Crickets as Pets: An Ancient Chinese Obsession
Keeping crickets as pets dates back to ancient China, where they were valued for their songs and later for fighting. The practice reached its peak during the Qing dynasty, with the imperial court perfecting the art of breeding and housing crickets in elaborate containers, including molded gourds. Though the tradition declined in the 20th century, crickets remain popular pets in China. Westerners, however, find them less appealing due to their short lifespan and the need for frequent replacement.
The art of selecting and breeding the finest fighting crickets was perfected during the Qing dynasty and remained a monopoly of the imperial court until the beginning of the 19th century.
- tslmy
Born and raised in Northern China (2hrs drive from Beijing), my parents bought me crickets & taught me how to catch grasshoppers when I was in early school age. They have short lifespans, so they are quite affordable and low-maintenance pets for families who aren't yet sure about (or can't yet afford to) keep pets that lives for years (cats, dogs, ...). Plus, they teach young children lessons on caring, feeding, life and death, just as well as the latter. I like it.
- Rendello
The clothing patterns of the Japanese cricket vendors in the article are awesome [1]. By a "Torii Kiyohiro" [1] who seemed to have a thing for drawing/carving intricate clothing [2][3].
1. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Torii_Kiyohiro_-_Thr...
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii_Kiyohiro
3. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search?artist=Torii...
4. https://www.artic.edu/collection?artist_ids=Torii%20Kiyohiro
- willmeyers
My partner had a jumping spider as a pet for some time in a terrarium. It was really interesting because he would jump out onto my partners arms when we opened his terrarium and then climb around and then go back after doing some wandering. Pet beetles are also pretty common (and something that I really want tbh). There are a lot of animals that you wouldn't think can be pets, but honestly, if you're helping a critter survive you'll create some attachment to them and maybe they will too. A lot of pet insects can live for 5-7 years too if done right.
- raylad
As a child, I lived in Firenze (Florence, Italy) and had a pet cricket. All the kids had them, in little bamboo cages, for the Festival of the Cricket:
https://www.italymagazine.com/forums/do-see/6010-festival-cr...
I tried to take good care if it, but it died after a couple of months. I probably didn't know what to feed it (but then again I was only 5 years old).
- thisisauserid
Fits in pocket, chirps for attention, low lifespan...
It's an analog Tamagotchi.