Live Food-Locust-Crickets-Mealworms-Morio Worms-Waxworms
Although most reptiles are carnivores (Live Food), some are omnivores and a few are herbivores or strictly plant eaters. Most reptiles have a rather primitive digestive tract making them in most cases very specialized feeders. Certain forms have no means of digesting plant fibres, while others have difficulty digesting high protein sources (e.g. animals).
Some groups shift from a higher protein diet in their juvenile stage to a higher fibre diet in their adult stage for example iguanas. Often these higher protein diets consists of sprouts, young greens and growing foliage, but some groups fulfill their need for protein by occasionally eating insects or animal matter (omnivores).
Since reptiles in captivity consume less energy than in the wild it is also necessary to adapt their diets to their life in a terrarium. Some species that eat invertebrates or even small vertebrates in the wild can easily thrive on pure vegetable diets in captivity (e.g. Bearded Dragons and Uromastix sp.) since less energy is needed.
The Locust
Being Vegetarian Locusts eat fresh insecticide-free grass or cabbage and Progrub. All sizes of Lizards will readily eat locust and because they are slower moving than Crickets, they are easier for lizards to catch and eat. One good point is that if the lizard leaves a few locust in the Vivarium they wont bite like crickets can. Locusts wont survive very long if they escape and dont make annoying chirping noises all night.
Locusts provide more nutrition than other live food insects can, they are nurtured on a very high fibre diet consisting of bran and cabbage. Adult Locusts are one of the largest live food insect source that are farmed, or bred for the livefood industry. Locusts grow very quickly from hatching out of its egg pod to being able to reproduce itself the locust will take 42 days. That is if the Locusts are kept in ideal conditions. The Locusts should reach approximately 7cm. It is not only the size of Locusts that make them an attractive food source to predators, but the bright yellow wing case and abdomen, making a perfect treat for large chameleons or geckos.
Locusts must be kept in a warm dry enclosure, with humidity at a minimum. Damp or cool conditions can cause the Locusts to lose there colour and eventually may even die. Locust that have been travelling overnight, by courier or postal service will need to be transferred on arrival, use a larger box or tank with a tight-fitting well ventilated lid. The Locust should be stored at a temperature of 25-30oC (80-85oF). Locusts need Perching areas these can be provided for the Locusts in the form of cardboard egg cartons. This will also to reduce stress of the Locusts which will reduce cannibalism. A small saucer of bran or progrub can also be placed in with the Locusts.
Fresh cabbage leaves should be provided every day for the Locusts, ensure that any cabbage is washed and contains no pesticides. Feed the Locusts daily, any uneaten old leaves should be removed from the Locust habitat.
Crickets
The Cricket belongs to the Order Orthoptera (which also includes the Grasshoppers) and have been kept in captivity for thousands of years as the singing of the adult males is considered pleasant by many people.
Housing
An aquarium with a tight fitting wooden lid makes a good cage, the lid is to prevent the crickets from jumping out, it needs to have ventilation holes and a fine wire mesh is ideal. Though they can be kept at room temperature (20°C), in colder climes they will be more active and sing better if given some warmth. An electric light or a heat pad are useful heat sources and around 30°C degrees is ideal for most species.
Most species of cricket seem happy with a regime of 16 hours of daylight to 8 hours of night including the primarily nocturnal Acheta domesticus. Most species need some sort of cover to hide in, egg cartons, the cardboard inner rolls from toilet rolls and inverted polystyrene cups all make suitable hideaways.
Feeding
All crickets are omnivorous and in the wild some species are carnivorous by choice. If crickets are not kept well fed they will prey on one another. A combination of rolled oats with fresh fruit and vegetables is a good diet. You should also removed any uneaten fruit before it goes mouldy.
Water
Water should be made available in a shallow bowl filled with cotton wool which should be changed as it gets dirty, alternately water can be supplied in mini inverted drinkers similar to those used for poultry.
Breeding
The females will lay their eggs in the damp cotton wool which should be changed twice a week. The old cotton wool should be placed in a well ventilated plastic box in a warm airing cupboard. The eggs should hatch in a week or two, depending on the temperature. The young and the adults can be kept together providing they have plenty of food.
