Nomnomnom
- Thread starter Extensionofgreen
- Start date
I want to like this, but I just can't handle mantis as feeders. I always loved them and they are more like pets than feeders to me. Looks like Wasabi doesn't care for my opinion 
. Glad he got a nice snack!
. Glad he got a nice snack!
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
Mantises are awesome, but they are also short lived and their death is for a worthy cause. I actually like the 13 roach species I breed, too, but.....
Twitchet
Chameleon Enthusiast
Great picture Andrew, if I can get an ooth I'd like to try some too but I admit I'm a mantis fan too, but an adult does represent a nice meal.
when my plain ol' Chinese mantis died I cried and cried she'd sit on my hand and eat a locust or a bit of mashed banana.
Do you keep hissing roaches? I'd like to try my big girl with hissers, Are the bigger species too spiny?
Wasabi is a very handsome chap, thanks for posting.
when my plain ol' Chinese mantis died I cried and cried
she'd sit on my hand and eat a locust or a bit of mashed banana. Do you keep hissing roaches? I'd like to try my big girl with hissers, Are the bigger species too spiny?
Wasabi is a very handsome chap, thanks for posting.
KapitalJ
Avid Member
Would love to see pics of all your different roaches.. As they are not available in Canada, they interest me quite a bit..
You tell me I can't have.... I want, I want, I want..... lol..
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
Great picture Andrew, if I can get an ooth I'd like to try some too but I admit I'm a mantis fan too, but an adult does represent a nice meal.
when my plain ol' Chinese mantis died I cried and cried
Do you keep hissing roaches? I'd like to try my big girl with hissers, Are the bigger species too spiny?
Wasabi is a very handsome chap, thanks for posting.
I'd say hissers are among the most spiny and hard shelled. I do raise them. The other large species are less spiny, though some are mostly wings and not much "meat". The chameleons don't seem to mind, as they go nuts over butterflies that are almost 99% wing.
I think orange head roaches are about the most ideal feeder for larger chameleons, as they have substance to them.
Hissers are something I only feed as sub adults or after freshly molting, as they really are chitinous and spiny legged.
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
Many of the more expensive, rarer ( I don't have any that are super rare ), and more interesting species are only available as nymphs and aren't much to photograph. Blaberus gigantea is the largests species I work with, if you want to google it. The others are fairly standard, discoids, deaths head, orange heads, and the like.
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KapitalJ
Avid Member
Thanks for the reply @Extensionofgreen always appreciated!
Twitchet
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hi Andrew- O.k I wont try them, used to keep them ages ago as pets- I've got myself a very tiny colony of orange heads- they are not very easily found here and expensive too. I love the question mark and headlight roaches- I'd like to keep them anyway but I wonder what a parson would think of the pattern. I'll have to get raising some butterflies won't I.
Many thanks for the info.
Many thanks for the info.
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
I like harlequin roaches, domino roaches, head light roaches, any over 2", rhino roaches, and I'm sure others I haven't worked with.
I only have feeder types, though. I used to keep arachnids, years ago, as well as saltwater reefs, so I value invertebrates, as much as vertebrates. My roaches have a good life of heat, homemade, gourmet food, and all the nookie they can get, before being fed off.
I only have feeder types, though. I used to keep arachnids, years ago, as well as saltwater reefs, so I value invertebrates, as much as vertebrates. My roaches have a good life of heat, homemade, gourmet food, and all the nookie they can get, before being fed off.
Twitchet
Chameleon Enthusiast
Oh you are making me jealous- I saw some giant burrowing roaches ( rhino roaches?) at an entomologist show- they were about £120 each! but they were mega!
I have kept predatory Gampsocleus crickets- I adore them, mantids esp. loved my Heterechaeta, I have xylotrupes beetle larvae at the mo , they are as big as sausages and a giant mill.
Yes- food or pet I like to keep all mine the same standard if they were pets. I keep mice for my snakes- mousey menu for them is sweetcorn,alfalfa, apple twigs and a fantastic home until the day comes.
NO spiders though not unless it's flat on the underside of my broom! with an exclusion zone around it!
but they were mega!I have kept predatory Gampsocleus crickets- I adore them, mantids esp. loved my Heterechaeta, I have xylotrupes beetle larvae at the mo , they are as big as sausages and a giant mill.
Yes- food or pet I like to keep all mine the same standard if they were pets. I keep mice for my snakes- mousey menu for them is sweetcorn,alfalfa, apple twigs and a fantastic home until the day comes.
NO spiders though
not unless it's flat on the underside of my broom! with an exclusion zone around it!
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
I'd love to get into breeding beetles, Phasmids, mantids, and the like, but I have about 1,500 plants and my chameleons, like most people, work sucks up 80% or more of your life, energy, and time, so I'm going to stay with what I have, for the moment, though spiders might find their way back into my life, sooner than later, it won't be until I get my plant collection back in order.
I'm also possibly and likely moving to Florida in the next few years and having a bunch of large enclosures that have to be demolished and rebuilds is going to be tough. I know that melleri are in my future, again and I've been lusting after green tree monitors, so that's 2 more large enclosures and projects I have to allow room for, once I know where I'll be putting down my roots.
I also travel a lot. I'm going to Ecuador, this June, for my honeymoon, and coming back, then going away to a plant convention in a week, right after. I have a FULL life!
I'm also possibly and likely moving to Florida in the next few years and having a bunch of large enclosures that have to be demolished and rebuilds is going to be tough. I know that melleri are in my future, again and I've been lusting after green tree monitors, so that's 2 more large enclosures and projects I have to allow room for, once I know where I'll be putting down my roots.
I also travel a lot. I'm going to Ecuador, this June, for my honeymoon, and coming back, then going away to a plant convention in a week, right after. I have a FULL life!
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes, 1,500 plants! I'm a horticultural judge in 3 organizations and top exhibiter, as well as a writer and lecturer on growing for competitive showing. It became my life, after I left chameleon keeping for about 10 years.
Extensionofgreen
Chameleon Enthusiast
I wish I made a living from it! Lol
I do get paid for lectures, about $150 an hour, but that's a few times a year. It's just a hobby/lifestyle/obsession. I'm a cosmetologist, actually, but worked in human medicine and animal medicine for 14 years, before changing careers.
We are considering reviving a plant business, my fiancé ran in the 80s/90s, and all of the plants we grows are chameleon safe, coincidentally, but few have branching habits, or stems that can support large species, but there are several that add cover, drinking surfaces, color, and climbing for smaller species.
I do get paid for lectures, about $150 an hour, but that's a few times a year. It's just a hobby/lifestyle/obsession. I'm a cosmetologist, actually, but worked in human medicine and animal medicine for 14 years, before changing careers.
We are considering reviving a plant business, my fiancé ran in the 80s/90s, and all of the plants we grows are chameleon safe, coincidentally, but few have branching habits, or stems that can support large species, but there are several that add cover, drinking surfaces, color, and climbing for smaller species.
Twitchet
Chameleon Enthusiast
Crikey, thats a busy life- congrats by the way!
What a lot of things you do- amazing!
I love green tree monitors- you've gotta get some when you are settled.
I googled the rhino cockroach - I'm in love! Found some for £75@ but I'm going to wait until this year's entomology show ( may get me some Idolomantis which I've always wanted too ) and maybe someone will be doing them cheaper.
Thanks for all the advice
thats a busy life- congrats by the way!What a lot of things you do- amazing!
I love green tree monitors- you've gotta get some when you are settled.
I googled the rhino cockroach - I'm in love! Found some for £75@ but I'm going to wait until this year's entomology show ( may get me some Idolomantis which I've always wanted too ) and maybe someone will be doing them cheaper.
Thanks for all the advice
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