Cultured Milkweed Bugs

[Lizardlover]

Milkweed bugs have been introduced recently to the amphibian community and I know a seller who sells cultures of 25 eggs that reproduce, they feed on sunflower seeds so they do not get the poison form eating the milkweed plant but do they still keep in any toxins or something? I want to try them out to add a little variety but I dont want to give anything harmful to my chams. Anyone tried these or know if they are OK for chams, the only reason I ask is that they were originally introduced for the amphibian community and Im wondering if there maybe something amphibians can tolerate in them that chameleons cant Any help is appreciated.

-LL

 

[Lizardlover]

no one

 

[chameleon97]

If they are fed to aphibians, and dont eat anything toxic (which is the main reason some bugs are toxic) then go ahead!

 

[Lovereps]

Personally, I wouldn't have my cham be the "guinea pig" to see if there are any ill effects.
Yes, I read the part about amphibians safely consuming them.
Similar but not identical biology.
If there's money to be made breeding and selling them as reptile food, they'll be more widely available eventually.
The sunflower seeds themselves are rather high in phosphorus 1538 mg per 135g of seeds.
http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3167/2
I don't know how that affects the insects.
Perhaps someone else will add to the discussion.

 

[Digby Rigby]

Milkweed bugs

if they are like tomato or tobacco hornworms in that they get their toxins from their diet than they should be safe to use as feeders provided they have been given a nontoxic diet. I would also try and see if they will eat things other than sunflower seeds and how prolific they are if you intend to breed as feeders. I know nothing about them from experience. However they do have those warning colors so some animals might instinctively avoid them. Are you also the one who inquired about green banana roaches a few weeks ago?

Digby Rigby [email protected]

Email will get a faster response than PM

 

[Lizardlover]

yes that was me and that was a while back, I know a guy who may become a site sponsor who sells them, I am very careful about my chams and was thinking that they may have toxins amphs can handle chams cant, from what I understand they eat sunflower seeds but I think they may be able to eat other seeds similar to them, the eggs take about a week to hatch and they take about a month to turn into adults, they seem alot like crickets to me.

EDIT: theyre life cycle does, theyre diet etc is different, I wouldnt use them as a staple but just an enrichment feeder, variety is key