Cost effective, nutritious feeder breeding

[tenchijin]

Back when I was breeding chameleons (rather small time, at that) the only real options for breeding feeders was crickets. I see some are now breeding various roaches and even grasshoppers/locusts, along with an assortment of worms/moths.

My question: is there a reasonably cost effective and nutritious feeder that isn't stinky? Crickets are nasty smelly things!

Aric

 

[crocky]

I have a decent colony of Dubia roaches i have been breeding for about 3 months and they don't smell at all. They have a rather long life span too so I am hoping it will pay itself off in the next 6 months

 

[tenchijin]

That was one option I was considering. I understand they are actually quite large and "creepy" though, which might make them a no go for the feminine part of the household

Still a possibility, though!

Aric

 

[crocky]

I thought the same thing but they are quite clean critters and they don't climb smooth surfaces which is a plus

 

[babyjoe]

That was one option I was considering. I understand they are actually quite large and "creepy" though, which might make them a no go for the feminine part of the household

Still a possibility, though!

Aric

I can relate to that.I'm not allowed to breed anything.seemed I'm banned from letting my waxies mature to moths either.

Here's hoping the "good woman" doesn't find the stash in the man shed

 

[sandrachameleon]

Back when I was breeding chameleons (rather small time, at that) the only real options for breeding feeders was crickets. I see some are now breeding various roaches and even grasshoppers/locusts, along with an assortment of worms/moths.

My question: is there a reasonably cost effective and nutritious feeder that isn't stinky? Crickets are nasty smelly things!

Aric

for sure. Almost anything is better than crickets! LOL

I want to put a shout out for a feeder people dont always think of, but which are very nutritious, gutloadable, Easy, silent and stink-free: Indian Walking Sticks. They reproduce as fast a roaches, are easy to feed, VERY well liked by chameleons.

Dubia roaches are commonly suggested, for good reason. Easy to breed, quiet, and easily gutloaded.

Silkworms are, IMHO, easy to breed and are also nutritious, easy to gutload with a variety of things much like walking sticks, silent - and perhaps important for you, they are soft and un-creepy like any catepillar.

Superworms are also easy, and though they shouldnt form more than 20% of a chameleons diet they are fine for adding variety and are gutloadable.

Another great highly nutritious option, though slower to breed, are terrestrial isopods and snails.

Finally, blue bottle flies are something worth considering.

 

[tenchijin]

Walking sticks! I hadn't even thought of those, you're right. They're also kind of interesting, not "yucky."

My wife isn't squeamish about most cham related things, she loves the lizards and didn't really mind when we had crickets all over the house.

But we've got kids now, and I'm trying to think of some way to do this in a very domestic-friendly way.

Aric

 

[sandrachameleon]

Walking sticks! I hadn't even thought of those, you're right. They're also kind of interesting, not "yucky."

exactly! although being in the USA you will find they are not permitted in most if not all states without a permit. so if you want to have them, you may have to be seaky about it.

More feeder info:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

 

[pssh]

I know in Oregon (and probably in Washington too) there are people who sell Vietnamese walking sticks. They are also parthenogenic, eat the same things as Indian walking sticks, and are kept the same. There also seems to be a lot if Indian walking sticks around there too.

 

[tenchijin]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[nightanole]

Where would one buy a walking stick?

 

[pssh]

Unless it is a native, legal species, you buy one very secretly and discreetly. The native species can be found all over the place (but they can be very hard to find sometimes, especially if they are not found in high numbers in the area.)

 

[tenchijin]

Thanks, Kara. I have the walking stick situation sorted out now. I think between those and some wingless fruit flies I should be able to start some baby pardalis nicely.