Quote Originally Posted by pbenson View Post
The problem is that other crickets will not be permitted to be sold commercially in the U.S.
While raising local crickets may be good for enthusiasts. the commercial pet industry will not continue to offer reptiles or amphibians as pets if they can not offer a suitable food!
You make a good point here. Getting other species of crickets approved may be a lengthy process, and in the meantime people who are new to the hobby of keeping insect eating reptiles may pass up such animals, if it is too hard to feed them. Keeping horned lizards is an example of a hard to keep species, as they need harvester ants containing formic acid, and will die if they don't get that specific ant. At least with amphibians and most other reptiles, there are many other types of insects besides crickets that one can feed their animals. It will just take more effort and expertise on the part of the keeper to maintain their animals.

I like not being dependent upon an outside source for my pets' needs.