Weird - albino cricket !

[Kristen87]

Okay , so here he is. 'Casper the Friendly Ghost'-- cricket !!
I shinned a light in is eyes- as close I wanted to get. No red.
He is different, for sure.
NOT jumpy. And, he likes to hang out in the egg laying area.









I'll keep him , and see what happens?
OMG, now I have to worry about a cricket !!!!!

Lynn

Hahaha how cute, you now have a pet cricket :P Bet you never expected that one!

[fluffypanda]

i have a pet beetle! i was trying to breed the 'Giant Mealworms' and he was the only survivor! I've had him for a few months now and his name is max

[frogluver]

Casper would be a fitting name Lynn lol! ;D

[GrifTheGreat]

Is it possible their was a lack of a specific vitamin or mineral like calcium that may have prevented the hardening of his exoskeleton rather than a genetic anomoly?

[flybyferns]

Is it possible their was a lack of a specific vitamin or mineral like calcium that may have prevented the hardening of his exoskeleton rather than a genetic anomoly?

Good thought Grif ! I do mix gut load w/calcium in their daily feed though.

[JeffreH]

Is it possible their was a lack of a specific vitamin or mineral like calcium that may have prevented the hardening of his exoskeleton rather than a genetic anomoly?

Possibly, though I am not sure what crickets specifically require during sclerotization, as the cuticle of each species of insect varies at least slightly.

The bulk of the exoskeleton (which isn't just a single layer) is composed primarily of chitin, a complex polysaccharide much like cellulose in plants. Most of us are pretty familiar with chitin as we have to deal with it when we consume crustraceans and this is generally the cause for concern with feeders that have dense exoskeletons like mealworms and zophobas. In addition, there are various proteins involved with the parts of the exoskeleton, and the prcoess of molting and 'hardening' to grow is fairly complicated... there are a number of enzymes involved, required precursors such as hormones and other cofactors. Its possible that dietary needs aid in the production of these cofactors, except I'd expect to see issues with the actual molt in the entire population (or a complete inability to molt, and death).

On the note of Zophobas morio (Superworms), this species is most safer to feed than the 'Giant' variety of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) as the Giant variety are generally provided with an insect growth hormone to allow them to attain massive size and inhibit pupation to be used as bait. I'm not sure if there are negative effects to this insect growth hormone to our pets, but I'd rather not feed them. Zophobas are frequently coined as giant mealworms, make sure that the species you obtain are dark in color, with dark heads and very active (and unable to be refrigerated. They should look like this: SupersEatSilkC.jpg picture by JEFFREH - Photobucket

Anywho, crickets are thought to bring good fortune in some cultures...maybe this one is your Lucky ticket = ) You should name him Cri-Kee, like the one from the movie Mulan!


One more quick follow-up: Lynn, do you know if he was born this way?

[flybyferns]

Possibly, though I am not sure what crickets specifically require during sclerotization, as the cuticle of each species of insect varies at least slightly.

The bulk of the exoskeleton (which isn't just a single layer) is composed primarily of chitin, a complex polysaccharide much like cellulose in plants. Most of us are pretty familiar with chitin as we have to deal with it when we consume crustraceans and this is generally the cause for concern with feeders that have dense exoskeletons like mealworms and zophobas. In addition, there are various proteins involved with the parts of the exoskeleton, and the prcoess of molting and 'hardening' to grow is fairly complicated... there are a number of enzymes involved, required precursors such as hormones and other cofactors. Its possible that dietary needs aid in the production of these cofactors, except I'd expect to see issues with the actual molt in the entire population (or a complete inability to molt, and death).

On the note of Zophobas morio (Superworms), this species is most safer to feed than the 'Giant' variety of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) as the Giant variety are generally provided with an insect growth hormone to allow them to attain massive size and inhibit pupation to be used as bait. I'm not sure if there are negative effects to this insect growth hormone to our pets, but I'd rather not feed them. Zophobas are frequently coined as giant mealworms, make sure that the species you obtain are dark in color, with dark heads and very active (and unable to be refrigerated. They should look like this: SupersEatSilkC.jpg picture by JEFFREH - Photobucket

Anywho, crickets are thought to bring good fortune in some cultures...maybe this one is your Lucky ticket = ) You should name him Cri-Kee, like the one from the movie Mulan!


One more quick follow-up: Lynn, do you know if he was born this way?

Jeff
Casper aka 'Cri-Kee' was born this way. I'll get another pic this weekend.

[Kristen]

I find this really cute (not the cricket, just the fact that everyone nameing him and all )
I think you should breed him and see what his offspring are like, and if they are white/soft, feed them to your frogs for a 'test run' to see if the frogs like them better and what not (I'd assume they would taste the same though, haha)
This is real interesting

[JeffreH]

Awesome Lynn = )

You know, I've never been so interested in a cricket in my entire life - they're usually so annoying to keep that I want to punch things.

Now, if ony he was able to produce silent/non-smelly offspring too. Sweet mother of God... that would be fantastic.

If you are feeling super ambitious, you could make a breeding bin for just him and a few choice females. This would help to eliminate competition from other males and you could truly ID his own offspring, or even hold them back and breed them together to see if anything recessive pops up!

[Kristen87]

i have a pet beetle! i was trying to breed the 'Giant Mealworms' and he was the only survivor! I've had him for a few months now and his name is max

lol cuuuute! ugh giant mealworms though, they are the CREEPIEST things ever lol. I'm getting the shivers just thinking about them.

[Whistly]

Casper looks awesome I would breed him and sell albino crickets people would probably go nuts for them.

[flybyferns]

Casper looks awesome I would breed him and sell albino crickets people would probably go nuts for them.

No Thank You !!! I'll send him on a boat ride across the river to you! lol

[NetworkLabs]

Lolwut to above.

I think if this is genetic, and shows no harm to our beloved animals, that this would be a better feeding choice than the regular House Cricket! It has a softer exoskeleton/body right? That means easier to take in and diejest(Damn, couldn't spell it!) the cricket! So I agree with Jeff, Get Babies ASAP!

[Whistly]

Lolwut to above.

I think if this is genetic, and shows no harm to our beloved animals, that this would be a better feeding choice than the regular House Cricket! It has a softer exoskeleton/body right? That means easier to take in and diejest(Damn, couldn't spell it!) the cricket! So I agree with Jeff, Get Babies ASAP!

Digest lol spelling isn't my strong point either.

[Whistly]

Also this thread has had 29 now 30 replies in 24 hours so just think how people will go MAD if you can breed them and sell them.