TX Hoppers and Locust

[draetish]

Okay found a Hopper and Locust and was wondering if these are the same types that cham owners in other Countries have and feed.

The Field Grasshopper is stout and strong and found in crop fields. I tried to pull off it's back legs because they are so strong and sharp and didn't want to hurt the melleri. Couldn't do it, couldn't play ScarFace and breaks it's legs. Not only that, the poor dear was hanging onto the screen for dear life with it's front legs. Needless to say, I'll feed and water it and probably let it go.

The Locust on the other hand are just creepy and not sure if I want to feed this to my melleri either. They hatch out of this ugly shell and then they still look creepy. I found the shell stuck to a limb and caught the locust under the porch light and let it die.

 

[FroggtheCham]

I am NOT eating those!!!

 

[Todnedo]

Those are two of my Parsons favorites

 

[draetish]

I am NOT eating those!!!

LMAO - I'll cover them in chocolate for you Franie!

 

[draetish]

Those are two of my Parsons favorites

So you don't think they're too tough for a melleri?

 

[Todnedo]

Na they will be fine. My panthers eat them too

 

[draetish]

Na they will be fine. My panthers eat them too

Well that's good to know, now I don't have to break any legs! I'm serious though, that hopper is strong.

 

[jamncristian]

thats a cicada not a locust

I suggest you feed him off soon
cause they are the really loud bugs you
hear outside

 

[Ellron]

thats a cicada not a locust

I suggest you feed him off soon
cause they are the really loud bugs you
hear outside

I'll second that. Definitely a cicada.
In my neighborhood those things are LOUD.
I've never found one though, they are always cowering in the trees.

 

[draetish]

thats a cicada not a locust

I suggest you feed him off soon
cause they are the really loud bugs you
hear outside

So what does a locust look like? It's dead anyway, but yeah, I know what you mean about them being loud.

 

[jamncristian]

this is a locust

 

[ColorCham427]

try breeding some hoppers you catch. I know i'll buy some.

 

[FroggtheCham]

LMAO - I'll cover them in chocolate for you Franie!

hehehe!! I don't care what you cover them with, I'm still not eating those!!!!

 

[draetish]

Thanks jamncristian for clarifying the difference between locust and cicada. I never knew that. Here are two interesting references between the two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locust

 

[Texas Panther Man]

My panthers love grasshoppers. Donna feed that poor melleri. lol

 

[draetish]

My panthers love grasshoppers. Donna feed that poor melleri. lol

I put it in Rocko's cage this morning and he almost went for it and then went back to drinking. Their back legs scare me, they are so strong and sharp. I'm going hopper hunting this evening.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Good for you. If you get yourself a net and find a good spot you should be able to get between 30-50 in an hr. The small ones are easiest to catch. The big ones with wings are a pita, but Sherlock loves em. I have wanted to go all week but the rain down here sucks. Maybe I can go tomorrow and get some. I've noticed if I feed them about 1x a week it really perks up my chams appetites. My female Faly would literally eat hoppers til she exploded if i would let her.

 

[draetish]

Do you feed them off right away or purge them with greens and stuff?

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I usually collect in the late afternoon because its so damn hott here. Then I let them eat greens and crick crack all nite so i can feed em off the next morning. I usually catch enough to last me a cpl of days. Theres nothing better than watching a cham in the natural sun take down a big grasshopper or katydid. Closest thing to seeing them in the wild i think.

 

[Miss Lily]

It
's farily easy to remove the back legs from locusts and crix! 2 pairs of tweezers come in very handy sometimes, lol! Most often if you grab one and pinch it's knee caps hard with tweezers it will just drop the leg. I found a wild grasshopper last year and thought 'Oohhhh! Chameleon food!' and when I caught it, sure enough the back leg came off followed by the other when I tried again, lol! Grasshopper became a grasswalker, lol!