Crickets

[Kazza]

Just curious now as to how much "bull" i've been told.

I was told not to feed black crickets as they bite - is this true? He also said not to feed meal worms ( didn't give me a reason ).

I'm currently feeding her brown crickets, small hoppers and waxworms. I've just ordered some curly wing flies, hope she likes em!

I just want to expand my feeding range so she doesn't get bored with the same bugs.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

It's a great idea to create the widest variety of insects in your chams diet as you possibly can. This is a fundamental element of good husbandry with these animals.
The black crickets have been reported to be more aggressive the the brown house cricket. I would still consider feeding them if available and contain them in a feeding cup and remove them at night.
Are you in UK? (I think you are) If so you have access to walking stick insects which are a fantastic feeder. They are illegal here in the states but if you have access to them I would feed those for sure! I would recommend the Indian or laboratory walking stick. They are easy to propogate as they are parthenogenetic (most are females and lay viable eggs w/out mating). They lay 2 or 3 eggs a day. I wish I could have them but I can't imagine the Dept of Agriculture allowing me a permit because I want to feed them to my cham.
Be careful with waxworms as they are very fatty and really only good as an occasional treat or to help bring a cham out of a hunger strike.
Mealworms are fine but not the best feeder nutritionally, Zophobas are a little better but both can be offered.
The key, again, is variety.

-Brad

 

[Kazza]

Yeah, i'm in the uk - i'd never thought of stick insects as feeders.
How come they're illegal in the States? - is it becasue of the enviromental consequences if they got free?
Excuse my ignorance - do the eggs hatch without male intervention?

I feed about 10 - 15 brown crickets a day, 1 maybe 2 hoppers ( when i can get them ) and 1 - 2 wax worms, i know wax worms were fatty and should only really be fed as a treat.
I over-stocked on them, am i feeding too many?

I put about 3 crickets in at a time and just replace them when she's eaten them - the hoppers and wax worms are hand fed.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I would reduce the waxworms to 2 or 3 a week.
A male Indian stick insect is a very rare occurance. There is no participation from a male what-so-ever. So, it only takes one to possibly create a bad environmental situation.
Yes, the possibility of them being introduced here and the agricultural havoc that could potentially create is indeed the reason we are not allowed to keep them here.
I'm sure there are people who have them and I know they are often in labs and schools. Great care must be taken in these situations to prevent any refugees.
You will not see anyone who actually does keep them in the states discussing it on this or any other forum.

-Brad

 

[Kazza]

I'll look into getting some, i can put them in the other cage i have.

I'll also reduce the wax worms, thanx.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Google Indian stick insects for care info.
( I'm sure you probably have)
-Brad

 

[Kazza]

I'm doing it now lol

 

[Laragail]

We have some form of walking sticks here in Missouri, Which I have always been fascinated with. However, I think that they may be poisonous ( i remember my mom telling me that as a kid)


does anyone know what kind of walking sticks we have here in the states?
i tried a google search and all I got was old man canes.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Laragail,

I don't know enough about the American Walking Sticks to say whether or not their defensive spray would be harmful to your chameleon. At this point (before learning more) I would not offer them. Hopefully someone else can offer more info. Here are some links:


http://www.centralpets.com/animals/insects/stick_insects/stk4386.html
http://www.yesmag.bc.ca/bugbeat/latest.php
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/walkingstick/walkingstick.htm
http://www.texasento.net/sticks.htm

-Brad

 

[kinyonga]

I think you need the word "insects" or Phasmids or Phasmatodea in there if you don't want to get canes that people use.

Here are some sites (but some of them include Canada too)...
http://www.texasento.net/sticks.htm

This lists them by state....
http://www.herper.com/insects/naphasmids.html
Missouri
Diapheromera femorata
Diapheromera velii
Manomera blatchleyi
Megaphasma denticrus

Diapheromera femorata
http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/D-femorata.html

Megaphasma dentricus...longest in the States...
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg9.html

A book....might be available at a library...
http://www.coachwhipbooks.com/titles/stickinsects.html

Hope this helps!

 

[kinyonga]

This time you beat me to it Brad!
This is getting serious! (evil grin)

 

[Brad Ramsey]

My fingers are fast this morning!


-Brad