Having Cricket Issues - Anyone else?

[morpheon]

I don't remember the exact name of the black cricket you guys talk about, but if it's what i believe it is, some chameleons might not eat them. It's a commun specie in Europe and i read a good dozen of report saying their chams would never eat any.

But then again, some eat these crickets, and some don't.

 

[Seeco]

Cricket plague... does anyone want to buy all my reptiles?

 

[summoner12]

I've heard things are getting for the cricket breeders first hit with this. And I've heard the cricket supplier up in Washington is using air purifiers in the cricket rooms to combat the virus.

Hey, Steve, did you mean to say "I've heard things are getting better for the cricket breeders first hit with this."

Or did you mean worse?

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Hey, Steve, did you mean to say "I've heard things are getting better for the cricket breeders first hit with this."

Or did you mean worse?

Yes, I seem to have left out the word better
Things are getting better, for now.

 

[jamncristian]

maybe they can start replace them with the camel cricket............. hopefully
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7DKUS_en&tbs=isch:1

they sure look juicy

 

[summoner12]

Yes, I seem to have left out the word better
Things are getting better, for now.

well that is good news!

 

[DragonLady]

As I'm not the only one having this issue, I don't think its a matter of the crickets being exposed to something during shipping. As I've ordered from this company for quite a while, are there any other suppliers that anyone would recommend? Tried Flukers, and not a fan, but any others? Thanks.

 

[jamncristian]

ghanns (sponsor)

 

[ijmccollum]

Well, this is disturbing news. I order 1K every couple weeks for the crew. Was going to order today but was distracted. The distraction was distressing in and of itself but add this to it.... D@mn! Alternative feeders will be busy it seems.

 

[Montium]

Lucky Lure

http://www.luckylurecricketfarm.com/

 

[jojothefirst]

im in the UK and black crickets are very commen here.
There care is similer 2 brown crickets and possible abit more hardy. I dont think there bite is as bad as some people are making out. There def not as aggressive as a morio is.
I see little difference other than colour and slightly bigger so should be fine to use as a staple.

 

[Chameleon Loco]

About a few weeks ago I bought crix from my ex feeder store reptile depot they died within a few days turns out their supplier said that their crix had that thing that u guys were talking about so after reptile depot refused to give me a refund for my 500 dead crickets I started going to a new place

 

[SpinyFranky]

My question:

Many of you are talking about direct cricket suppliers being infected, but what about the local pet stores such as petco/petsmart? any news of them getting hit?

If they are not having reports of this outbreak, perhaps then it might be wisest to pony up the extra $$$ and get crickets that will live past the 5 day point ( which seems to be the make it or break point at the moment ) and use those to start a self contained colony, practice cleanly keeping, and don't expose those crix to any "outsiders" that might be potential carriers....

Next question!

has anyone identified how this infection is transmitted? via contact alone? or is it airborne? Perhaps it is coming from the crickets diet? I.E imported foods labeled safe for human consumption ( our immune system obviously puts the crickets to shame ) but not safe at all for the crix?

It happens all the time with E. Coli and Salmonella.... perhaps this is just the cricket version?

Just food for thought

S.F

 

[jojothefirst]

im in the UK and black crickets are very commen here.
There care is similer 2 brown crickets and possible abit more hardy. I dont think there bite is as bad as some people are making out. There def not as aggressive as a morio is.
I see little difference other than colour and slightly bigger so should be fine to use as a staple.

 

[warpdrive]

Spiny,

I can't speak for the west coast.
But here in the east coast, both petland and petco sell 1 week olds and 5 week olds.

Since this problem seems to effect crickets at the 4 week mark, then it seems that they are problem free at this time.
I also have not had or heard any problems with ganns so you might want to buy from them and try breeding.

Cricket breeding realy is easy and worth a try if you are willing.

Harry

 

[SSimsswiSS]

My question:

Many of you are talking about direct cricket suppliers being infected, but what about the local pet stores such as petco/petsmart? any news of them getting hit
has anyone identified how this infection is transmitted? is it airborne?

Where do you think pet stores get their crickets? (cricket suppliers) I know that Timberline has the Petco account.

It appears to be a airborne virus.

 

[Kent67]

Yep, I heard it was airborne, also. The implication I got was that they were not all exchanging crickets. My farm here said he was considering moving to a new facility with all new everything but was afraid that wouldn't do any good because of it being airborne.

Edit: Oh, duh. I also wanted to ask if anyone knows whether or not the US would even allow the other cricket species to be imported?

 

[SpinyFranky]

Where do you think pet stores get their crickets? (cricket suppliers) I know that Timberline has the Petco account.

It appears to be a airborne virus.

Hmmm.... I was unaware of that....

I spoke with a petco employee ( "reptile specialist" ) and he told me that their store has been breeding their own colony for a while now.... apparently some managers idea that took off...

Im not sure if many other petco's do it.... but they continue to sell the large crix....

THOUGH I must admit I have seen a size reduction in the crickets themselves.... with sadly no price reduction. Perhaps they have the same problem and are just acting "hush hush" on the whole thing.....

This worries me.... but I was going to eventually take the chams off crickets anyways... might as well happen now.

S.F

 

[summoner12]

Hmmm.... I was unaware of that....

I spoke with a petco employee ( "reptile specialist" ) and he told me that their store has been breeding their own colony for a while now.... apparently some managers idea that took off...

Im not sure if many other petco's do it.... but they continue to sell the large crix....

THOUGH I must admit I have seen a size reduction in the crickets themselves.... with sadly no price reduction. Perhaps they have the same problem and are just acting "hush hush" on the whole thing.....

This worries me.... but I was going to eventually take the chams off crickets anyways... might as well happen now.

S.F

What PetCo?

What are you going to feed instead of crickets?

 

[SpinyFranky]

What PetCo?

What are you going to feed instead of crickets?

Glendale, Ca Petco.

I made a friend with one of the employees,

and basically what he would do is go in the back and choose the "medium" size crickets for me because their large were too big for my female... and the small were too small.

after a while we got to talking, and he told me ( and I sneaked some peeks ) behind the door, where they had buckets of dirt for the crix and such. He told me they were doing it small scale....

Im not sure if that eventually took off in total self sustained colony, or if it failed.

However as stated, for the last few weeks the crickets have been noticeably smaller than usual. No more needing to pick through the large, as they are all borderline small anyways.... I would say a good 1/2 the size they were originally ( scary since they charge the same price )

as for feeder swapping - Im thinking about a Dubia Colony, as well as Silk Worms ( not a colony, just a substitute when colony gets low )

Still have to get the idea of 1k roaches living in the house... but well see.