Re: jamaican giant crickets?
there is so much conflicting info and I have been researching like mad to get the facts straight. I am still trying to get a hold of some entymologists in CA to get the full story on the true Gryllus assimilis and crazy reds.
the only state they are legal in is CA because they are considered wild here. anywhere else is illegal because they destroy populations due to their resistance to a virus. from what I have read they are pretty much the agent orange to the widespread cricket epidemic.
I do not kill the crickets before feeding. my frogs lick them up and crunch crunch crunch them to death. I have read some threads on here that say it is a myth for a insect to bite from the inside. This could be false but was backed up by a few members on this forum.
the black ones which are Gryllus bimaculatus are the most aggressive on the market. that is the one you most likely encountered. I personally have never been bite by a cricket, but have seen the tissue damage it causes.
any cricket can be a potential harm if left in the tank. I have seen baby reptiles with missing eyes because of multiple species of crickets. its a sad thing to see which is why I only tong feed. I also use Dubia blaptica which I adore because of their handling and breeding.
In Lija's case I think canadian nightcrawlers are the best way to go. if I was a frog it would be like eating spaghetti.
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