TheMotherChameleon
Established Member
I don’t think i will although I don’t have a chameleon yet they sound pretty costly
Grasshopper Piggies
- Thread starter Andrew1283
- Start date
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
They are costly upfront but in the end they are a savings becausecthe death rate is low and you don't feed very many based on size. Example: Feeding 1 large grasshopper = .80 cents , feeding 5 crickets= .65 cent. but i have 5 dead crickets in the critter keeper = .65 cents. Total : Grasshopper = .80
Crickets =1.30
Ther Grasshopper was cheaper
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Costco. My new source for free citrus leaves. No one's gonna miss the 5 fallen leaves that ended up in my cart!
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Is taking fallen leaves a crime punishable by jail time?
UpgradeChams
Member
What problems were you facing with humidity it being to high ?
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes, the high (35%-40%) humidity caused problems with molting and caused the Americana to die. I have Spotted Bird - Schistocerca Lineata and Gray Bird -Schistocerca Nitens adult grasshoppers and they are doing great. I've had them for over 3 months. The Lineata are mating and laying eggs like crazy. The Nitens are slow at mating. I don't have any eggs. However, one of the nitens laid eggs on top of the soil. @Camiezone is having success with Americana grasshoppers. They are mating and laying eggs like crazy. She keeps them in a 40 gallon aquarium and has had no issues with humidity.
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Schistocerca Lineata are mating and laying like crazy!
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Not exactly sure what it is I’m looking at, but I get a feeling like I may not want to know.
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Mystery rice
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
I don't know which are best. My Veiled prefers Nitens (softer exoskeleton). My Panther prefers Lineata ( the exoskeleton is a bit more rigid than the Nitens). Of course Veiled Chams swallow their food while Panthers chew their food.
Didn’t you have Americana?
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes, I wasn't able to maintain them. Most of them died from issues with incomplete molting. They require very low humidity. I keep the grasshoppers in the Cham room with daytime humidity of 35 - 45% and a high night-time humidity. I also use Reptibreeze enclosure to house the hoppers. @ Camiezone has Americana and has been successful with mating and laying. She houses her Americana in a 40 gal aquarium.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have only kept and bred two species of grasshoppers. However I have bred and kept Schistocerca nitens for has got to be 20 generations now though. However from what I have seen all grasshoppers species when kept at optimum conditions can thrive and proliferate. I would choose a couple species and attempt to hone your breeding techniques to those couple of species.
Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich
Right now I have Americana and you’re right I have had a few die from moulting issues
Is it possible to keep them breeding year around?
ChamelaChameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think so. Americana do not not require diapause. The eggs don't require an overwinter. Providing summer like atmospheric conditions, should encourage mating and breeding all year. I think I need to change up the environment for my Nitens. I need more heat to encourage mating.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
The Schistocerca species I have got breed seasonally. However I think there other species that are capable of breeding year round such as Differential Grasshoppers (Melanoplus differentialis).
Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich
