Cricket Die Off

[darkness975]

Hi all,

I recently ordered 200 crickets from a popular vendor that I use often. After setting them up in the cricket tank I use I noticed over the next few days that barely any food was touched.

Upon further examination it appears that all but 9 or 10 of them died within a few days of arrival.

I know it could be any number of factors but I am just wondering if anyone else here that orders feeders online has noticed anything similar recently?

In the mean time I'm going to clean the tank and not use the remaining handful in case they're ill.

 

[viper69]

That happened here in the states a while ago and they switched to banded crickets. Believe it was some cricket pathogen

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Hi all,

I recently ordered 200 crickets from a popular vendor that I use often. After setting them up in the cricket tank I use I noticed over the next few days that barely any food was touched.

Upon further examination it appears that all but 9 or 10 of them died within a few days of arrival.

I know it could be any number of factors but I am just wondering if anyone else here that orders feeders online has noticed anything similar recently?

In the mean time I'm going to clean the tank and not use the remaining handful in case they're ill.

Were they banded, crickets?? Sorry for your loss I don’t understand why they die possibly a virus or some pathogen as said by @viper69 , I keep roaches for this reason they are hardier .

 

[darkness975]

That happened here in the states a while ago and they switched to banded crickets. Believe it was some cricket pathogen

Were they banded, crickets?? Sorry for your loss I don’t understand why they die possibly a virus or some pathogen as said by @viper69 , I keep roaches for this reason they are hardier .

Yes they were banded crickets. I remember the virus a while ago so that's why I ask.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Every time I get banded crickets, they hit the water like mad for the first half hour or so. Although virus is likely, dehydration may be involved, too. I’ll usually add some water to a dish of crystals so it’s easier for them to drink up and they still can’t drown themselves.

 

[The Snark]

I recently ordered 200 crickets from a popular vendor that I use often.

A reminder that is easily overlooked or forgotten. What is the odor? ER physicians, nurses, Veterinarians and their assistants, all turn into bloodhounds when a trauma comes through or a sick animal.
Mass die off, most communicable cause and the most lethal, gram negative bacteria. Anaerobes. Foul odor, reminiscent of rot or decay. Most obvious and easiest to detect. Almost certain initial test with 200 dead or dying crickets.
No foul odor then move on to the rest of the causes, toxins such as pesticides then viral and other pathogens.

So in this case, take a few dead crickets, crush them and sniff. Don't mistake the foul reek from an earthy moist dirt or active compost odor which is aerobic bacteria at work and much less lethal.

 

[darkness975]

A reminder that is easily overlooked or forgotten. What is the odor? ER physicians, nurses, Veterinarians and their assistants, all turn into bloodhounds when a trauma comes through or a sick animal.
Mass die off, most communicable cause and the most lethal, gram negative bacteria. Anaerobes. Foul odor, reminiscent of rot or decay. Most obvious and easiest to detect. Almost certain initial test with 200 dead or dying crickets.
No foul odor then move on to the rest of the causes, toxins such as pesticides then viral and other pathogens.

So in this case, take a few dead crickets, crush them and sniff. Don't mistake the foul reek from an earthy moist dirt or active compost odor which is aerobic bacteria at work and much less lethal.

I dumped the whole lot. Not worth the risk
I'll try again maybe next week when they start shipping again.

 

[The Snark]

I dumped the whole lot. Not worth the risk

Understandable. Disconcerting in that the seller made such a mistake. A single factor is almost a certainty and hopefully they have implemented corrective measures.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Understandable. Disconcerting in that the seller made such a mistake. A single factor is almost a certainty and hopefully they have implemented corrective measures.

What a shame so many crickets dead because poor quality control ? Or a virus ..

 

[The Snark]

What a shame so many crickets dead because poor quality control ? Or a virus

I could be way off base here but I'm suspecting two factors were involved. Environment plus a virulent pathogen that took advantage of their weakened condition. Crickets in the wild are pretty tough critters. Seems it would take unusual conditions for a die off of that degree.

 

[darkness975]

It is a first that I've had with them. Hopefully the next batch is better.

 

[TLSizzle]

I've noticed my recent batches of crickets from petsmart have all acted the same lethargic way and have died off within days of getting them.

I've had major success with crickets from expos, but in between expos I have to get some from pet chain stores.

They all walk very slowly after drinking for long periods of time. But its the way they walk... almost with thier heads bent downwards. Or they just lay on their backs not dead. They seem active in their bags at the store. But when I get them home they deteriorate all the same way.

 

[darkness975]

I've noticed my recent batches of crickets from petsmart have all acted the same lethargic way and have died off within days of getting them.

I've had major success with crickets from expos, but in between expos I have to get some from pet chain stores.

They all walk very slowly after drinking for long periods of time. But its the way they walk... almost with thier heads bent downwards. Or they just lay on their backs not dead. They seem active in their bags at the store. But when I get them home they deteriorate all the same way.

Pet store house crickets are the worst.

You're better off with Banded Crickets from reputable places.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I've noticed my recent batches of crickets from petsmart have all acted the same lethargic way and have died off within days of getting them.

I've had major success with crickets from expos, but in between expos I have to get some from pet chain stores.

They all walk very slowly after drinking for long periods of time. But its the way they walk... almost with thier heads bent downwards. Or they just lay on their backs not dead. They seem active in their bags at the store. But when I get them home they deteriorate all the same way.

I never buy more crickets then I can immediately feed off from pet shops. They quit carrying hardier adult cricket's… sadly and banded should be standard but they’re not ??