Are you wondering about the light or heat sensitivity of crickets? Do Crickets Need Light?
Is there an ideal temperature to keep crickets and how much lighting do they need?
In this article, we’ll discuss the topic of whether or not crickets need light.
Do Crickets Need Light?
Crickets do not need light. They can survive under natural or indirect lighting, but they do not need a special lamp.
You can offer heat through a 40 watt bulb or heat pads if your environment is cool. Crickets need warm to moderate temperatures to remain around 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can Crickets be Kept in the Dark?
Yes. Cricket tanks and containers can be kept in the dark. The temperature is a bigger concern. Try to maintain dry temperatures between 75–90 °F.
A dark space encourages healthy and natural spaces for crickets to thrive. If the tank is too bright, crickets may die. If it’s too cold, they will also be unhealthy and the stronger crickets will eat the dead or dying.
Do Crickets Prefer Light or Dark?
Crickets can survive with plenty of daylight, but they prefer to be more active when it is dark. Crickets like to mate and breed in the dark. You hear and observe more crickets activity at night.
Crickets can survive under low wattage lighting or you can keep their container or tank in a naturally lit area without direct sunlight. A 40 watt bulb or no lighting at all will be fine.
12-14 hours of daylight is also ok or you can forgo the lighting altogether and focus more on air circulation while limiting humidity.
Do I Need a Heat Lamp for Crickets?
A lamp that provides some lighting and additional heat is required only if you live in a colder area. If you are keeping crickets in the garage over the winter, a heat lamp would be a great fit above your cricket tank.
Try to keep temperatures between 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit for you crickets to live, thrive, breed and survive for their full lifespan of 2-3 months.
Heat pads are also a good option, but you should not put them directly under any plastic surfaces. Bedding material is also not needed.
Crickets require:
- warm temperatures
- dry or humid spaces
- plenty of darkness
- lots of ventilation
What do Crickets Need to Survive?
Crickets are going to need a steady supply of food and water. They will not overeat, so you can add considerable amounts of food in their tank without worrying about it.
If you offer food that can rot easily, you must maintain and clean the area more frequently. Chicken feed, fish pellets and dry dog kibble are all easy options for crickets to eat.
They will also absorb liquid nutrition and stay hydrated if you offer some fruits. Give your crickets:
- plenty of room
- warm and dry temperatures
- hiding spaces
- darkness
- air circulation
- food and water
- separate spaces for eggs and young
Are Crickets Sensitive to Light?
Yes. Crickets are sensitive to light and vibrations. Too much light can cause them to behave erratically. They may try to escape or resort to cannibalism to free up some space out of desperation.
You can safely give your crickets 12-14 hours of daylight that is indirectly coming from a well-lit room without resorting to lighting.
Crickets should not be placed under strong lights. Darkness is better that brightness. Dryness is better than humidity. Warm is better than cool.
What Kind Of Light Do Crickets Need?
Crickets can survive very well without any lighting. Darker rooms and tanks are better than ones with constant lighting. You do not need to go out of your way to darken the room if it gets plenty of daylight.
12-14 hours of daylight that isn’t direct sunlight is fine, but it is not necessary. A light bulb could provide some heat in a cool space where crickets need temperatures at 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive.
A 40 watt bulb is all it takes to keep crickets under some sort of light if you would like it. Otherwise, skip the lighting and focus more on ventilation and warm, dry temperatures.
Do Crickets Need A Substrate?
You do not need special bedding for crickets. A substrate can keep things cleaner for you in the long run. You can scoop out dead crickets and their droppings much easier with a substrate. Here are some bedding options:
- sani chips
- shredded aspen
- orchid bark
- coco fiber
Keep the substrate dry and make sure to dry it out before placing it into the tank.
Tips To Keep A Healthy Cricket Tank
Crickets enjoy darkness more than light. Here some tips to create a comfortable space for your cricket to call home.
- Add climbing areas to allow crickets to give each other some room.
- Overcrowding leads to suffocation or even cannibalism.
- Use egg cartons or toilet paper tubes for hiding spaces and climbing areas.
- Sprinkle calcium supplement powder on your crickets just before you offer them to your main pet.
- Ensure that temperatures are between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Create ventilation by having some air vents in the container or tank.
- Crickets obtain hydration from fruits and through the air.
- Offer pellets, chicken feed or kibble for easy meals.
- Separate the babies from the adults to allow the young to grow up without the threat of being eaten.
Conclusion
Crickets do not need light. They prefer darkness. Allow for your crickets to get plenty of ventilation and keep them warm.
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