SOurce for Grasshoppers?

[Saldarya]

Is anyone aware of anyone or place that sells Grasshoppers (sorry, dont know the specific scientific names) so as to start a breeding group. I just dont have the time to go netting and because the area I live in sprays for mosquito regularly, I am not sure I would trust much a wild source at this point.

Always looking to broaden my feeder selection.

PM me if better for you.

Thanks!

 

[chefboyardee]

It would have to be local, USDA prohibits commercial shipping of hoppers across state lines if I can remember correctly...something about being a pest makes them illegal (roaches and crickets arent?! )

you might want to look into ordering them from a couple companies that sell to educational institutions, but theres prob some red tape to get around with that option

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Id have to be local, USDA prohibits commercial shipping of hoppers across state lines if I can remember correctly...something about being a pest makes them illegal (roaches and crickets arent?! )

you might want to look into ordering them from a couple companies that sell to educational institutions, but theres prob some red tape to get around with that option

You are actually supposed to have a state license too to ship them inside the state you're in, as they are still agriculture pests.

I should have care sheets as to have how to breed captive colonies back from the copyright office ready in a month or two. When they are ready I'm going to post an add in the feeders section.

 

[chefboyardee]

You are actually supposed to have a state license too to ship them inside the state you're in, as they are still agriculture pests.

I should have care sheets as to have how to breed captive colonies back from the copyright office ready in a month or two. When they are ready I'm going to post an add in the feeders section.

HA, thats a heck of a typo...meant to write "It'd have to be local" not "Id have to be local"

I dont have any hoppers, if I did I'd be feeding them to my cham

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

HA, thats a heck of a typo...meant to write "It'd have to be local" not "Id have to be local"

I dont have any hoppers, if I did I'd be feeding them to my cham

Either way your supposed to have a state agriculture permit to sell and ship grasshoppers in California even if your only sending them a hour away. I have had my permit for the last two years, however I have only been able to sell a limited number so far.

 

[Norcal55]

Either way your supposed to have a state agriculture permit to sell and ship grasshoppers in California even if your only sending them a hour away. I have had my permit for the last two years, however I have only been able to sell a limited number so far.

I'm looking forward to your care sheet when they are available.
Since you have your permit you could bundle a grasshopper starter package when its ready
I would buy one for sure!

Jason

 

[laurie]

Either way your supposed to have a state agriculture permit to sell and ship grasshoppers in California even if your only sending them a hour away. I have had my permit for the last two years, however I have only been able to sell a limited number so far.

As with everything you do, I am sure your care sheet will be excellent. I would like to have a colony, but does it take tons of space?

 

[pigglett79]

I'm looking forward to your care sheet when they are available.
Since you have your permit you could bundle a grasshopper starter package when its ready
I would buy one for sure!

Jason

I second this, would love a starter kit with care sheet.

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

As with everything you do, I am sure your care sheet will be excellent. I would like to have a colony, but does it take tons of space?

I'm looking forward to your care sheet when they are available.
Since you have your permit you could bundle a grasshopper starter package when its ready
I would buy one for sure!

Jason

I second this, would love a starter kit with care sheet.

I'm actually planning a second care sheet for people who want to breed for more than just a couple pairs of chameleons. This one I threw together as grasshoppers in the hobby, especially in North America, are urgently required. The space depends on how many you want to breed and the species of grasshopper you want to start the colony of. My grasshoppers I have been selling have been going to only to a few keepers each year however I hope to change that though. I'm not going to be doing starter kits because I am outside of chameleons am a busy man. However I am capable of working with people who have got questions who are attempting to start colonies.

 

[Action Jackson]

I have been getting hoppers from Jeremy for the last couple years. I'm having better luck getting them to lay eegs this year and hope to get a bunch of young in the spring. Just another time consuming feeder Fun to make progress though.

 

[CarlC]

Jeremy what species are you working with?

I worked with Melanoplus bivittatus femoratus for around 10 generations. I was able to reduce the diapause in the refrigerator to a week. I chose this species because of the green coloration. Not to difficult to raise but if kept in large quantities cannibalism was a problem.

Carl

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Carl

Melanoplus bivittatus femoratus is a neat little species. That would be great for many of the mid to smaller species of chameleons that are available.

I'm working wirth the Bird Grasshoppers or the Genus Schistocerca which includes a giant green species of grasshopper Schistocerca shoeshone along with Schistocerca nitens that is a more earth tone giant hopper. I mostly raise these for larger chameleons or my Parsons chameleons.

The care sheets for Schistocerca nitens should work for other species of hoppers.

Here's a link to my album with some pictures.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/motherlode-chameleon-albums-feeder-insects.html

Schistocerca nitens
https://www.chameleonforums.com/mem...ects-picture13585-gray-bird-grasshoppers.html

Schistocerca shoeshone
https://www.chameleonforums.com/mem...bird-grasshoppers-schistocerca-shoeshone.html

Jeremy A. Rich

 

[pigglett79]

I have an empty screen cage with grasshopper breeding written All over it!

 

[Saldarya]

I hear ya, I am all about trying to breed/raise some hoppers. They are a great feeder above and beyond just the basic variety/gutloading element.

As others mentioned, looking forward to seeing what you can put together to help us all get something going here for the growing population of Chams I have going.

Thanks again!!

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I have an empty screen cage with grasshopper breeding written All over it!

Good! Your going to need more than just an empty screen cage though. It is worth the endeavor. They are more high maintenance than roaches and other insects (not higher maintenance than praying mantis). They are escape artists however in the end they are absolutely worth it. You're going to have a year round supply, not just a summer supply of hoppers.

 

[CarlC]

Great job bud! Can't wait to see the care sheets!

Carl

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Great job bud! Can't wait to see the care sheets!

Carl

Business, Agriculture, Ecology and Conservation Biology thanks! I'm looking forward to having the care sheets returned too.

Jeremy A. Rich

 

[pigglett79]

Good! Your going to need more than just an empty screen cage though. It is worth the endeavor. They are more high maintenance than roaches and other insects (not higher maintenance than praying mantis). They are escape artists however in the end they are absolutely worth it. You're going to have a year round supply, not just a summer supply of hoppers.

Well that's a relief, I tried my hand at mantis.......just cant do it. They just eat too much. I did have to get some ooths, just to prove I could do it, but no more for me.

I can do just about everything else though, I am doing great with hornworms, silks worms, snails, roaches and isopods.