Collecting Feeder Insects
Hatching Praying Mantid Egg Cases to Feed Tiny Amphibians and Invertebrates
Dec 20th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Dietary variety is the key to success in rearing many herps and invertebrates. Unfortunately, options for newly-transformed frogs and salamanders, Poison Frogs and other small species and hatchling spiders are limited. A diet of fruit flies, springtails and pinhead crickets sometimes suffices, but as I learned when rearing the endangered Kihansi Spray Toad, other foods are often necessary. Praying Mantid Egg cases (properly termed “oothecum”), which may be collected or ordered from commercial dealers, are a useful but under-appreciated resource for those who keep small insectivorous pets.
Foreign Mantids in the USA
The 2 most-commonly encountered mantids (or mantises) in the USA are both introduced (not native). The largest and most widespread is the Chinese Mantid, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, brought here in 1896 to battle insect pests. The European or Praying Mantid, Mantis religiosa, arrived as a stowaway around the same time. They and the world’s other 2,400+ species, consume vast numbers of beneficial and harmful insects…in fact, a single Chinese Mantid may consume 20,000 or more insects in its lifetime! More >
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Loading ...Reptile and Amphibian Foods – Breeding and Rearing Grasshoppers and Locusts
Nov 25th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. The Domestic or House Cricket is perhaps the world’s most popular herp food, the closely-related locusts, grasshoppers and katydids have been neglected as a food source here in the USA. However, many are easily collected and bred in captivity, and offer important nutrients lacking in commercially-bred insects. What’s more, they are colorful, active and extremely interesting to work with – don’t be surprised if you begin keeping them as more than just a food item!
Natural History
Grasshoppers, crickets, locusts and katydids are classified in the Order Orthoptera. Over 20,000 species, inhabiting environments ranging from deserts to mountain tops, have been described. The USA is home to 1,000+ species.
Many grasshoppers sport a fantastic array of colors and shapes; some are barely visible to the naked eye, while others, such as New Guinea’s Phyllophora grandis, top 5 inches in length (please see photo of a Hooded Grasshopper). More >
(+1 rating, 1 votes) Loading ...The Best Diet for Captive Newts and Mexican Axolotls
Oct 3rd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. I usually hesitate to recommend an “all purpose” diet for any group of creatures, as even slight differences between species can be greatly affect their nutritional needs. However, long experience with many newts has led me to a diet that works well for nearly all those that one might encounter. The following feeding recommendations can applied to Eastern Spotted, Ribbed, Japanese Fire-Bellied, Alpine, Paddle-Tailed, Crested and Marbled Newts, as well as to Mexican Axolotls. With a bit of fine-tuning, other species can be accommodated as well…please write in if you need further information.
Basic Diet
Newt-feeding is simplified by the fact that nearly all species will take non-living foods…this is in sharp contrast to terrestrial salamanders, which generally consume live prey only. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Attracting and Collecting Earthworms – a Simple Technique
Dec 28th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Earthworms are one of the most nutritious food items available for amphibians, and for those reptiles, invertebrates and fishes that will take them. Collecting them (in one piece!) can, however, be frustrating, and they are quite costly at bait stores. One trick I stumbled upon years ago has greatly simplified the task of supplying my collection with earthworms – I hope you find it useful. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Frog Diets – Nutritious Foods for Popularly-Kept Frogs and Toads – Part 1
Dec 2nd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Many frogs and toads that are collected or purchased and kept as pets will greedily accept crickets and mealworms, the food items most easily obtained from pet stores. Most thrive on this fare for a time, but eventually develop nutritional disorders and expire long before they have reached their potential life-span. Following are some useful tips for those keeping American Bullfrogs, White’s Treefrogs, Budgett’s Frogs, most Toads and similar species. Please see my other Amphibian Care Articles for information on feeding Poison Frogs, Mantellas, African Clawed Frogs, Horned Frogs and others requiring specialized diets, or write in with your questions. More >
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