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Hunting the Huntsman – Keeping the Giant Crab, or Huntsman Spider – Part 1

[…]Hidden within the produce crates were the creatures I sought – tree frogs, spiders, lizards, insects and such (I once narrowly missed a Mouse Opossum).  All large spiders were called “Banana Spiders”…one, the Giant Crab or Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda venatoria), appeared on occasion but was always too fast for me.  […]
Read more » Hunting the Huntsman – Keeping the Giant Crab, or Huntsman Spider – Part 1

Herp Nutrition – Calcium Sprays and Tips for Special Situations – Part 1

[…]reptile and amphibian diets.  However, shy and nocturnal species that do not eat soon after the insects are released into their terrariums may get little benefit from powdered supplements.  Insects quickly lose their coatings as they move about…crickets and roaches add to the problem by grooming the supplements from their […]
Read more » Herp Nutrition – Calcium Sprays and Tips for Special Situations – Part 1

Snake and Spider Fears and Phobias – Instinctive or Learned

[…]and spiders, are drawn to homes and gardens due to an unnaturally high density of prey (rodents, insects) and in search of shelter.  During the dry season in Venezuela, I collected numerous treefrogs, bats and spiders indoors. Snakes and Primate Evolution So, based on my experiences, I leaned toward a […]
Read more » Snake and Spider Fears and Phobias – Instinctive or Learned

Live Plants in Amphibian Terrariums – Pesticide Concerns

Live plants are very useful in creating amphibian terrariums that are both attractive to the eye and beneficial for the animals housed therein.  However, amphibian skin is permeable to substances as small as oxygen molecules.  Several readers have recently questioned whether pesticides used on terrarium plants could harm amphibians through […]
Read more » Live Plants in Amphibian Terrariums – Pesticide Concerns

A Bird-Eating Frog is Discovered in Thailand – Research Update

[…]of a Pink-toed Tarantula consuming a hummingbird, published in Maria S. Merian’s book on the insects of Suriname, aroused so much attention (and horror!) that all New World tarantulas are commonly termed “bird-eating spiders” to this day.  It seems now that amphibian fanciers have their own dramatic bird-eater – Limnonectes […]
Read more » A Bird-Eating Frog is Discovered in Thailand – Research Update

Meet the Garter Snakes – Beautiful, Interesting and Hardy – Part 1

[…]Natricinae and the family Colubridae. Diet Frogs, tadpoles, earthworms, salamanders, fishes and insects comprise the diets of most species.  Several are immune to the virulent skin toxins of amphibians such as California newts, which have caused human fatalities when ingested, and toxin-protected American toads are the primary food of plains […]
Read more » Meet the Garter Snakes – Beautiful, Interesting and Hardy – Part 1

Beyond Tarantulas – The Amazing Diversity of Insects in the Pet Trade

[…]cycles and full range of behaviors in a relatively limited space and time span.  Those who keep insects are offered the real possibility of discovering new information. Conservation Value Much of what has been learned by those keeping insects in private and public collections has conservation value.  Captive breeding and […]
Read more » Beyond Tarantulas – The Amazing Diversity of Insects in the Pet Trade

Interesting Facts and the Care of the Senegal Chameleon

[…]second day hunting accuracy rises to 20%.  On day 4, the one-eyed hunters successfully capture insects on 50% of their attempts. Senses of Hearing and Smell Chameleons do not hear well …like snakes, they detect air vibrations and low-pitched sounds only. The Jacobsen’s organ, which allows many other reptiles to […]
Read more » Interesting Facts and the Care of the Senegal Chameleon

Tarantulas and Other Spiders – Dangerous vs. Beneficial Species – Part 2

[…]or rushing from burrows fitted with hinged doors (trap door spider). However, all spiders consume insects, including agricultural pests and disease-bearing species, to some degree.  Field research has shown that harmful flies comprising over 60% of the diet of certain web-building species.  It is estimated that the weight of the […]
Read more » Tarantulas and Other Spiders – Dangerous vs. Beneficial Species – Part 2

Wild Caught Invertebrates as Reptile and Amphibian Food – Pesticide Concerns – Part 2

[…]and steer clear of farms where pesticides are known to be applied regularly. Avoid also local insects that are considered to be agricultural pests, as they are likely the subject of control measures (this may apply to aphids, caterpillars, Japanese Beetles, etc.). Enjoy Despite the precautions that must be taken, invertebrate […]
Read more » Wild Caught Invertebrates as Reptile and Amphibian Food – Pesticide Concerns – Part 2

Insect Pets – The Beautiful and Voracious Preying Mantids

[…]things, leaves, sticks, bark and lichen. Orchid mantids so closely resemble their namesakes that insects often alight directly upon them, mistaking the spectacularly-colored predators for flowers. Farmer’s Friend Insatiable appetites have long endeared mantids to farmers the world over. The Chinese mantid was imported into the USA in 1896 to […]
Read more » Insect Pets – The Beautiful and Voracious Preying Mantids

Tarantulas and Other Spiders: Dangerous vs. Beneficial Species – Part 1

While most people acknowledge that spiders perform a valuable service by consuming harmful insects, there remains the lingering belief that the vast majorities are dangerously venomous, and do more harm than good. Today I’d like to pass along some facts and figures that you may find interesting. Venom All spiders […]
Read more » Tarantulas and Other Spiders: Dangerous vs. Beneficial Species – Part 1

Wild Caught Invertebrates as Reptile and Amphibian Food: Pesticide Concerns – Part 1

[…]over many years, fishes and birds that had concentrated the toxin in the course of feeding upon insects. The non-target species were not killed outright, but the cumulative effects of the concentrated DDT rendered bird eggshells brittle and subject to breakage. There are, of course, exceptions…but, in any event, pesticides […]
Read more » Wild Caught Invertebrates as Reptile and Amphibian Food: Pesticide Concerns – Part 1

Tailless Whipscorpions – the Weirdest of All Arachnids?

[…]be provided a varied diet consisting of crickets, waxworms, roaches, locusts and wild caught insects. All species kept to date require very damp conditions and temperatures of 72-76 F.  Despite their tropical origins, tailless whipscorpions are most often found in caves, wells, hollow trees and other cool micro-habitats.  Most fail […]
Read more » Tailless Whipscorpions – the Weirdest of All Arachnids?

Krill in Turtle Diets: an Interesting Experiment and Some Useful Products

[…]Reading To learn more about using freshwater shrimps, please see my article Zoo Med Canned Freshwater Shrimp.     Krill image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Saperaud Blandings Turtle image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Raphael […]
Read more » Krill in Turtle Diets: an Interesting Experiment and Some Useful Products

Breeding White’s Treefrogs and White-Lipped Treefrogs – Part 2

[…]be employed to help provide the frogs with important dietary variety in the form of wild-caught insects. All insects offered the frogs should be powdered with vitamin/mineral supplements  for the first few months following transformation. The White Lipped or Indonesian Giant Green Treefrog (Litoria infrafrenata) Native to extreme northeastern Australia, […]
Read more » Breeding White’s Treefrogs and White-Lipped Treefrogs – Part 2

Pitfall Traps – Part 2 – Caterpillar Hunter Beetles in the Terrarium

[…]native caterpillar hunters are mostly large and brightly-colored, and spend the day searching for insects and their pupae.  Over 2,000 species (Family Carabidae) roam our forests, fields and parks, with 40,000+ having been described worldwide.  One, the forest caterpillar hunter, was imported to the USA from Europe in 1905 to […]
Read more » Pitfall Traps – Part 2 – Caterpillar Hunter Beetles in the Terrarium

Tortoise Diets: Mediterranean Species and Russian (Horsfield’s) Tortoises

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Judging from recent questions posted on this blog, there is a great deal of conflicting information available as regards the feeding of tortoise. The Greek or spur-thighed (Testudo graeca), marginated (T. marginata) and Hermann’s (T. hermanni) tortoises, collectively referred to as Mediterranean tortoises, and the popular […]
Read more » Tortoise Diets: Mediterranean Species and Russian (Horsfield’s) Tortoises

Collecting Live Food for Amphibians and Reptiles: Pitfall Traps

[…]zoo and my own collections.  In the past I have written about collecting leaf litter and arboreal insects, as well as devices such as termite traps and the Zoo Med Bug Napper.  Please see the following articles for more information: Collecting Leaf Litter Invertebrates Collecting Live Food: an Entomologist’s Technique […]
Read more » Collecting Live Food for Amphibians and Reptiles: Pitfall Traps

Breeding White’s Treefrogs and White-Lipped Treefrogs – Part 1

[…]a 2 week period, and feed them heavily for 3-4 weeks.  Novel prey animals, such as wild-caught or canned insects, should be offered at this time. Thereafter, move the frogs into an aquarium filled with 4 inches water and provisioned with live floating plants (i.e. water hyacinth, water lettuce, pothos) […]
Read more » Breeding White’s Treefrogs and White-Lipped Treefrogs – Part 1

Reptile Gardens: Attracting Terrestrial and Aquatic Invertebrates – Part 3

[…]Invertebrates Your reptile garden will, in addition, attract numerous terrestrial insects.  All are interesting to observe and many can be collected to feed to your collection (a Bug Napper Insect Trap situated near a garden will provide a great nightly haul). Flowering gardens are also important as feeding sites for […]
Read more » Reptile Gardens: Attracting Terrestrial and Aquatic Invertebrates – Part 3

Thoughts on Keeping the Giant Bent-Toed Gecko and Related Species – Part 2

[…]most geckos to feed; many also respond with enthusiasm to moths, beetles and other wild caught insects. Please see my article on Raising Orange-Spotted Roaches  for more information. I believe it to be very important to offer a variety of invertebrates to bent-toed geckos. If at all possible, try to […]
Read more » Thoughts on Keeping the Giant Bent-Toed Gecko and Related Species – Part 2

Leaf Litter Invertebrates as Food for Small Insectivorous Amphibians and Reptiles – Part 2

[…]throughout the warmer months, will attract tiny gnats, moths, beetles and flies along with larger insects. These too make fine foods for your smaller pets. Further Reading…Meadow Plankton “Meadow plankton” is a term given to the myriads of insects and other invertebrates that can be gathered by sweeping a net […]
Read more » Leaf Litter Invertebrates as Food for Small Insectivorous Amphibians and Reptiles – Part 2

Feeding Box Turtles and Wood Turtles: The Importance of Commercial Diets (and how to trick your pet into accepting them!) – Part 2

[…]mouse is usually a great hit with box turtles, but is not a necessity. Canned Snails and Insects Canned insects and invertebrates offer an excellent means of increasing dietary variety while adding to the attractiveness of commercial turtle foods. Box turtles avidly consume snails and slugs in the wild…canned snails are […]
Read more » Feeding Box Turtles and Wood Turtles: The Importance of Commercial Diets (and how to trick your pet into accepting them!) – Part 2

Reptile Gardens – Growing Food Plants and Attracting Insects for Your Pets – Part 2

[…]terrariums…frogs, day geckos and others will enjoy poking through them in search of tasty insects. Fruit Trees and Bushes Apple and Crab Apple Figs Apricots Pears Peaches Most berries, including natives such as elderberry and juniper Flowers Dogwood Magnolia Dandelion Gardenia Nasturtium Petunia Petunia Begonia Bougainvillea Seeds, Grains and Grasses […]
Read more » Reptile Gardens – Growing Food Plants and Attracting Insects for Your Pets – Part 2

Bird Aviaries as Outdoor Homes for Reptiles and Amphibians

While reviewing the outdoor aviaries that were recently added to out line of bird cages, it struck me that these large, sturdy enclosures could be put to good use by reptile and amphibian keepers. Outdoor pens, both at home and in zoos, have given rise to some of my most […]
Read more » Bird Aviaries as Outdoor Homes for Reptiles and Amphibians

Reptile Gardens – Growing Food Plants and Attracting Insects for Your Pets

[…]to feed my collection.  Happily, these two activities are intertwined – plants attract insects, and insects pollinate plants.  Garden-grown plants provide minerals and trace elements that are often difficult to supply otherwise, and their fiber content is usually quite high. Your pets’ enthusiastic attacks on novel foods will leave no […]
Read more » Reptile Gardens – Growing Food Plants and Attracting Insects for Your Pets

Collecting Live Food for Reptiles and Amphibians: an Entomologist’s Technique

[…]beetle (Alaus oculatus) pictured below in my haul (this fellow was released). Insect Traps and Canned Insects The Zoo Med Bug Napper is another very useful insect-collecting tool.  An alternative means of introducing variety to your pets’ diets is through the use of canned invertebrates. Further Reading An amusing story […]
Read more » Collecting Live Food for Reptiles and Amphibians: an Entomologist’s Technique

Feeding Large Insectivorous Reptiles and Amphibians: Problems and Solutions

[…]to come by in sufficient quantities, and rodents, as we shall see, are often a poor substitute.  Canned insects, especially large grasshoppers, offer a convenient and healthful alternative. Surprising Research on Natural Diets Many carnivorous reptiles and amphibians prey almost entirely upon invertebrates in the wild, despite being rather large […]
Read more » Feeding Large Insectivorous Reptiles and Amphibians: Problems and Solutions

Surinam Toads (Pipa pipa) as Pets, Part III: Diet and Feeding Techniques

[…]substrate, avoid feeding blackworms and offer earthworms from a plastic feeding tong. Introducing Canned Shrimp and Snails Well-habituated Surinam toads will consume prawn and other non-living food items that are dropped so as to land directly in front of their mouths.  Start your frog off with live food, but after […]
Read more » Surinam Toads (Pipa pipa) as Pets, Part III: Diet and Feeding Techniques

Interesting Facts about the Anatomy and Natural History of the Chameleons

[…]in prey weighing half as much as itself.  Armed in this manner, large chameleons take quite large insects, and even small birds and rodents on occasion. Further Reading Chameleon reproductive behavior is among the lizard-world’s most complex.  The abstract of an interesting research project is posted at […]
Read more » Interesting Facts about the Anatomy and Natural History of the Chameleons

Amphibian Husbandry: Tong-Feeding Canned Insects to Frogs

[…]cases hundreds, of prey species, and rarely fare well on a captive diet consisting of 2-3 types of insects. Canned invertebrates are convenient…some people even rely on them in place of readily available insects such as crickets and mealworms.  However, their true value lies in providing us an opportunity to add […]
Read more » Amphibian Husbandry: Tong-Feeding Canned Insects to Frogs

The Veiled Chameleon: an Ideal “First Chameleon” and its Care

[…]last two now available via internet dealers). Canned Insects Veiled chameleons also readily accept canned insects from plastic feeding tongs.  Grasshoppers, silkworms and others should be used frequently to increase dietary variety. Wild-Caught Insects All chameleons become “nutritionally bored” over time, and most eventually refuse once-favored foods that are offered […]
Read more » The Veiled Chameleon: an Ideal “First Chameleon” and its Care

Leaf Litter Invertebrates as Food for Small Insectivorous Amphibians and Reptiles

[…]and other vertebrates!  So how do we get at them? More on that next week. Other Sources of Tiny Insects The Zoo Med Bug Napper, a very effective insect trap that I rely upon throughout the warmer months, will attract tiny gnats, moths, beetles and flies along with larger insects.  […]
Read more » Leaf Litter Invertebrates as Food for Small Insectivorous Amphibians and Reptiles

Feeding Box Turtles (Terrepene spp.) and Wood Turtles (Clemmys insculpta): The Importance of Commercial Diets (and how to trick your pet into accepting them!)

[…]the food with jelly forces the turtle to consume everything. Canned Snails and Insects Canned insects and invertebrates offer an excellent means of increasing dietary variety while adding to the attractiveness of commercial turtle foods.  We’ll take a look at using canned and live invertebrates, as well as the importance of […]
Read more » Feeding Box Turtles (Terrepene spp.) and Wood Turtles (Clemmys insculpta): The Importance of Commercial Diets (and how to trick your pet into accepting them!)

Breeding Emperor Scorpions

[…]readily accept ½ inch crickets, small waxworms, newly molted mealworms, wild-caught insects and canned silkworms. Maternal Care of the Young Female emperor scorpions feed their young with finely-shredded insects – this really is something to see.  By all means, try to do so by viewing yours at night with the […]

Introducing the Fire Salamander, Salamandra salamandra: The Most “Personable” of All Amphibians?

[…]so I rely heavily upon these, especially during the winter when other foods are scarce. I also use canned silkworms, live earthworms (50% of the diet), blackworms, crickets, mealworm beetles, waxworms, sow bugs and wild-caught insects (i.e. moths gathered with the aid of a Zoo Med Bug Napper).   Further […]
Read more » Introducing the Fire Salamander, Salamandra salamandra: The Most “Personable” of All Amphibians?

The Cuatro Cienegas Slider (Trachemys scripta taylori) and other Unusual Relatives of the Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

  Note: For further information on red eared sliders in the wild and captivity, please see The Red Eared Slider in Outdoor Ponds  and Typical and Atypical Habitats of the Red Eared Slider The red eared slider is familiar to herp enthusiasts the world over, but many of its relatives […]
Read more » The Cuatro Cienegas Slider (Trachemys scripta taylori) and other Unusual Relatives of the Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Emperor Scorpion, Pandinus imperator, Care – Part 2

[…]insect trap). Emperor scorpions take readily to tong feeding , and should be provided with canned grasshoppers and silkworms as a means of increasing dietary variety.  We know nothing of their vitamin/mineral needs…I powder my scorpions’ food once weekly with a reptile dietary supplement  as “insurance”. Emperor scorpions may on […]
Read more » Emperor Scorpion, Pandinus imperator, Care – Part 2

Feeding Pet African Bullfrogs Pyxicephalus adspersus – Part 2

[…]every night or so will go a long way in keeping your pet in the peak of health. The Importance of Canned Insects African bullfrogs can be easily trained to accept non-living food items from a plastic feeding tongs (well, to be honest, no actual “training” is involved…they generally just […]
Read more » Feeding Pet African Bullfrogs Pyxicephalus adspersus – Part 2

Feeding Pet African Bullfrogs Pyxicephalus adspersus – Part 1

[…]had very good results with earthworm-based diets over many years. Commercially Available Insects The balance of the diet can consist of crickets, roaches, super mealworms, waxworms, tomato hornworms and other commercially available insects. Large roaches (as well as nightcrawlers) present an excellent means of keeping your frog sated without resorting […]
Read more » Feeding Pet African Bullfrogs Pyxicephalus adspersus – Part 1

Scorpions in Captivity – An Overview of Popular Species – Part 1

[…]where 60+ species may be found. Diet All are predacious, with most consuming soft-bodied insects but some specializing in land snails, sowbugs and other scorpions.  Larger species may take frogs, lizards, shrews and other sizable animals on occasion. Reproduction All scorpions thus far studied give birth to live young, and […]
Read more » Scorpions in Captivity – An Overview of Popular Species – Part 1

Feeding Captive Savannah Monitors (Varanus exanthematicus) and Black and White Tegus (Tupinambis merianae): Zoo Med’s Canned Tegu and Monitor Diet

[…]a moderate position as regarded the savannah monitors under my care in public collections, using canned food as 60-75% of the diet.  I supplemented the food of adults once weekly with vitamin/mineral powder  and that of juveniles 3-4 times weekly. Invertebrate and Vertebrate Food Items The easiest way to supplement […]
Read more » Feeding Captive Savannah Monitors (Varanus exanthematicus) and Black and White Tegus (Tupinambis merianae): Zoo Med’s Canned Tegu and Monitor Diet

Medications Based on the Immune System of the Mealworm or Darkling Beetle (Tenebrio molitor) may someday prevent the Emergence of Drug Resistant Microbes – Research Update

[…]human health concern, especially as regards hospital-based micro-organisms.   It seems that insects are particularly effective at preventing the development of hard-to-kill microbes, and that most of the credit for this is due a unique group of chemicals known as antimicrobial peptides.  It is hoped that human medications modeled after […]
Read more » Medications Based on the Immune System of the Mealworm or Darkling Beetle (Tenebrio molitor) may someday prevent the Emergence of Drug Resistant Microbes – Research Update

The Yellow-Spotted Sideneck Turtle (Terecay, Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle), Podocnemis unifilis, in the Wild and Captivity – Care in Captivity

[…]fish, mealworms and their pupae, waxworms, butterworms, crickets, crayfish and small snails.  Canned grasshoppers, snails, shrimp and caterpillars are now available, and, along with freeze dried prawn, should be used to increase dietary variety. Be sure to include plant material (see below) in the diet of growing sidenecks…animals refusing to […]
Read more » The Yellow-Spotted Sideneck Turtle (Terecay, Yellow-Spotted Amazon River Turtle), Podocnemis unifilis, in the Wild and Captivity – Care in Captivity

The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis) in the Wild and Captivity – Care in Captivity – Part 3

[…]feeding strategies of each.  For example, American toads will likely gobble up all non-climbing insects before anoles even begin to feed. On the other hand, anoles will leave no food for nocturnal hunters, such as green treefrogs, if all feeding is done during the day (the solution is to add […]
Read more » The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis) in the Wild and Captivity – Care in Captivity – Part 3

The Natural History and Captive Care of the Mexican Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum: Natural History – Part 2

[…]the first part of this article. Diet Mexican axolotls feed upon shrimp, aquatic worms, copepods, insects and other invertebrates and small fish. Adults are major predators upon small axolotls and axolotl eggs. The larvae are largely carnivorous, but may consume some algae as well. Their main predators are herons and […]
Read more » The Natural History and Captive Care of the Mexican Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum: Natural History – Part 2

The Green Treefrog, Hyla cinerea: Notes on my Collection

[…]trap) should be given regularly. Most green treefrogs feed readily from plastic tongs….canned silkworms are an excellent addition to the diet. These frogs are persistently arboreal, so burrowing insects such as small butterworms and waxworms should be placed in cups suspended from tree branches, or hand-fed. Green treefrogs are accomplished […]
Read more » The Green Treefrog, Hyla cinerea: Notes on my Collection

The Yellow-Spotted Sideneck Turtle , Podocnemis unifilis, in the Wild and Captivity: Natural History – Part 2

[…]herbivorous and subsist largely upon aquatic vegetation and fallen fruits, but will also consume insects, fish, carrion, snails and crayfish (the preferred diet of juveniles). The yellow-spotted sideneck sometimes utilizes a feeding method known as neustophagia to filter particulate food matter from the water’s surface.  The turtle opens its jaws […]
Read more » The Yellow-Spotted Sideneck Turtle , Podocnemis unifilis, in the Wild and Captivity: Natural History – Part 2

Albino and Leucistic American Bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana (Lithobates catesbeianus): a Request for Your Input

[…]minnows, earthworms, well-fed crickets, roaches and wild-caught cicadas, grasshoppers and other insects.   Field notes on albino bullfrog tadpoles in the wild are detailed in an article posted at: http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/vnhs/pdf-files/pdf-full-articles/Full-Bullfrog%20albino%20tadpole.pdf A visitor to the aquarium exhibit mentioned in this article has posted a video about it, see […]
Read more » Albino and Leucistic American Bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana (Lithobates catesbeianus): a Request for Your Input

Prepared Diets and Food Supplements for House Crickets – Product Review

[…]chow and baby cereal can all be fed to crickets, but none are formulated specifically for these insects, and each has disadvantages.  When feeding crickets in public collections or at home, I now rely exclusively upon commercial cricket foods.  The following products are all very well-accepted by these perpetually hungry […]
Read more » Prepared Diets and Food Supplements for House Crickets – Product Review

The Orange Spotted Roach: an Interesting Pet and Valuable Food for Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates, Birds and Fishes – Part 2

[…]roaches will provide you with many surprises.  We still have a great deal to learn about these insects…observant keepers stand a good chance of learning something new. Water I use R-Zilla Cricket Calcium Drink Supplement as the sole water source for all roach species.  This and similar gel-based products eliminates […]
Read more » The Orange Spotted Roach: an Interesting Pet and Valuable Food for Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates, Birds and Fishes – Part 2

The Orange Spotted Roach: an Interesting Pet and Valuable Food for Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates, Birds and Fishes – Part 1

[…]starts out as pet food but winds up as a pet. It’s small wonder, as these attractive insects are very interesting in their own right, and most agreeable to exhibiting their natural behaviors to the patient observer. Coming into Their Own Roaches are finally getting the attention they deserve from […]
Read more » The Orange Spotted Roach: an Interesting Pet and Valuable Food for Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates, Birds and Fishes – Part 1

Product Review: Gel-Based Water Sources for House Crickets (Acheta domestica)

[…]to rapidly decimate cricket colonies.  Misting the colony, a useful technique as regard many insects, is worse, and again will result in heavy losses. The advent of gel-based cricket water substitutes is one of the most important recent innovations in food animal maintenance.  These products save time and money by […]
Read more » Product Review: Gel-Based Water Sources for House Crickets (Acheta domestica)

My Animal Collection: How a Herpetologist Keeps American Toads, Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus and Related Species, Part II

[…]toads and on amphibian care in general.  Please check out the following when you have a chance: Canned Insects and other Invertebrates – An Important New Food for Pet Reptiles and Amphibians Making the Most of the Mealworm: some tips on enhancing the nutritional value of this pet trade staple […]
Read more » My Animal Collection: How a Herpetologist Keeps American Toads, Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus and Related Species, Part II

My Animal Collection: How a Herpetologist Keeps American Toads, Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus and Related Species, Part I

[…]and other amphibians fare poorly in stagnant air) yet are small enough to prevent small feeder insects from escaping.  This set-up is dismantled and cleaned weekly – the terrarium’s light weight simplifies this chore. Substrate The substrate pictured in the photo is R-Zilla Compressed Frog Moss.  American toads prefer a […]
Read more » My Animal Collection: How a Herpetologist Keeps American Toads, Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus and Related Species, Part I

Ant Mimicry in the Giant Spiny Stick Insect (Macleay’s Spectre), Extatosoma tiaratum: An Unbelievable Survival Strategy

[…]color (black body, red head) and move about in a rapid, frantic manner as do the ants (adult stick insects are slow moving). They also curl their abdomens up over the body, in the manner of their ant hosts. Upon leaving the ant nest the stick insects moult, assume the […]
Read more » Ant Mimicry in the Giant Spiny Stick Insect (Macleay’s Spectre), Extatosoma tiaratum: An Unbelievable Survival Strategy

The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis) in the Wild and Captivity – Care in Captivity Part 2

[…]this regard. Small silkworms and house flies should be ordered from insect suppliers periodically. Canned Insects In order to increase dietary variety, anoles should be acclimated to tong feeding and offered canned grasshoppers, silkworms and other commercially-available insects. Nectar and Water Wild anoles of various species have been observed lapping […]
Read more » The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis) in the Wild and Captivity – Care in Captivity Part 2

Research Update: Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) Calls are Influenced by Social Factors, Concave-Eared Torrent Frogs (Odorrana tormota) Call in the Ultrasonic Range

[…]in the lower sound ranges (which are used by most frogs). Until now, only bats, whales and certain insects were thought to utilize ultrasonic calls. Unusual Ears And why the recessed eardrums? As stated in an article published in the May, 2008 issue of “Nature”, the torrent frogs eardrums are […]
Read more » Research Update: Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) Calls are Influenced by Social Factors, Concave-Eared Torrent Frogs (Odorrana tormota) Call in the Ultrasonic Range

The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis) in the Wild and Captivity; – Natural History – Part 1

[…]species, however (i.e. Genus Pristidactylus), are largely terrestrial. Anoles feed mainly upon insects, spiders and other invertebrates. Several species have been observed to lap nectar and sap, and the Puerto Rican anole (A. cristatellus wileyae) sometimes consumes fruit. The green anole is the only species native to the USA, although […]
Read more » The Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis carolinensis) in the Wild and Captivity; – Natural History – Part 1

My Animal Collection: How a Herpetologist Keeps Barking Treefrogs (Hyla gratiosa) and Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)

[…]feed avidly from the hand. This allows me to more easily provide a varied diet, as they will take canned insects such as caterpillars and grasshoppers. From spring through fall, I feed the frogs exclusively upon insects that I trap with a Zoo Med Bug Napper or collect around my […]
Read more » My Animal Collection: How a Herpetologist Keeps Barking Treefrogs (Hyla gratiosa) and Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)

Terrestrial Isopods (Sowbugs, Pillbugs, Potato Bugs) As Food for Captive Reptiles and Amphibians

[…]Scavengers Isopods are crustaceans, and as such provide a variety of nutrients not to be found in insects. Another thing I like about using them has to do with their appetites – they will eat anything, so by feeding them a rich and varied diet you are improving their value […]
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The Monitor Lizards (Family Varanidae) – Family Overview and Species Accounts; – Some Interesting Monitors and Their Care – Part II

[…]of whole, fresh-water fish, whole, unshelled prawn, crayfish, roaches, crickets, earthworms, and canned insects/monitor diets . Pink mice are preferable to furred rodents, and should be offered only once each week or two. This species seems to have a quite high metabolism, and does best when fed small meals every […]
Read more » The Monitor Lizards (Family Varanidae) – Family Overview and Species Accounts; – Some Interesting Monitors and Their Care – Part II

The Monitor Lizards (Family Varanidae) – Family Overview and Species Accounts; – Some Interesting Monitors and Their Care – Part I

[…]be roaches, crickets, waxworms, super mealworms, mealworm beetles and wild-caught insects.  Canned insects, such as silkworms and grasshoppers, offer an excellent source of dietary variety.  Many individuals also accept canned monitor diets. Breeding Captive breeding is possible, but pairs must be watched closely for aggression.  The 2-5 eggs hatch in […]
Read more » The Monitor Lizards (Family Varanidae) – Family Overview and Species Accounts; – Some Interesting Monitors and Their Care – Part I

The Monitor Lizards (Family Varanidae) – Family Overview and Species Accounts, Part I

[…]predators, with the various species taking an incredibly huge array of prey – termites and other insects, snails, spiders, crayfish and other invertebrates, birds and their eggs, frogs, turtles, snakes, hatchling crocodiles and other reptiles and amphibians, and rodents, weasels, tree kangaroos and other mammals to the size of adult […]
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A Survey of Amphibians, Reptiles and Insects Suitable for Maintenance in Outdoor Ponds – Part II, The Red-Eared Slider, Chrysemys scripta elegans

[…]sliders will readily consume Repto-min, earthworms, crickets, mealworms, prawn and canned insects, and will do their best to catch small fishes and tadpoles.  They usually will coexist quite well with larger goldfish and sunfish, if there is ample room for the fish to avoid the turtles.  Adults may consume some […]
Read more » A Survey of Amphibians, Reptiles and Insects Suitable for Maintenance in Outdoor Ponds – Part II, The Red-Eared Slider, Chrysemys scripta elegans

The Marine or Cane Toad, Bufo marinus (Rhinella marina) in Nature and Captivity – Marine Toads as Pets – Part 2

[…]mouse’s sharp teeth. Marine Toads take readily to tong or even hand feeding (use plastic tongs). Canned insects, such as Can O’ Grasshoppers and Can O’ Pillars should be hand-fed to increase dietary variety. Wild caught insects, collected from pesticide-free areas, should be offered whenever possible. Zoo Med’s Bug Napper […]
Read more » The Marine or Cane Toad, Bufo marinus (Rhinella marina) in Nature and Captivity – Marine Toads as Pets – Part 2

The Marine or Cane Toad, Bufo marinus (Rhinella marina) in Nature and Captivity – Marine Toads as Pets – Part 1

[…]capacity. During warm weather, Marine Toads can be housed in secure outdoor enclosures as well.  Insects lured by a small light or over-ripe fruit will supply your toads with important dietary variety. Their enclosure should be topped by a screen cover secured by clamps  and the substrate should be kept […]
Read more » The Marine or Cane Toad, Bufo marinus (Rhinella marina) in Nature and Captivity – Marine Toads as Pets – Part 1

A Survey of Amphibians, Reptiles and Insects Suitable for Maintenance in Outdoor Ponds – Part I, The American Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana (Lithobates catesbeianus)

[…]large tadpoles may take up to 2 years to mature. The tadpoles will eat whatever algae and dead insects they may find. However, they require a good deal of food for proper development, and should be given supplementary green vegetables that have be soaked for a few minutes in hot […]
Read more » A Survey of Amphibians, Reptiles and Insects Suitable for Maintenance in Outdoor Ponds – Part I, The American Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Zoo Med’s Canned Freshwater Shrimp – an important new food reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate pets

As I noted in an earlier article (Canned Insects and Other Invertebrates, July 1, 2008), several companies are now marketing canned grasshoppers, snails, silkworms and other invertebrates.  I believe these to be an important means of providing dietary variety to a wide range of captive reptiles and amphibians. I have […]
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North America’s Colorful, Venomous Lizard – The Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum

[…]and other ground-nesting birds, lizards and their eggs, tortoise eggs, locusts and other large insects and carrion. These lizards are well-adapted to a harsh environment in which food is often scarce.  They gorge when food is available, consuming up to 50% of their bodyweight, and in some areas eat but […]
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Cicadas – An End of Summer Treat for Pet Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates

[…]The waning days of summer bring with them the annual die-off of untold millions of large, juicy insects – the annual and periodical cicadas. More than 100 of the world’s 2,000+ cicada species make their home in North America, and they are widely distributed. I still hear them regularly in […]
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Notes from the Field – An Aggressive Black Tegu Tupinambis teguixin (merianae)

[…]across – other lizards, snakes, turtle and bird eggs, small mammals, fish, frogs, crabs, large insects and carrion – and were major predators in this flooded grassland habitat.  I managed to catch a few young tegus, but old, battle-scarred individuals were impossible to approach, fleeing with amazing speed at the […]
Read more » Notes from the Field – An Aggressive Black Tegu Tupinambis teguixin (merianae)

The Marine Toad, Bufo marinus (recently re-classified as Rhinella marina) in Nature and Captivity – Part I, Natural History

[…]their keepers, and those living in developed areas learn to gather under street lights to capture insects. A field report detailing some of the unusual foods and other items found in the stomachs’ of free-living Marine Toads is posted […]
Read more » The Marine Toad, Bufo marinus (recently re-classified as Rhinella marina) in Nature and Captivity – Part I, Natural History

The Natural History and Captive Care of the Frilled Dragon or Frillneck Lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii – Part II, Frilled Dragons as Pets

[…]indeed, they get along perfectly well without them in captivity. Please try to provide wild-caught insects whenever possible.  Mine especially favor grasshoppers, katydids, large moths and cicadas.  Avoid fireflies, brightly colored insects (due to possible toxicity) and bees, wasps and spiders.  Zoo-Med’s Bug Napper is an excellent insect trap, and […]
Read more » The Natural History and Captive Care of the Frilled Dragon or Frillneck Lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii – Part II, Frilled Dragons as Pets

The Natural History and Captive Care of the Frilled Dragon or Frillneck Lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii – Part I, Frilled Dragons in the Wild

[…]arboreal, they feed on the ground by dropping from their tree-trunk perches to intercept passing insects and small animals. Research has shown that, immediately after dry season fires, the percentage of large invertebrates in the frilled dragons’ diets increases significantly.  It seems that the lizards are able to see larger […]
Read more » The Natural History and Captive Care of the Frilled Dragon or Frillneck Lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii – Part I, Frilled Dragons in the Wild

Building a Termite Trap – gathering termites as food for poison frogs and other small amphibians and reptiles

[…]exterminators, the only people who actively seek out termites – but we have good reason.  These insects (fascinating in their own right, by the way) are a valuable food source for a number of reptiles and amphibians.  Termites are particularly important for poison frogs, and form a major component of […]
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Tarantulas in Captivity, Part II

[…]moisture levels. Ravenous predators (feed them crickets, roaches, waxworms, moths and other insects) and quick to “take offense”, these beauties live up to the “tiger” portion of their name quite well!   Haitian Brown Tarantula, Phormictopus cancerides This species was formerly imported in large numbers, and was relatively inexpensive for […]

Tarantulas in Captivity – An Overview of Popular Species, Part I

[…]as food (dead mice are accepted). They fare well on roaches, earthworms, crickets and wild-caught insects such as grasshoppers and katydids. Mexican Red Knee Tarantula, Brachypelma smithi Quite different from the goliath in color, temperament and captive needs, the red knee is responsible for the advent of tarantula keeping in […]
Read more » Tarantulas in Captivity – An Overview of Popular Species, Part I

The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, – Care in Captivity – Part 1

[…]below rocks and leaf litter.  They are excellent salamander food and avidly consume feces, dead insects and decaying moss (a bit of fish flake food added occasionally will keep them in top shape and assure that they reproduce).    Land snails are also excellent scavengers, and both they and isopods […]
Read more » The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, – Care in Captivity – Part 1

The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum – Part II, Natural History

[…]well as smaller salamanders. The larvae prey upon zooplankton, dragonfly larvae and other aquatic insects, fairy shrimp, tadpoles, red-spotted newt larvae and each other. Spotted salamanders produce toxic skin secretions but are none-the-less consumed by garter snakes and hog-nosed snakes. Introduced trout, bass, goldfish and other fishes prey upon the […]
Read more » The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum – Part II, Natural History

Canned Insects and other Invertebrates – An Important New Food for Pet Reptiles and Amphibians

[…]snails, supplemented with live ones, as a basis of the diet. I have also written about the use of canned insects in bird diets – please see my article, Feeding Insects to Pet Birds. I have tried most of the following, and recommend you to experiment as much as possible: […]
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Behavioral Enrichment for Captive Poison (Dart) Frogs – Dendrobates, Phyllobates, Epipedobates spp. and related species

[…]to associate the container with food, and will gather about it, watching the holes for escaping insects. On non-feeding days, you may still notice that the frogs will pause occasionally to peer at the feeder, apparently in anticipation of a meal. Establishing a colony of springtails (tiny, wingless insects that […]
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The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina – Care in Captivity (with notes on the Alligator Snapping Turtle, Macroclemmys temmincki) Part 2

[…]foods. The balance of the diet should be as varied as possible – earthworms, crickets and other insects, crayfish, shrimp, freeze dried prawn, pink mice, waxworms, mealworms, etc. Snappers will also eagerly accept most frozen foods marketed for tropical fish and catfish and cichlid pellets , but such should be […]
Read more » The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina – Care in Captivity (with notes on the Alligator Snapping Turtle, Macroclemmys temmincki) Part 2

The Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina – Part I, Natural History and Behavior in the Wild (with notes on size records)

[…]and lay fertile eggs for years after a single mating. The young, jet black in color, forage for insects, worms and carrion in shallow water, and often remain buried beneath the mud with only the eyes and nostrils exposed (as do adults). Hatchlings are preyed upon by large fish, bull […]
Read more » The Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina – Part I, Natural History and Behavior in the Wild (with notes on size records)

The Natural History and Care of the Blue Poison Frog, Dendrobates azureus (tinctorius) – Part II, Care in Captivity

[…]can be collected. Do not leave large numbers of ants in the terrarium. Aphids – these tiny insects may be found on plant stems. Clip the stem and place it in the terrarium, or shake the insects over the tank – your frogs’ reactions will leave no doubt as to […]
Read more » The Natural History and Care of the Blue Poison Frog, Dendrobates azureus (tinctorius) – Part II, Care in Captivity

The Natural History and Captive Care of the Black (Eastern) Ratsnake, Elaphe (obsoleta) alleghaniensis

[…]creatures, but also take birds and their eggs. Young snakes include lizards, frogs and large insects (i.e. cicadas) in their diet. A colleague of mine observed 6 foot-long (yellow-phase) black ratsnake attempting to constrict a white-tailed deer fawn on St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia. The fawn, which might have set a […]
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Amphibian Learning Abilities – the southern toad, Bufo (Anaxyrus) terrestris and bumblebee mimics

[…]green frogs, Rana (Lithobates) clamitans in an outdoor pen, where I used ripe fruit to attract insects for them to eat. Year after year, I observed the same frogs to studiously avoid yellow-jackets and other wasps, while snapping up flies and beetles located close to the wasps. It would appear […]
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Bearded Dragon Care and History in Captivity

[…]well and uses rocks and stumps as basking sites and as platforms from which to launch attacks on insects moving about below. Diurnal, it basks at temperatures of 125 F for short periods and shelters in self-dug burrows during extremely hot or cold weather. To read the rest of this […]

Sheltopusik or Eurasian Glass Lizard History and Care

[…]variety of foods – pink (new-born) mice, crickets, earthworms, mealworms, waxworms, eggs, canned lizard diet and canned dog and cat food – to name a few. Cone-shaped teeth assist in crushing snails, a favored prey. After eating snails, sheltopusiks remove the snails’ slime from their jaws by rubbing their mouths […]
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Providing A Balanced Diet To Reptile and Amphibian Pets

[…]how much of its vitamin/mineral supplement coating will be passed along to your pet. Whether food insects will live or die within the terrarium, and how to keep track of the food intake of secretive or nocturnal pets will also affect the manner in which you must present the food. […]
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