Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

thepenguin · I'm new here... Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 10

Can anyone tell me if its okay to substitute locusts for crickets entirely. Aelfgar, my blue collared, only eats crickets as a necessity but actually climbs into the locust box to eat them before I've had a chance to shake them out. Mr Swivels, my Yemeni, absolutely loves hunting locusts down as they climb about his enclosure.

Also, can anyone suggest a good way to keep locusts. At the moment I've got them in a Kricket Keeper, but they won't go in the tubes and I pretty much have to wait for them to come and to be eaten, which is alright but makes dusting them a bit tricky if not nigh on impossible. If they are all well fed on spring greens, is there any need to dust them?

Finally, I'm paranoid Mr Swivels is dehydrated. Can anyone tell either way from the photo? My girlfriend would be delighted if you could, because she's bored to tears of my fretting about it. And I've thrown in a bonus action shot of Mr S as well, because I think it looks cool.

Thanks

Simon

Scott W · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 4:04 pm Post subject:

Mr Swivels looks fine in those pics.

Yep, locust are fine to use as 100% diet instead of crickets, try to find out when your shop/supplier recieves there delivery and then buy them FRESH that day or buy from someone who packs to order (I think Ricks Reptiles do that).

Keeping locust alive, well to options...keeping them alive or keeping them alive and fresh

The first is easy, if your locust are from a good supplier they should last 4-5 days in the tub so long as it's not too cold or damp. To keep at their best you need to set them up in a tank with a spot light (normal house lamp) and keep them hot and dry with just spring greens and bran for food...no water.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

thepenguin · I'm new here... Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 10

Cheers Scott,

So I don't even need to put any of that cricket water gel stuff in with the locusts then?

rob1468 · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject:

i feed my yemens locusts at the minute as mine went off crix ,
all i do to dust them is put in fridge for 30 mins it slows them down then dust and put in a dark cupboard and they are fine then i just put the tub in the viv open the top and let some jump out jobs a good one Laughing

my female cant wait either and shes pinching them out the tub as im seting them free in the viv Very Happy

rob

lesley · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject: locusts v crickets

My Yemen once he started to eat locusts went off crickets and would chew them up them spit them out in disgust!

Scott W · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:09 am Post subject:

Rickeezee · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:25 am Post subject:

mark68 · Contributing Member Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 160

I can't disagree with the advice given so far except I would always try to give a variety of insects not just one species. One other food you can give your locusts and crickets is wheat grass. All you need to do is get some wheat seed from your local pet shop and sow this in a cricket box with a little compost. Make a few pin sized holes in the bottom first and keep the compost damp. After around a week you have wheat sprouts around 3 inch high, ideal for locusts in particular. Wheat shoots are very high in nutrients which of course the lizard benefits from. You must keep the locusts at around 33-38c for around 12 hrs a day for them to digest there food as previously suggested.