Breeding cricks and locusts

[lindseykim13]

I bet its been asked a million times, but how do i breed cricks and locusts obviously in seperate tanks, whats involved? just wondered if it was cheaper to breed them for my leos that buy them every other week.
Will i be able to breed enough to feed 2 adults and a baby all the time or am i likely to have to still get some from the pet shop.

[DaFoot]

I guess the cost question comes down to what you feed them.
I have been trying to get a breeding swarm of locusts going, had some success.

Mine get the salad stuff from the fridge that I don't want. If it is all good, they get the good stuff too so I guess it costs something there. Then power for light/heat for them. Find mine like an approximate 26-32C range (its a 4 ft tank so not a problem).

[Ste]

ye as far as i know, for locust, ya need small viv/container, heat mat, water and veg/bran. O an a few locust obvioulsy. Bout 5-10 should do it, then just leave em to it and keep and eye on the food/drink for them. Be prepared for the smell tho!

[baby05x]

i have bred my own locus and crixs in the same tank
i use a glass tank with a mess top
for the substrate i use wood chip
i use egg boxes for hides for them just stacked on top of each other
i place a tub of grub for them but you can use oats etc
i also place a tub of water with cotton wool inside to stop them drowning
i then place a few laying tubs with compost in which i mist through out the day
i also have a heat bulb on all the time, and put a light on for day periods

[monitorfan666]

found this

Keeping Locusts

Adult locusts are probably the largest type of live food you will encounter measuring up to 80mm in length. They are usually a yellow colour and are ideal for feeding to large lizards, tarantulas and turtles. They are particularly enjoyed by Chameleons like the Yemen Chameleon which just can't resist the yellow colour.

Adult Yellow Locust

This is the commonest type of locust you will find sold as live pet food. They are a yellow colour with brown/purple spots and markings on the wings. They are capable of flight over short distances.

Buying Locusts

Locusts usually arrive in small ventilated tubs containing a piece of cardboard egg carton, bran and between 5 - 20 live crickets depending on size.
On arrival the locusts should be removed from the small tub and placed in to a larger one containing several pieces of cardboard egg carton, the egg carton allows the locusts to perch.
If the locusts seem to be kept in damp bran or there are more than a coupe of dead ones in the tub - do not buy them. like other live foods they can deteriorate rapidly under damp conditions and infections can quickly develop.
Feeding Locusts

Feeding locusts is pretty simple. 'Bug grub' is available which contains bran, calcium and other minerals but no moisture. Alternatives include bran, cornflakes, bread and digestive biscuits. Moisture should be provided in the form of cabbage leaves and apples.
Temperature & Humidity

Keep locusts at a temperature of 20 - 26C and in a dry atmosphere to prevent fungal infections.
Breeding Locusts

If you are wanting to breed your own locust them all that's needed is a 4 inch deep dish filled with silver sand or sharp sand. The sand should be kept moist by wetting it and adding a few drops of water each day, you don't want the sand wet though, just moist.
The female locust will position herself over the sand dish and push her back end in to it to deposit up to 200 eggs. Keep if your tank is the correct temperature (see above) then the locusts will emerge after 10 - 12 days.
The young can be fed on the same material as the adults and will go through several (5) instar moultings before becoming adult - you'll probably have used them by this time though!


hmm doesnt sound like a bad idea to me lol

[bob_l]

looks like a great idea but how bad do they really smell?
i'v heard they'r pretty bad. i no my crickets are!

[Ste]

If ya keep it clean and well ventilated its not too bad, wouldnt recomend u breed them in ya bedroom tho

[baby05x]

mine dont stink
i clean them out alot