What other insect to breed?

[justjumpit621]

I have a 30 gal tall tank, I want to breed another insect for Calais, I already have Dubias. Any suggestions on something else that is low maintenance and easy to breed? I do like hissers I think they're cute.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I have a 30 gal tall tank, I want to breed another insect for Calais, I already have Dubias. Any suggestions on something else that is low maintenance and easy to breed? I do like hissers I think they're cute.

I like hissers too. but since you already have a roach colony, maybe go for something very different. Stick insects or terrestrial isopods are good in a tank (you'd need a screen lid for the stick bugs), maybe even superworms (though really you dont need that much space for supers)

 

[justjumpit621]

I like hissers too. but since you already have a roach colony, maybe go for something very different. Stick insects or terrestrial isopods are good in a tank (you'd need a screen lid for the stick bugs), maybe even superworms (though really you dont need that much space for supers)

I like stick insects and mantids. How do you care for them?

 

[sandrachameleon]

There's good info re stick insects and mantis linked from within this:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
(the mantis info is at the bottom)

 

[justjumpit621]

There's good info re stick insects and mantis linked from within this:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
(the mantis info is at the bottom)

Can woodlice climb glass?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Can woodlice climb glass?

no. They may be able to crawl up the silicon in the corners.

 

[justjumpit621]

no. They may be able to crawl up the silicon in the corners.

I don't know I can't seem to find good priced stick insects or mantids in the US, and it says the eggs take a long time to hatch. I still like the idea of the hissers, but I know I already have roaches, and they can climb the glass... arg. Do you know of anywhere that has decent priced stick insects?

 

[sandrachameleon]

I don't know I can't seem to find good priced stick insects or mantids in the US, and it says the eggs take a long time to hatch. I still like the idea of the hissers, but I know I already have roaches, and they can climb the glass... arg. Do you know of anywhere that has decent priced stick insects?

not in USA (mostly illegal, so you have to find someone who has them, youre unlikely to find them advertised for sale)

 

[patrickfraser]

I've heard there are invasive populations of stick bugs in San Diego. Any forum members out that way may be able to get some.

 

[JonRich]

B.dubias, I just got some hissers and Deadhead roaches in last week.

 

[justjumpit621]

not in USA (mostly illegal, so you have to find someone who has them, youre unlikely to find them advertised for sale)

The reptile store near me sells some mantids, but they are SUPER expensive, I bought one as a pet last year for $20, I accidentally killed it.

I've heard there are invasive populations of stick bugs in San Diego. Any forum members out that way may be able to get some.

That's a good idea. We do have mantids around here as well, but they are very hard to find.

B.dubias, I just got some hissers and Deadhead roaches in last week.

I already have dubias, a girl I know just told me hissers shells are harder than dubia's so they aren't as good feeders, is this true or are the baby shells softer?

 

[JonRich]

The reptile store near me sells some mantids, but they are SUPER expensive, I bought one as a pet last year for $20, I accidentally killed it.



That's a good idea. We do have mantids around here as well, but they are very hard to find.



I already have dubias, a girl I know just told me hissers shells are harder than dubia's so they aren't as good feeders, is this true or are the baby shells softer?

This is true. I'd assume the nymphs up untill they molt to adults can be fed off. But this is actually for my office desk . Surprisingly my employees are stoked! Lol ( they are in a small ExoTerra )

 

[justjumpit621]

This is true. I'd assume the nymphs up untill they molt to adults can be fed off. But this is actually for my office desk ��. Surprisingly my employees are stoked! Lol ( they are in a small ExoTerra )

That's cool =) I feed off the dubia nymphs anyway so i'd assume so. I only want the itty bitty babies, the dubia's are just too small when they are first born. I could sell them as pets as well.

 

[sandrachameleon]

...I already have dubias, a girl I know just told me hissers shells are harder than dubia's so they aren't as good feeders, is this true or are the baby shells softer?

A chameleon can digest hissers as part of a varied diet without trouble, so long as they are an appropriate size.

 

[justjumpit621]

A chameleon can digest hissers as part of a varied diet without trouble, so long as they are an appropriate size.

okay good. I also bought a butterfly net to get some wild insects. I plan on getting some mantids from the pet store, the small leaf looking ones, if they are cheap enough, but they take a lot longer to breed than roaches so I will probably get both. The large tank for the hissers and a small tank for the mantids

 

[patrickfraser]

Mantids may be better in the larger enclosure as they tend to eat each other if in close proximity and the roaches in the smaller enclosure as they tend to do better in "close quarters".

 

[justjumpit621]

Mantids may be better in the larger enclosure as they tend to eat each other if in close proximity and the roaches in the smaller enclosure as they tend to do better in "close quarters".

the mantids I want to get are the ones that are only 1/4 inch long, would they still need a larger enclosure? If I do that I cant get the roaches because the small cage I have is really small and hissers are huge.