- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
What do you know about Fishbait Crickets?
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:22 am
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:22 am
Some fellow OB fellers know I work at a cricket farm. I've been here almost 20 years, straight outta LSU. 
I don't mess with the crickets much (we do other stuff that is related to the pet industry) but I figured some of you may be interested in some facts about the crickets we all used for fishbait growing up. (and even now)
The scientific name of the crickets you buy at bait shops and pet stores is Acheta domesticus aka the House Cricket.
They are originally from Southwestern Asia. They have been used in the States because they are much hardier than the crickets you find in the wild Stateside.
These crickets have a lifespan of only 8 weeks.
Crickets become very dormant when cold, and can survive several hours below freezing temps.
They grow wings at around 4 weeks. Only males can chirp, and they do so to attract females. Crickets actually produce different calls for different purposes. The calling song, which may be heard for distances up to a mile, helps the female find the male. Once she is near, the male switches to a courtship song to convince her to mate with him. And, in some cases, the male also sings a post-copulation celebratory song.
There has been a cricket virus going around the world wiping out entire cricket farms only affecting this particular species of crickets. Not much is known about this virus, but it has put a few farms out of business. Some farms have successfully started breeding another type of species. We have a colony of this species on standby in case we get the cricket virus.
Our customers range from small pet stores, large chain pet stores, fish bait stands, zoos, Universities, Disney World Animal Kingdom, Sea World and even the Smithsonian Institute. We sell millions each week.
Sales of fishbait crickets declined dramatically in Louisiana when gambling became legal.
Finally, you can tell the ambient temperature by counting chirps of a cricket. (Most of the time) To convert cricket chirps to degrees Fahrenheit, count number of chirps in 14 seconds then add 40 to get temperature.
Example: 30 chirps + 40 = 70° F
There you have it, all the things you wanted to know about crickets. Still IMO one of the very best fish baits in the world.
I don't mess with the crickets much (we do other stuff that is related to the pet industry) but I figured some of you may be interested in some facts about the crickets we all used for fishbait growing up. (and even now) The scientific name of the crickets you buy at bait shops and pet stores is Acheta domesticus aka the House Cricket.
They are originally from Southwestern Asia. They have been used in the States because they are much hardier than the crickets you find in the wild Stateside.
These crickets have a lifespan of only 8 weeks.
Crickets become very dormant when cold, and can survive several hours below freezing temps.
They grow wings at around 4 weeks. Only males can chirp, and they do so to attract females. Crickets actually produce different calls for different purposes. The calling song, which may be heard for distances up to a mile, helps the female find the male. Once she is near, the male switches to a courtship song to convince her to mate with him. And, in some cases, the male also sings a post-copulation celebratory song.
There has been a cricket virus going around the world wiping out entire cricket farms only affecting this particular species of crickets. Not much is known about this virus, but it has put a few farms out of business. Some farms have successfully started breeding another type of species. We have a colony of this species on standby in case we get the cricket virus.
Our customers range from small pet stores, large chain pet stores, fish bait stands, zoos, Universities, Disney World Animal Kingdom, Sea World and even the Smithsonian Institute. We sell millions each week.
Sales of fishbait crickets declined dramatically in Louisiana when gambling became legal.
Finally, you can tell the ambient temperature by counting chirps of a cricket. (Most of the time) To convert cricket chirps to degrees Fahrenheit, count number of chirps in 14 seconds then add 40 to get temperature.
Example: 30 chirps + 40 = 70° F
There you have it, all the things you wanted to know about crickets. Still IMO one of the very best fish baits in the world.
8
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:37 am to deaconjones35
quote:
Sales of fishbait crickets declined dramatically in Louisiana when gambling became legal
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:40 am to Crawdaddy
I bet the sale of cane poles and 5 gallon buckets went down as well 
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:40 am to Crawdaddy
Retired folks and bucket fisherman going to the boats to play the slots instead of fishing. It surprised me also, but it makes sense.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:45 am to deaconjones35
Holy moly you know too much about crickets.Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:52 am to DonChowder
Yeah, it's pretty sad. Didn't think I would be working here for so long, but it's pretty cool.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:53 am to deaconjones35
You ever find crickets in your beard?
Posted on 4/7/15 at 10:56 am to PapaPogey
Nah man. But if they get loose in your house, be prepared to not sleep until you catch them or they die.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:00 am to deaconjones35
Around 2010 I had one in the kitchen of my apartment.
After a few nights of no sleep and no luck finding it, I realized that if I kept every light on in the living room and kitchen, it would not chirp as much at night.
I guess it eventually died. It was one of the most miserable and frustrating times of my life.
After a few nights of no sleep and no luck finding it, I realized that if I kept every light on in the living room and kitchen, it would not chirp as much at night.
I guess it eventually died. It was one of the most miserable and frustrating times of my life.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:01 am to deaconjones35
Bring some crickets with you next time you go yak in Coco
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:04 am to PapaPogey
For what?
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:04 am to Polar Pop
Been there, done that. It sucks.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:05 am to deaconjones35
Your best post ever.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:11 am to AlxTgr
That's not saying much.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:27 am to deaconjones35
I wasn't going to say it.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:30 am to AlxTgr
I like the one about y'all's yak trip. It had video
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:32 am to jorconalx
I'm still not talking to Sarah.
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:32 am to deaconjones35
so
how do they taste
how do they taste
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:32 am to deaconjones35
I'm sure a trout would murk a cricket
Posted on 4/7/15 at 11:35 am to deaconjones35
quote:
Finally, you can tell the ambient temperature by counting chirps of a cricket. (Most of the time) To convert cricket chirps to degrees Fahrenheit, count number of chirps in 14 seconds then add 40 to get temperature. Example: 30 chirps + 40 = 70° F
Really? If true, I'm going to steal this info.
If you are on the water and look towards a setting sun (over the water) you can tell when you have 30 minutes before sunset. Hold your arm out in front of you, hold your three fingers (not your pinky) parallel to the horizon (ring finger just above the horizon) and your pointer finger towards the sky. When the sun is just touching your pointer finger, you have 30 minutes left before sunset. Works with all size fingers and arm lengths.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News