper that looks like "rubber" or a "ink drop" spot. is this the eggs? i thought I'd see mini-waxworm babies after the moths die off, which has started happening and been now over two weeks. Wheres the larvae(baby worms)? Are they coming soon? I have them sealed nicely in a small tupperware container with custom screened top so no one escapes.

thanks

 

[morg]

Cataldo
Having never tried culturing crickets I cannot help you with that one.
However I have succesfully cultured waxworms and advise that you give your culture time.
On a few occasions in the past I threw away cultures, thinking that they had failed due to me expecting the whole process to be quite quick.
The time scale from getting moths to seeing waxworms in my first succesfull culture was around 5-6 weeks.
When the waxworms hatch out they are VERY tiny and difficult to see, so you may miss them.
Give your culture time, Im sure it will not be long before you have hundreds of very lively quickly growing waxworms to feed to your animals

 

[morg]

Following on from my last post.
A few people have been asking me for info on the way I culture waxworms, so I thought I may as well post details here.
For culture medium I use a box of baby rice powder,oatmeal, and honey.
Mix up the dried ingredients, then add honey.
Mix well untill the medium has a crumbly texture and will hold together if squeezed.
The medium is put into tupperware type food containers, add waxmoth pupae, keep warm, and wait.
There you have a simple, but effective method of culturing waxworms that has worked well for me.
Feel free to email me with any questions.