Lots Of Baby crickets in Emp tank!

Hi all, just been having a look in our emp tank and there a loads of baby crickets in there... Is this a problem should I try and get them out? We don't leave food in for Long if it's not eaten so am suprised this has happened cricket must of layed quick!

231bex wrote:

Hi all, just been having a look in our emp tank and there a loads of baby crickets in there... Is this a problem should I try and get them out? We don't leave food in for Long if it's not eaten so am suprised this has happened cricket must of layed quick!

It might turn into a problem(it did for me) so, if you can easily get them out then do so,otherwise; get out as many as you can and hope the rest eventually get eaten.When feeding adult female crickets it is best to maim them first so they can't lay eggs.

Thanx....will try getting them out tomorrow, another quick question though, how do you tell male from female cricket and what part do u remove?

231bex wrote:

Thanx....will try getting them out tomorrow, another quick question though, how do you tell male from female cricket and what part do u remove?

Females have an ovipositor (long needle like thing on her rear) You can remove that or just maim her so she is easy to catch and will be eaten first.When I had my group of emps (back in the early '90s and my first scorps) I looked in one day to see hundreds of crickets pouring out of the burrows,it was hideous!

Thank you I will do that from now on and remove the babies as much as possible in the morning

231bex wrote:

Thank you I will do that from now on and remove the babies as much as possible in the morning

You are welcome!
Good luck!

Scott Land wrote:

Females have an ovipositor (long needle like thing on her rear) You can remove that or just maim her so she is easy to catch and will be eaten first.When I had my group of emps (back in the early '90s and my first scorps) I looked in one day to see hundreds of crickets pouring out of the burrows,it was hideous! Puke

I agree as I had a problem a little while back, the females basically have 3 spikes and the males have 2. Like Scott said the ovipositor is the middle one sometimes long sometimes short, I'm guess due to the cricket's age. I bend that thing in 1/2 with a tongs or just cut it off with a scissors and then usually remove the hind legs by squeezing the meaty part of the legs hard with the tongs the cricket pulls right off. Haven't had much of a problem since.

I found that keeping the water dish full gets most of the crickets out as they do like to try and swim. Another thing that I have read is to put a straw in the tank, just lay it down in there and the crickets will go in. Periodically pull the straw out and dump the crickets out. I haven't tried the latter method but thought it was worth mentioning.

Sometimes even if the crickets get eaten quickly they females are prego and plant those bad boys at the last minute, sometimes I can see them trying to stick it in the ground as they are being munched. Strong survival instinct - save the water part of their existence

I think I`d lay eggs if I was locked in with a giant hungry scopion! lol

Feebo wrote:

I think I`d lay eggs if I was locked in with a giant hungry scopion! lol

I dont think i would lay eggs but i would lay something else lol



iitomodachi1 thank you very much for info , have topped up the swimming pool lol and tried removing some also have layed a straw in there to try that will let you know how i get on they dont seem to be bothering the scorps at all at the moment

Well just a quick update i stuck a straw in the tank and when i checked it there was a few in it so my fiancee Luke decided to combine the straw and drowning method in one and leant the straw so it was over the water bowel...and what we got was crickets running up the straw and taking a dive lol works great .... took a few pics coz it made me laugh....

Woot for the diving board!!! That is great! Need a swim at your own risk sign now!!
Thanks for sharing

I never had a problem with the baby crickets bothering the scorps but I have read it can stress them out. So I would think this method should rid enough babies to keep your scorps chill. I am just theorizing though based on my limited experience. Glad you are dropping the numbers though!!

iitomodachi1 wrote:

Woot for the diving board!!! That is great! Need a swim at your own risk sign now!!
Thanks for sharing

I never had a problem with the baby crickets bothering the scorps but I have read it can stress them out. So I would think this method should rid enough babies to keep your scorps chill. I am just theorizing though based on my limited experience. Glad you are dropping the numbers though!!

The straw idea is a great idea! The diving board method is great too!

The babys aren't the problem it is when they get bigger and they grow quickly!

I wish I had some of those tiny babys ! I've got some tiny T slings that would love them!