Data sheet steppe crickets
Latin name:
Gryllus assimilis
Origin:
Mexico, West Indies, Jamaica, Texas, South Florida
Size:
up to 3.5 cm
age expectation:
several months
Breed:
simply possible
Lining:
Suitable for reptiles, amphibians, rodents Schönitzer, Gryllus assimilis male 02, CC BY-SA 3.0
General information
steppe crickets externally resemble the well-known house crickets, but they are significantly larger. The females grow up to 3.5 cm, the males are a little smaller. Her Basic color is yellowish to brownwith a black belly and a black forehead.
However, there are also other colors, for example different shades of red. Steppe crickets have one narrow head and their eye area is colored yellow to brown. Their pronotum is hairy, which means steppe crickets are not shiny. The animals have long wings that allow them to fly.
The natural range this cricket species amounts to Mexico, Texas, the West Indies, Jamaica and southern Florida. She live in meadows, fields and roadsides.
The crickets chirp briefly, but very often within a few seconds. Every single chirp consists of 7 or more high-frequency pulses, which seem like a continuous noise. However, the chirping of steppe crickets not so loud like that of other species of crickets, making them easy to keep as live food. Thus, the steppe cricket is one good alternative to the very noisy house crickets.
attitude
For keeping the steppe crickets are suitable Fauna boxes and smaller aquariums. Come as substrate sand, cardboard or kitchen paper in question. By the way, the sand can be washed out.
For this purpose, the otherwise empty container is filled up to a quarter with water, then swiveled out and everything floating in the excess water is poured out. The wet sand can quickly settle, dry and be used again.
In terms of interior design, a lot is possible. A natural environment with plants or a house made of Lego are a good idea. On the limited space should as much tread as possible arise so that the crickets can explore enough.
steppe crickets molt. During this time, they cannot defend themselves against their fellow occupants, who like to nibble on the molting roommates or even eat them up completely if their appetite is large enough. Dog or cat food contains a lot of animal proteins, which are likely to curb meat cravings. Nonetheless the skinning crickets should separate into a separate corner in the fauna tank can until their molt is over.
Steppe crickets love heat, so they feel comfortable between 25 and 30 °C and able to grow and reproduce. Lower temperatures are also possible, but then the crickets reproduce only slowly. In addition, it is drier in the fauna box when it is warm. Provide heating Incandescent lamps or radiant heaters. A heating cable provides heat from underneath, and heating stones, which are common in reptiles, are also a good idea.
breed
One Reproduction of steppe crickets is similar to reproduction of house crickets or Mediterranean crickets. It takes place by Egg-laying in moist substrate. The female crickets lay the eggs in a small container filled with potting soil, peat or damp cotton wool became.
A very large water point should not be in the cricket box, otherwise the eggs could end up in the water container. Worthwhile as an egg laying box cricket sales containers, mugs and various other small boxes. When these have been filled with moistened soil, some gauze fastened over itso that the eggs are protected from marauding conspecifics.
The one lying in the breeding tank Substrate should never dry out, but never be very wet either be. Some small holes on the bottom of the egg tray prevent waterlogging. The Container is best placed on a flowerpot saucer with water.
The young crickets usually hatch after 14 days, depending on the temperature. From 25° C the hatch succeeds better. The temperature inside the substrate is not easily measured, since there is likely to be some evaporative chilling involved. crickets develop at different rates in the same container under the same conditions.
Even the steppe crickets are not exempt here. In contrast to crickets, the percentage development is more favorable for them, because around 90 percent are developing well and the rest is a little underdeveloped. The crickets balance it out.
It is impractical to raise young steppe crickets in the same container as the adults. Even if their tendency to cannibalism is not as strong, there would still be far fewer young crickets surviving. Hiding places are definitely a good option, but if you want to breed a lot of crickets for food, you should Transfer the egg-laying container to a separate box until hatching.
special feature
steppe crickets cannot be clearly classified according to different theses on the part of zoology. It is possible that these crickets arose entirely through breeding. She are quite easy to handle and maintainbecause they do not jump as frequently as house crickets, chirp more quietly and practice less cannibalism than other cricket species.
fodder and feeding
lining
Like all types of crickets, steppe crickets are omnivore. Anyone who keeps these crickets should note that you Lining less moist is. It is optimal to combine dry cat food, wheat bran or oatmeal with vegetables.
With such a diet water not necessarybecause the steppe crickets get enough water from their vegetables. Too much moisture is rather harmful herebecause steppe crickets need a dry and warm environment instead of very moist food.
feeding
steppe crickets are classic feed animals, which are readily eaten by many species of reptiles. These include, for example, geckos, chameleons or bearded dragons.
steppe crickets are easy to feed and also contain some important nutrients. The brown insect is available in various sizes, so that reptiles, amphibians or rodents get a good supply of food at different ages.