Just wondering if anyone out there who breeds locusts could tell me how big they are when they hatch? Mine have just laid, so I need to make sure the babies can't escape through the top of the faunarium I've got them in!

Cheers!

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ooh I can't answer your Q but I've just got myself a load of adult locusts in the hope of breeding them, it would save me a fortune and I believe when they get going you can have thousands! I've read up a bit but wondered what the set up is like that you have them in. what food do you feed them and how big is the enclosure?

thanks

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1.2.0 beardies (Dobby, theo and jones)
0.0.1 corn snake (Lucifer)
1.1.0 Chinese water dragons (Alan and Libby)
1.0.0 Dalmation Crested Gecko (Buddy)
5.10.3 Leos... normals, hi yellows, tangerine albinos, raptors, aptors, super hypo, patty.
FOR SALE : double ruby eyed raptor £130 ono

Nuts! I just pressed back by accident and deleted my message! I'll write it again in a sec!

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Right, lets write all this again!

I have 4 adult locusts (one with only one front leg, aptly named stumpy!) which are 2 males and 2 females! I keep them in a large faunarium (the standard not flat version) and keep them on top of my tropical fish tank, to keep the ambient temperature around 26'c. I also have a 30W desk lamp at the other end (until I get something more permanent) providing a hot side of around 32-34'c. I have a small tub (similar to an ice cream tub but smaller so it fits in perfectly!) full of sand about 5-6cm deep. Then I have sticks placed in there so the locusts can climb about, and obviously some egg cartons kicking around! I feed them on whatever salady/fruity type stuff I have kicking around! But, what really gets them going is some fresh grass picked out of the garden! As soon as that goes in, they go nuts! I also leave some fish flakes in there for them to eat whenver they feel like it. I think that's all I've done, and already I can see 4 little laying sights! Well happy!

If you have any questions give me a pm or read around on here because markhill did a really good locusts breeding guide! Have a look at there sites for general ideas:
http://www.reptilehouse.net/care/locust(27).pdf
Locusts
They gave me the general ideas of what to do and provide for them!

I think I read on the second site that the babies are around 7mm, so hopefully they won't be able to fit through the gaps at the top of my faunarium! When I get back to Harbury, I'm going to put them into a spare fish tank to let the little ones hatch safely! I'll put up some pics when I get it all working smoothly! I can put some of my current set up if you want!?

Give me a pm if you want any more tips and I'll try and help!

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pics would be great thjanks. also thanks for your info so far. I might put mine in a spare viv with mat etc. I've given mine grass they love it and dandilions too.

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1.2.0 beardies (Dobby, theo and jones)
0.0.1 corn snake (Lucifer)
1.1.0 Chinese water dragons (Alan and Libby)
1.0.0 Dalmation Crested Gecko (Buddy)
5.10.3 Leos... normals, hi yellows, tangerine albinos, raptors, aptors, super hypo, patty.
FOR SALE : double ruby eyed raptor £130 ono

I'll post some up tomorrow morning! Don't want to disturb them and the fish this late at night! That's probably the best plan! They need a light source of some kind to! If you do that you're laughing! I didn't realise how readily they'd mate! One pair was at it for hours! Literally 10 minutes after I removed them from their cramp little delivery box and put them their new home! Dead chuffed!

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Here are those pictures I promised! I've changed it a little since I took them, but it's roughly the same:







Hope that helps!

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hatchling locusts are small enough to fit through the gaps in a faunarium, best thing to do is trap a bit of net curtain under the lid

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Andrew Tillson-Willis
Pollywog
www.pollywog.co.uk
sales@pollywog.co.uk

Please do not pm me, if you want to ask me a question please use the e-mail address provided.

Ok, I'll get some tomorrow! I ploan to move the laying sites into an old fish tank soon anyway!

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thats great thanks. I have about 30 adults in cricket keeper type thing. I think its too small, I'll get another tub or something sorted over the weekend. already seen them mating so I[ve put a tub in with damp sand in. fingers crossed!!!

thanks for your help.
I heard tights are good for over the top of tanks etc. as you can tie a knot in the end of the tights but can then get in to the tank though the legs of the tights without them getting out. good for ventilation too

__________________
1.2.0 beardies (Dobby, theo and jones)
0.0.1 corn snake (Lucifer)
1.1.0 Chinese water dragons (Alan and Libby)
1.0.0 Dalmation Crested Gecko (Buddy)
5.10.3 Leos... normals, hi yellows, tangerine albinos, raptors, aptors, super hypo, patty.
FOR SALE : double ruby eyed raptor £130 ono