Prolific Farms
Member
I run a small business producing feeder insects for local breeders, pet stores, and occasional online sales. I'm looking to expand into some insect species that are not typically found in pet stores. The chameleon community seems to use a very wide variety, so I'm coming to you guys to see what you would like to become more easily available.
I already produce superworms, dicsoid / pallid / green banana / suriname roaches, and fruit flies. I recently stopped producing wax worms due to processing problems. I am not interested in typical cricket farming.
The following are insects currently being considered, paired with the questions I have about them. Any advice is appreciated as well as suggestions for feeders I have not listed.
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- Mantises: My only problem with mantises is housing. As most of you know, mantises are VERY cannibalistic. Does anyone know an efficient and ethical way of housing them so that they will not kill each other? My only option right now is selling oothecae so people can hatch their own.
- Hornworms and silkworms: The natural diet of hornworms are plants from the nightshade family. This diet makes the hornworms toxic to predators (your chameleon). From my understanding, they are commercially produced using exclusively mulberry leaves and mulberry based chows. I've read that they can be temporarily sustained on a few other items, but are there any other foods that will support their entire life-cycle? If not, it looks like I'll be starting a mulberry orchard.
- Black soldier flies: The problem I have with black soldier flies is that they almost always have huge mite outbreaks when I try breeding them. I cannot find a way to keep mites down that is efficient and not harmful to the fly larvae. Does anyone know how major producers handle this pest? Perhaps there is a humidity level that is high enough for the fly larvae but too low for the mites?
- Bottle flies: http://www.adcham.com/html/insects/insects-fly-rearing.html appears to be a great guide for breeding bottle flies, however, the harvesting step looks messy and difficult to do by the tens of thousands. My idea for harvesting would be having a tight fitting lid that has a tube attatched, leading to a holding container. When the water is added, they flies would theoretically run up the sides, into the tube, and crawl / drop into a cup of aspen chips. If you have a better idea, please let me know!
- Other feeders / chameleon related products: If you can think of any other feeders, such as grasshoppers that can be captive bred, or even non-insect products such as feeding devices or enclosure furnishings that you feel are lacking in quality or availability with today's reptile industry, I'm interested in hearing what you have to say!
TLDR: I'm interested in making uncommon chameleon feeders and possibly supplies easily obtainable for reasonable prices. If there is anything you would like to see become more easily available, let me know.
- I look forward to hearing your responses and thank you in advance, Prolific Farms
I already produce superworms, dicsoid / pallid / green banana / suriname roaches, and fruit flies. I recently stopped producing wax worms due to processing problems. I am not interested in typical cricket farming.
The following are insects currently being considered, paired with the questions I have about them. Any advice is appreciated as well as suggestions for feeders I have not listed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Mantises: My only problem with mantises is housing. As most of you know, mantises are VERY cannibalistic. Does anyone know an efficient and ethical way of housing them so that they will not kill each other? My only option right now is selling oothecae so people can hatch their own.
- Hornworms and silkworms: The natural diet of hornworms are plants from the nightshade family. This diet makes the hornworms toxic to predators (your chameleon). From my understanding, they are commercially produced using exclusively mulberry leaves and mulberry based chows. I've read that they can be temporarily sustained on a few other items, but are there any other foods that will support their entire life-cycle? If not, it looks like I'll be starting a mulberry orchard.
- Black soldier flies: The problem I have with black soldier flies is that they almost always have huge mite outbreaks when I try breeding them. I cannot find a way to keep mites down that is efficient and not harmful to the fly larvae. Does anyone know how major producers handle this pest? Perhaps there is a humidity level that is high enough for the fly larvae but too low for the mites?
- Bottle flies: http://www.adcham.com/html/insects/insects-fly-rearing.html appears to be a great guide for breeding bottle flies, however, the harvesting step looks messy and difficult to do by the tens of thousands. My idea for harvesting would be having a tight fitting lid that has a tube attatched, leading to a holding container. When the water is added, they flies would theoretically run up the sides, into the tube, and crawl / drop into a cup of aspen chips. If you have a better idea, please let me know!
- Other feeders / chameleon related products: If you can think of any other feeders, such as grasshoppers that can be captive bred, or even non-insect products such as feeding devices or enclosure furnishings that you feel are lacking in quality or availability with today's reptile industry, I'm interested in hearing what you have to say!
TLDR: I'm interested in making uncommon chameleon feeders and possibly supplies easily obtainable for reasonable prices. If there is anything you would like to see become more easily available, let me know.
- I look forward to hearing your responses and thank you in advance, Prolific Farms
