Mixed Strain

A mixed strain banded cricket is a colony of Gryllodes sigillatus drawn from more than one breeding line rather than a named or isolated strain. Banded crickets, also called tropical house crickets in some feeder-insect circles, are small to medium crickets with brown bodies and dark banding on the wings and abdomen. Mixed colonies are usually maintained for feeder production, not for a fixed color such as tan, black, gold, or wild type.

For keepers, the value of a mixed strain is practical: genetic diversity can help a colony stay productive, though results depend on sanitation and stock quality. They are raised warm with strong ventilation, dry feed, moisture from gels or vegetables, and egg-laying substrate for breeding. Reptile, amphibian, bird, and invertebrate keepers often gut-load them before feeding and dust them when calcium or vitamins are needed. Escapes should be controlled because crickets hide easily and males call.

Colors: Banded, Black, Brown, Gold, Striped, Tan, White, Wild Type