Feeders from fishing bait shops

[JDS123]

just wanted to take a moment and advise any new keepers of anything that eats crickets, to not use crickets from bait shops. At least not the dirty kept ones we have around here.

In my 25 or so years with breeding reptiles and keeping other exotics, I've had major issues from making that mistake.

Get quality clean kept feeders!

 

[cold blood]

I buy wax worms and earthworms from bait shops all the time in the winter...way closer than the pet store (they get them from the same farmed sources)...but we don't sell crickets at bait shops in WI...at least I haven't seen one and I have stepped into a ton of them. Yeah, dirty cricket bins should always be avoided...there's one major LPS I won't buy them from (when I used crickets) because they're kept so poorly.

Looking for banded crickets are worth the effort. They climb (great for arboreals), they are much much hardier and are also significantly more pest and disease resistant.

Many years back there was a disease that had a dramatic effect on the feeder industry, as a result, banded crickets were brought in and are now found at random pet stores all over the country...these crickets are also much much hardier (like hard to kill), have a quieter chirp and tend to be more active when dropped into a cage.

 

[JDS123]

I buy wax worms and earthworms from bait shops all the time in the winter...way closer than the pet store (they get them from the same farmed sources)...but we don't sell crickets at bait shops in WI...at least I haven't seen one and I have stepped into a ton of them. Yeah, dirty cricket bins should always be avoided...there's one major LPS I won't buy them from (when I used crickets) because they're kept so poorly.

Looking for banded crickets are worth the effort. They climb (great for arboreals), they are much much hardier and are also significantly more pest and disease resistant.

Many years back there was a disease that had a dramatic effect on the feeder industry, as a result, banded crickets were brought in and are now found at random pet stores all over the country...these crickets are also much much hardier (like hard to kill), have a quieter chirp and tend to be more active when dropped into a cage.

Yeah worms are normally totally fine.

The bait shops here have nasty cricket bins. Every time we've gotten them they have some sort of pin worms. They die, ended up losing almost an entire gecko group. I used to breed beardeds and geckos for a few shops. I don't breed anymore. You guys are blessed to have so many places for so many types of feeders now.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Many years back there was a disease that had a dramatic effect on the feeder industry, as a result, banded crickets were brought in and are now found at random pet stores all over the country...these crickets are also much much hardier (like hard to kill), have a quieter chirp and tend to be more active when dropped into a cage.

That's interesting. I remember that disease causing problems (I think it was some sort of virus, but I may be wrong) but never gave it a lot of thought. But, I remember keeping crickets and being lulled to sleep by their chirping. These days, I don't hear a peep (or chirp) from them. Maybe I've been buying banded crickets. But the ones I buy die pretty easily, "hardy" is not a word I'd use to describe them, so who knows? Is there a noticeable difference in appearance?

 

[JoshDM020]

Googled banded crickets to see if thats what i get. It is. If thats what you call "quiet", you must listen to even louder music than i do @cold blood . Whoever decided that has some seriously damaged hearing. I like crickets chirping outside all night long, but i have to put the Kritter Keeper i keep em in in the closet on nights they get too active to keep myself from going nuts. I'd hate to hear something NOT considered "quiet".

 

[JDS123]

Googled banded crickets to see if thats what i get. It is. If thats what you call "quiet", you must listen to even louder music than i do @cold blood . Whoever decided that has some seriously damaged hearing. I like crickets chirping outside all night long, but i have to put the Kritter Keeper i keep em in in the closet on nights they get too active to keep myself from going nuts. I'd hate to hear something NOT considered "quiet".

lol i hate chirping crickets too lol. Their is an episode of Frazier based on one cricket in his house making him nuts, its hilarious.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I like crickets chirping outside all night long, but i have to put the Kritter Keeper i keep em in in the closet on nights they get too active to keep myself from going nuts. I'd hate to hear something NOT considered "quiet".

I used to get the so-called "silent crickets" (whoever came up with that name is an effing liar), mature males still chirp at night (I had to put them in the spare room so I could sleep at night) but they're pretty quiet the rest of the time.

If you ever decide you want to drive yourself truly mental then get black crickets, I made that mistake once, them buggers are loud as heck and they never shut up.

 

[cold blood]

That's interesting. I remember that disease causing problems (I think it was some sort of virus, but I may be wrong) but never gave it a lot of thought. But, I remember keeping crickets and being lulled to sleep by their chirping. These days, I don't hear a peep (or chirp) from them. Maybe I've been buying banded crickets. But the ones I buy die pretty easily, "hardy" is not a word I'd use to describe them, so who knows? Is there a noticeable difference in appearance?

Then you aren't getting banded...these things are hard to kill. I once had a container with them...thought I fed the last one...some 2 months later I went to put more in and noticed 2, still in there, still very much alive. Common domestic grey crickets would have lasted maybe 72 hours.

The reason banded were introduced was due to their resistance to diseases and parasites...what caused the issue, would have had no effect on banded crickets.

Googled banded crickets to see if thats what i get. It is. If thats what you call "quiet"

Re read my post...I never called them quiet...I called them quieter...as in the other more common kinds are louder. Its just less piercing.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

I want me some banded crickets, in that case. Though as I indicated, I like chirping. But dead crickets don't chirp.

And whoa! I think I just conceived a murder mystery novel title! "Dead Crickets Don't Chirp"

 

[Ellenantula]

they get them from the same farmed sources

This is my understanding as well. I don't see large feeder sellers offering "clean parasite free feeders for your beloved pets" vs their bargain choice of "nasty parasitic ridden feeders I just want to unload onto fishermen" offers. I know the guy I buy banded crickets and superworms from sells to lizard/invert keepers as well as to fishermen. No issues here.

But, I remember keeping crickets and being lulled to sleep by their chirping.

I felt this way with banded crickets (kept in an adjoining room) -- it was just a distant soft pleasant chirp -- better than any sleeping pill pharmaceutical could design. Much like the outside cricket chirps I now rely on.

Now, while the cicada were active here (or is that 'hear?') -- I questioned if I was truly a nature lover or not.
I recently had a male wild cricket, somewhere in the central a/c vent a few weeks back -- drove me crazy. Guess he finally found his way back outside.

 

[Trenor]

The local petsmart gets their crickets from the same place that the bait place down the road does. Depending on how they are housed afterwards they might get parasites but they do come from the same breeder here. I'd treat it just like any other food item I buy for my pets. If it looks like it's not being kept well I'd find somewhere else to get it. I wouldn't get greens for my bearded dragon from the local food store if they were moldy and wilted. Just because one bait shop didn't keep them well doesn't mean they are all that way. If you buy your pets food take the time to insure its quality.

Keep in mind that buying from an online breeder doesn't ensure a safe healthy feeder either.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

If you buy your pets food take the time to insure its quality.

Yes. That's why before crickets or roaches get the all-important Tim Benzedrine Seal of Approval, I eat a few handfuls.

 

[Trenor]

Yes. That's why before crickets or roaches get the all-important Tim Benzedrine Seal of Approval, I eat a few handfuls.

You're the guy at the store that has to try two handfuls of grapes to decide if they are ripe and you want them aren't you?

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Darned straight. But you know what REALLY makes the shop-keepers angry? When I set up a hibachi in the meat department to quality-assure their steaks...

You'd think they'd appreciate the all-important TBSoA post-it notes I affix to the packages if they meet my high standards, but quite the contrary.
As an aside, the jail here does not earn the TBSoA.

 

[viper69]

That's interesting. I remember that disease causing problems (I think it was some sort of virus, but I may be wrong) but never gave it a lot of thought. But, I remember keeping crickets and being lulled to sleep by their chirping. These days, I don't hear a peep (or chirp) from them. Maybe I've been buying banded crickets. But the ones I buy die pretty easily, "hardy" is not a word I'd use to describe them, so who knows? Is there a noticeable difference in appearance?

Big difference in looks, google them up. Correct on USA crix industry, almost wiped out, banded cricket to the rescue. I've used them, much quieter.