Weird - albino cricket !

[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!

[flybyferns]

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!

Hi Jeff,
The original/earlier pics in this post were taken Wednesday- 2/15 at 7: 15 pm est
Well here is this same cricket a few minutes ago ( 2/17- 5:45 pm est). Looking much darker ?
Not normal- but darker.





I'm still willing to make a separate breeding bin?
What do you think? I suppose he could have simply have had a shedding issue?

Note: I have not purchased 'new' adult crickets for quite some time. This breeding bin I recently made is from offspring (of mine) going on the 4th round. It is however, offspring from batches of 1000's of pinheads. Prolific little buggers ! Just a thought ?

As far as producing "non-smelly off spring'. Ha!
Unlikely ! You could clean them more often though.
It works wonders. lol

Lynn

[JeffreH]

Lol! I've tried dermestid beetles and regular cleanings, but they are still far too smelly for my liking. I may have just been spoiled on my lovely roach collection; can keep a bin of 10,000 virtually untouched for a year and it will not smell nearly as bad as 1000 crickets in a weeks time. But unfortunately, many are not allowed to keep roaches, either by parents, spouse, or by law (Florida for many species)... so crickets are the best option as a visually stimulating meal.


As for the cricket - he doesn't look too far off from some others that I have seen now that he is darkening up some, but he is still slightly unique. His wings still seem off, (not necessarily in a bad way, just not 100% normal) but its hard to judge accurately without seeing him in person; it could be a fluke from a molt or some other environmental conditions. He also has otherwise normal markings on the head and pronotum of a domestic cricket, dark patterning that still suggests more of a structural difference than color/pigmentation difference.

That being said, you have the ability to physically see him and compare him to the others in your culture. He clearly stands out significantly enough to you, so breeding him may be something worthwhile still. He is an adorable little fellow, worst thing that happens is you get normal crickets, which can just be fed off to your froggies like the others you are breeding = )

[flybyferns]

Lol! I've tried dermestid beetles and regular cleanings, but they are still far too smelly for my liking. I may have just been spoiled on my lovely roach collection; can keep a bin of 10,000 virtually untouched for a year and it will not smell nearly as bad as 1000 crickets in a weeks time. But unfortunately, many are not allowed to keep roaches, either by parents, spouse, or by law (Florida for many species)... so crickets are the best option as a visually stimulating meal.


As for the cricket - he doesn't look too far off from some others that I have seen now that he is darkening up some, but he is still slightly unique. His wings still seem off, (not necessarily in a bad way, just not 100% normal) but its hard to judge accurately without seeing him in person; it could be a fluke from a molt or some other environmental conditions. He also has otherwise normal markings on the head and pronotum of a domestic cricket, dark patterning that still suggests more of a structural difference than color/pigmentation difference.

That being said, you have the ability to physically see him and compare him to the others in your culture. He clearly stands out significantly enough to you, so breeding him may be something worthwhile still. He is an adorable little fellow, worst thing that happens is you get normal crickets, which can just be fed off to your froggies like the others you are breeding = )

Okay,
I'm willing to do this,a he dose not ( at the moment) look like the others.
I will set-up a little palace for him.
I'll keep you posted.
Lynn

[Whistly]

I've kept NZ native and the South African mantids and occasionally during shedding they will lose the tips of their legs and damage their wings so maybe Casper damaged his wings during shedding which could explain the "off" wings.
I thought of an advantage to white crickets they stand out easier so young frogs learning the ropes can find food easier.

[GrifTheGreat]

I've kept NZ native and the South African mantids and occasionally during shedding they will lose the tips of their legs and damage their wings so maybe Casper damaged his wings during shedding which could explain the "off" wings.
I thought of an advantage to white crickets they stand out easier so young frogs learning the ropes can find food easier.

That is a observation and thought, but a lot of amphibians and reptiles see not only normal light, but UVA radiation as well. If the crickets lose the pigmentation that reflects the UVA radiation it may make them more difficult to find. This would of course not be true for all species. Its still a very interesting thought.