Learn About Our Live Cricket Species

Just about every reptile enjoys live crickets. Crickets are a great protein source for their diets and are full of natural appeal. Crickets have a lifespan of about 8 to 10 weeks.

At Top Hat Cricket Farm, we grow and sell the Gryllodes sigillatus.

Also known as the tropical house cricket or the banded cricket, we sell this species because of the many pros and because it is very resilient to the AdDNV cricket virus that has wiped out our supply and growth in the past. By selling the Gryllodes sigillatus species, we can ensure that you always receive crickets that are both alive and healthy.

Pros:
• not aggressive toward animals or humans
• all sizes very digestible (less chitin)
• more active, making a lively feeding experience for animals
• resistant to AdDNV cricket virus
• hearty, lives well (longer lifespan than Acheta)
• less odor vs. other crickets
• less noise vs. other crickets

Cons:
• adults not quite as large as adults of other species

Other species of crickets (which we do not sell) include:

• 
  House Cricket
  (Acheta domesticus)
  
  Pros
  • not aggressive toward animals or humans
  • adults are less digestible vs. the smaller sizes (more chitin)
  Cons
  • relatively noisy (adults sing actively)
  • very susceptible to AdDNV cricket virus
  • not extremely hearty (shorter shelf life)
• 
  Jamaican Field Cricket
  (Gryllus assimillis)
  
  Pros
  • large adults
  • resistant to AdDNV cricket virus
  Cons
  • slightly aggressive toward animals and humans
  • noisy, loud deep chirp
• 
  Black Field Cricket
  (Gryllus bimaculatus)
  
  Pros
  • ????
  Cons
  • Illegal in the USA (per USDA)
  • quite aggressive toward animals and humans (some reports of animals being harmed)
  • noisy (adults sing loudly)
  • more odor vs. other crickets
• 
  Crazy Red
  (Gryllus locorojo)
  
  Pros
  • ???
  Cons
  • Illegal to distribute throughout the USA (per USDA)
  • quite aggressive toward animals and humans (some reports of animals being harmed)