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What Do Cricket Eggs Look Like? Table of Contents A fun and sometimes challenging project, raising crickets can save you money in the long run.  Assume that you have great breeding stock from Critter Depot.  What now?  You’re going to need an incubator! How to Set Up a Cricket Incubator Most experienced and successful breeders use a Rubbermaid type of plastic product.  A container that is 12"x 8"x 3" (3 inches high) is sufficient for 250 - 500 crickets.  Some cricket breeders like using a lid.  Lids are okay as long as around 18-20 small holes are drilled into the...

3 Tips for Taking your Bearded Dragon Outside There's no denying it. We love our bearded dragons. Which is why we put so much care and attention into making sure their habitat is ultra safe.  But did you know that bearded dragons love going outside?  The sunlight is great for them, the sense of adventure, and the open freedom help stimulate their nervous system and muscle groups. But taking bearded dragons outside isn't without their risks.  Here are three considerations every bearded dragon owner should take before taking their ferocious dragon outside. 1. Make sure that shade is always available.  The animal...

How many bugs do I need to buy for my pet?  One hundred?  One thousand?  One MILLION?!?!?!  Could you imagine one million roaches showing up on your door step...  Our growing pets come in a variety of ages, sizes, and species.  Some are exclusively insectivors (leopard geckos), while others are ominvores (bearded dragons).  So it's important to understand how many feeder insects we need to provide for our beautiful pets, to make sure they are properly nourished, and not underfed.   How many crickets does my pet need? How many superworms does my pet need? How many black soldier fly larvae...

Why Do My Crickets Keep Dying? Table of Contents Nothing is more frustrating than to receive a huge order of crickets, only to have most of them die before you get a chance to feed them out.  There are several reasons why your crickets may not survive.   Ammonia Buildup  This is probably the most common killer, especially for beginning keepers.  It is not enough to just provide feed and a little water for your colony, daily sanitation and great ventilation are critical components as well.  A little cricket mortality is to be expected.  But each one that dies and is...

American Toad Care Guide  Table of Contents What Are American Toads? American toads, Anaxyrus americanus, are native to North America and go by the most impressive number of scientific names that I have run across in a while. Others are Bufo americanus, Bufo terrestris americanus, Bufo americanus charlesmithi, and Bufo terrestris copei, to name just a few.  The Eastern American Toad hybridizes freely with the Dwarf American toad, resulting in some interesting variations that plainly keep herpetologists arguing with each other for years.  Where do American Toads Live? In the United States, Eastern American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) are found throughout...