How to Keep Crickets Alive for Bearded Dragons: The Complete Guide

Crickets are a staple food source for bearded dragons. They provide an excellent source of protein, nutrients, and enrichment for your reptile. However, keeping crickets alive can be tricky, especially if you’re new to caring for feeder insects.

In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to keep your crickets alive and nutritious for your bearded dragon.

Why Keeping Crickets Alive is Important

Feeding live prey is essential for your bearded dragon. Dead crickets have little to no nutritional value and can even harbor harmful bacteria.

Live crickets provide

• Vital nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals
• Enrichment and mental stimulation from the hunt
• Hydration from the moisture content of the crickets

Ensuring your crickets stay alive means your bearded dragon gets the full nutritional and enrichment benefits from their feedings.

Creating the Optimal Cricket Habitat

To keep your crickets alive and healthy, the habitat is key. Here are the crucial elements:

Housing

Crickets need ample space to prevent overcrowding. A plastic storage bin or large tank works well. The enclosure should have smooth sides to prevent escapes. Provide at least 1 gallon of space per 100 crickets.

Add hiding spots like egg cartons, cardboard, or toilet paper tubes to give the crickets places to feel secure and reduce aggression.

Temperature & Humidity

Crickets thrive at 70-80°F and do poorly in the cold. Maintain temperatures with a heat lamp or mat if needed.

Humidity should be around 40-60%. Use a hygrometer to monitor levels and mist regularly to maintain moisture.

Ventilation

Proper airflow is vital. Make sure the habitat has screened vents or small holes covered in mesh to allow air exchange.

Substrate

Line the bottom with paper towels, cardboard, or egg crate to give crickets something to climb on and absorb waste. Avoid wood shavings or sand which can cause impaction if ingested.

Cleaning

Spot clean daily and fully disinfect the habitat weekly. Remove all waste, dead crickets, and debris. Use a mild soap and water – no harsh chemicals.

Feeding Your Crickets

To keep your crickets nutritious for your bearded dragon, you must feed them a varied diet. Here are some top food options:

• High-quality gut loading diets made for crickets
• Vegetable scraps – carrots, sweet potato, zucchini, leafy greens
• Tropical fish flakes for protein
• Dry dog or cat food for protein
• Fresh fruits – apples, oranges, melon
• Bran cereal or wheat germ for fiber

Feed crickets daily, providing both dry staples and fresh foods. Make sure to gut load with vitamin-rich produce at least 24 hours before feeding off crickets to your dragon.

Supplementing with calcium is also crucial 2-3 times per week. Lightly dust crickets with calcium powder right before serving them to your beardie.

Water & Hydration

Crickets need constant access to water to stay hydrated.

Provide water in a shallow dish, hydration gel, or by soaking a sponge. Change water daily to keep it clean.

You can also provide moisture by misting the habitat daily. Use dechlorinated water to prevent toxic buildup.

Maintaining Proper Cricket Health

Keeping your crickets healthy maximizes their nutritional content. Here are some key tips:

• Remove dead crickets immediately – they can spread disease
• Isolate sick crickets – treat or remove them to prevent illness from spreading
• Control mites & parasites – use paper substrate and isolate purchases crickets before adding to your colony
• Do not overcrowd – avoid cramped conditions to reduce aggression and cannibalism

With proper care, crickets can live 4-8 weeks, providing you with a steady, nutritious feeder supply for your bearded dragon.

Monitoring Crickets When Feeding Your Bearded Dragon

When feeding your bearded dragon, pay close attention to ensure proper nutrition.

• Look for healthy behavior – crickets should be active, jumping, and trying to evade your dragon. Sick, lethargic crickets should be avoided.

• Watch for proper feeding technique – make sure your dragon chews its food and doesn’t just swallow crickets whole. This presents a choking risk.

• Remove uneaten crickets – crickets can bite your dragon if left in the tank. Take them out after 10-15 minutes.

• Adjust amounts – offer an appropriate number of crickets based on your dragon’s age, size, and appetite. Start with 10-15 for juveniles.

Common Cricket Keeping Challenges & Solutions

Even when you do everything right, issues can pop up. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

Escaped crickets – Use small mesh to cover all openings and monitor for holes or gaps. Keep lids secure. Remove stray crickets immediately.

Cannibalism – Overcrowding is the #1 cause of cannibalism. Provide ample space per cricket and lots of hiding spots.

Dying crickets – Sudden die-offs point to issues like low heat, dehydration, or disease outbreaks. Review all husbandry aspects and isolate sick crickets.

Lack of chirping/activity – Low temperatures can cause crickets to become dormant and die off. Increase heat sources to maintain 70-80°F.

Key Takeaways for Keeping Crickets Alive

Caring for feeder crickets takes work, but following these tips will help:

• House crickets in an adequately sized, ventilated container with hiding spots at proper temperatures and humidity.

• Gut load crickets and provide staple foods, fresh produce, and calcium supplements.

• Ensure crickets have constant access to hydration.

• Isolate and treat sick crickets immediately to prevent disease outbreaks.

• Carefully monitor cricket health when feeding off to your bearded dragon.

Keeping your crickets alive and nutritious pays off through a healthy, enriched bearded dragon. With the proper habitat and care, you can maintain a thriving cricket colony.