6 growing substrates from Substrates.
Substrate
Standard 30-count egg carton flats used as vertical hides and climbing surfaces in cricket bins. Cheap, disposable, and they maximize usable surface area so you can pack more crickets per tote without cannibalism spikes.
$0.15-$0.40 per flat
Substrate
Cut corrugated cardboard sheets stacked or rolled to create multi-level hiding spots in rearing bins. The fluted channels give crickets tunnels to shelter in, and you can source it for free from shipping boxes.
Free-$0.10 per piece
Substrate
Compressed coconut fiber bricks that expand with water into a loose, humidity-holding substrate. Used as a laying medium for cricket egg deposition and as bedding for mealworm and BSFL bins where moisture control matters.
$3-$8 per brick
Substrate
Sphagnum peat moss used as an egg-laying substrate for crickets. Holds moisture well and resists mold better than soil. Some farms mix it 50/50 with vermiculite for the ideal egg incubation medium.
$5-$12 per bag
Substrate
Expanded vermiculite used alone or mixed with peat moss as an egg incubation substrate. Lightweight, sterile, and holds water without compacting. The gold standard for cricket egg trays at commercial scale.
$4-$10 per bag
Substrate
Wheat bran spread as a thin bedding layer in mealworm and superworm bins. Doubles as both substrate and food source. Keep it dry or it molds fast. Replace every 2-3 weeks or when frass buildup gets heavy.
$1-$3 per pound