Just started breeding locusts.

[ipreferaflan]

I don't really have an abundance of locust-eating pets, but I thought I'd try breeding my locusts anyway. Just to see if I could do it really.

I have a plastic container, around 14x12x6".
I warmed up a fork on a gaslight and popped a load of holes in the top for ventilation (it also has larger holes on the side, but I might cover these up if they start laying)
Newspaper on the floor
Twigs to climb on
An ice cream tub full of soil for them to lay the eggs in
A small egg crate and kitchen roll tube

For heating, I keep them above my frogs terrarium, over the compact top. Heats up the bottom a treat.

I'm feeding them on a variety of veg (carrot, salad leaves, potato etc) and porridge oats.

Do you think this is adequate?

[forteh]

Try to avoid lettuce as its generally too watery for them and they will die from humidity, dark greens are preferred. You need to provide lots of hanging space for them to moult or they will die off very quickly, generally they need to be able to hang, undisturbed to double their body length when they moult. They also need to be hot when do moult otherwise they dont dry out properly, work on at least 80*F.

Bear in mind that if they do start laying and you incubate the eggs then they multiply about 16fold per generation, if youre not feeding large quantities of them you might find you end up overrun

You could always give them away to a friend who needs locusts

[ipreferaflan]

Well they chomped through the leaves I gave them yesterday. They aren't fully mature yet, and haven't developed wings. They do cling to the roof of the plastic container, and they do have a few twigs in there. If I end up with a ton of locusts, I can just keep them cooler can't I? Or remove the soil, then they can't lay eggs. I'll monitor it. I shall try and get the conditions hotter. I'm not sure what it's at atm, but I'd say it's just as hot as having a heat mat underneath. I'll try not to disturb them too much!

[ipreferaflan]

Also, do I have to incubate the eggs in a separate tank? Will the adults eat the babies?

[callum gohrisch]

i want to breed locuts

[ipreferaflan]

do it!

[livefooduk]

Originally Posted by ipreferaflan

Also, do I have to incubate the eggs in a separate tank? Will the adults eat the babies?

Normally the adults will not eat the babies but locusts can be cannibalistic if they are hungry and will eat each other (they are vulnerable when moulting) regardless of size if they do not have enough to eat.

[ipreferaflan]

Ah so as long as I provide them with enough fresh food they will be okay.
Thanks for the help guys!

[grumpyoldtrout]

When i am making soup and peel the carrots, the peelings go in to help feed them, I also use grass and dandelion leaves as well as some pf the beardies greens.