Minimizing Cannibalism and Sorting

Preventing the Civil War

1. The Protein Punch

Crickets eat each other primarily for the protein and salt in their neighbor’s body.

The Fix: Ensure your feed is at least 20% protein. If you see crickets biting each other, add a small amount of “fishmeal” or “dried milk powder” to their feed for a few days to satisfy their craving.

2. Hydration is Peace

A thirsty cricket will drink the blood (hemolymph) of another cricket.

The Fix: If you see cannibalism, check your water source first. 90% of the time, the crickets are just thirsty.

3. The Jungle Effect (Space)

In a crowded bin, a molting cricket has nowhere to hide.

The Fix: Add more egg trays. You want so many hiding spots that a soft, molting cricket can find a “private corner” where no one will find it for the two hours it takes for its shell to harden.

Sorting and Grading

Grading is the process of making sure all crickets in a bin are the same size.

The Visual Check: Once a week, look at your bins. If you see “Giants” and “Dwarfs,” use a plastic cup to scoop out the giants and move them to an older bin.
Uniformity Equals Profit: When all crickets are the same size, they reach the harvest window at the same time, allowing you to empty and clean the bin in one go.

Cannibalism Risk Factors

Trigger	Sign to Look For	Immediate Action
Thirst	Crickets huddling around water	Refill water / Increase veggies
Hunger	“Half-eaten” crickets on the floor	Increase feed quantity/protein %
Crowding	Crickets sitting on top of each other	Add more vertical egg trays
Heat	High activity and aggression	Improve ventilation

Case Study: The Thirsty Thursday Lesson

In Lusaka, a farm manager noticed that every Friday morning, there were hundreds of “heads” (the only part cannibals don’t eat) on the floor of the bins. He realized that the staff were leaving early on Thursdays and not refilling the water gels. The crickets were spending the night eating each other to stay hydrated. By implementing a “Sunset Water Check” every single day, the cannibalism stopped immediately, increasing their total harvest weight by 10kg per month.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

Watch the Molt: If you see white-colored crickets, those are ones that just shed their skin. They are the most vulnerable. If you see others attacking them, your protein or water levels are too low.
Dead Removal: Remove any crickets that die of natural causes immediately. If you leave them, the others will eat them, which can spread diseases throughout the colony.
Peace is Quiet: A happy, well-fed bin is relatively quiet. If you hear a lot of “scurrying” or “fighting” sounds, something is wrong with the environment.