Up Close & Peculiar
More than 100 years ago, the globetrotting Robert Ripley began collecting artifacts from his journeys around the world, which today form the heart of the greatest collection of oddities ever assembled. Up Close & Peculiar brings the curious history of these pieces to a personal level as our very own, Allyson Iovino, explores the strange relics that lie within our Warehouse walls! Become a part of the story as we share pieces for every history buff, pop culture junkie, and oddities collector alike.
Today: Cricket Fighting Arena
We're taking a look at everything you would need to make your very own cricket fighting arena. And who would ever think to pin these tiny musical creatures against each other, you might ask? Well, the history of this sport goes back to over a thousand years ago.
Cricket fighting is a sport that dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang dynasty. To play the game, two male crickets are matched up according to weight. They’re placed in an arena and the fight begins!
Unlike other animal-based sports like bullfighting, cricket fighting rarely causes injuries to the animals. The loser usually just hops away from the winner, but oftentimes, because of how precious the animals are to their owners, the fight ends before it even gets to that point.
Every August and September, cricket hunters look for the critters in fields at night. Most crickets sell for only ten or so dollars, but a really strong one can cost over one thousand!
These crickets are treated extremely well. Besides being kept in their own individual cages leading up to their fights, they’re also fed a specialized diet that often includes food like ground shrimp, red beans, goat liver, and maggots.
When they’re not in the arena, crickets are kept in elaborate cages. They are made out of anything from bamboo, to ivory, or even silver. The greater the insect's value, the more beautifully decorated the cage is, to show the owner’s pride in their champion insects.
Some things to look for if YOU want to catch a champion cricket? Firstly, I hope that it wasn't an especially rainy year, since more rain is thought to produce crickets with softer mandibles. Besides an iron jaw, you should also look for good teeth, a big head, and a wide neck — all signs of a strong fighter!
YOU can get Up Close with this amazing arena at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie !
