How to Keep Crickets Alive: Banded Cricket Care Sheet
Gryllodes sigillatus
This banded cricket care sheet shows how to keep feeder crickets alive and healthy from the day your box arrives until feeding day. It is written for banded crickets from Carolina Cricket Farm and works for any feeder crickets.
Download the printable care sheet (PDF)Banded Cricket Quick Facts
- Species
- Banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus)
- Container
- Deep, ventilated, escape-proof, with a lid [1]
- Temperature
- 70 to 75°F [1]
- Humidity
- Keep it dry; too much humidity and mold kill crickets [1]
- Water
- No open water: pebbles in a shallow lid, damp cotton, sponge or water gel [1][2]
- Food
- Always available, on one side away from the water [1]
- Check food and water
- At least every 2 days [1]
- Gut-load
- 24 to 48 hours before feeding off [2][3][4]
- Protein
- 27.37% in our lab test [7]
- Our crickets
- Virus-free and parasite-free
When Your Crickets Arrive
- Bring the box inside and open it right away. Don't leave crickets in the shipping box.
- Lift out the egg flats and tap the crickets into a clean, deep, ventilated container. Keep some egg flats in for climbing and hiding.
- Add food on one side and a safe water source on the other. No open water.
- Put the container somewhere around 70 to 75°F [1], out of direct sun and away from heaters and drafts.
- Problem on arrival? Take a photo and call 910-694-3025 with your order number. Live Arrival Guarantee terms apply, see shipping.
Container Setup
Use a deep container or terrarium with a lid and good ventilation [1]. Egg flats or cardboard tubes add surface area. Don't crowd them. Using a cricket keeper? See our cricket keeper setup guide.
Temperature and Humidity
Keep crickets at about 70 to 75°F [1]. Keep the air dry with good airflow, because high humidity and mold kill crickets [1]. In winter, orders are held when temperatures are below freezing (see shipping).
Food and Water
Keep a dry base food available at all times and add a little fresh produce, on the opposite side from the water so food doesn't get damp and mold [1]. We use a special high-quality cricket feed and have a state-of-the-art watering system.
Crickets drown easily. Give water with pebbles in a shallow lid, soaked cotton, a damp sponge or paper towel, or water gel [1][2]. For food lists and gut-loading detail, see What Do Crickets Eat.
Cleaning and Daily Checks
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Check food and water | At least every 2 days [1] |
| Dry food | Always available [1] |
| Fresh produce | In moderation; remove before it molds [1] |
| Dead crickets, spoiled or damp food | Remove when you see them |
| Container | Clean between batches |
Feeding Crickets to Your Pet
- Gut-load 24 to 48 hours before feeding them to your pet [2][3][4].
- Dust right before feeding, because crickets groom off much of the dust within 30 minutes [2]. Feeder crickets are low in calcium compared with phosphorus, about 0.31:1 [6], which is why dusting matters.
- Remove uneaten crickets from your pet's enclosure after the feeding session [5], and no later than 6 to 8 hours [2].
The size rule: feed crickets no longer than the space between your pet's eyes [3][5].
| CCF size | Length [8] |
|---|---|
| Pinheads (3 to 7 days) | 1/16" |
| Pinheads (7 to 14+ days) | 1/8" |
| Small | 1/4 to 3/8" |
| Medium | 1/2" |
| Large | 3/4" |
| Jumbo | 3/4 to 1"+ |
For how often your pet should eat, see the Leopard Gecko and Bearded Dragon care sheets.
Why Are My Crickets Dying?
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Damp, smelly bin, mold | Too much moisture, poor airflow | More ventilation; remove wet food [1] |
| Crickets dead in the water | Open water | Switch to pebbles, cotton, sponge or gel [1] |
| Dying after a hot or cold spell | Temperature extremes | Move to a 70 to 75°F spot [1] |
| Moldy food | Fresh food left too long | Offer less produce; remove it before it molds [1] |
Nutrition and Lab Results
Our banded crickets tested at 27.37% protein, 65.06% moisture, 5.62% fat and 2.53% ash, with 160.06 kcal per 100 g and 857.2 ppm calcium [7]. That is the "27.4% protein" figure you may see on our site. See the full lab results.
Banded crickets are naturally resistant to the cricket virus that wiped out many house-cricket farms, and ours are virus-free and parasite-free.
Banded Cricket Care FAQ
How do I keep crickets alive after delivery?
Open the box right away, move them into a deep, ventilated container with egg flats, keep them around 70 to 75°F, and give them food plus a safe water source with no open water. Check food and water at least every 2 days [1].
What temperature should crickets be kept at?
About 70 to 75°F [1]. Keep them away from hot windows, heaters, cold garages and drafts.
Do crickets need water?
Yes, but they drown easily. Use pebbles in a shallow lid, soaked cotton, a damp sponge or paper towel, or water gel [1][2].
What do I feed my crickets?
A dry base food that's always available plus a little fresh produce, kept away from the water [1]. Gut-load them for 24 to 48 hours before feeding them to your pet [2].
Why are my crickets dying?
The usual causes are too much moisture or poor airflow (mold), open water they drown in, spoiled food and temperature swings. Fix airflow first [1].
How long will my crickets last?
It depends on age, size and care. See How Long Do Crickets Live.
Should I dust crickets before feeding?
Yes. Dust right before feeding, because crickets groom off much of the powder within 30 minutes [2]. Feeder crickets are low in calcium compared with phosphorus (about 0.31:1) [6].
What size crickets should I buy?
No longer than the space between your pet's eyes [3][5]. Use the size table on this page.
Do I need to take uneaten crickets out of my pet's enclosure?
Yes. Live crickets can nibble a resting reptile. Remove leftovers after the feeding session [5], and no later than 6 to 8 hours [2].
What's different about banded crickets?
Banded crickets are naturally resistant to the cricket virus that wiped out many house-cricket farms, and ours are virus-free and parasite-free. This farm has raised crickets since 1957, now carried on by our family.
Need more feeders?
Save 15% with the Carolina Cricket Club, and pause or skip anytime.
Live crickets ship UPS Ground or UPS 1-2 Day to the lower 48 states only, Monday to Thursday. Dubia roaches can't ship to Florida.
Sources
- WebMD, What to Feed Crickets (reviewed by Vanesa Farmer, DVM; general cricket care guidance)
- LafeberVet, Feeding Insect-Eating Reptiles (client handout)
- Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center, Feeder Insects for Reptiles: A Complete Guide
- PetMD, What Do Geckos Eat?
- PetMD, Leopard Gecko Care Sheet
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Nutrition in Reptiles
- Carolina Cricket Farm lab test, MVTL Laboratories, June 2026 (Certificate of Analysis, sample 26-M102952)
- Carolina Cricket Farm, Live Crickets product page (cricket sizes)
This care sheet is general information, not veterinary advice. Ask a veterinarian who treats reptiles and amphibians about your animal. Last updated: November 2026.