I haven't had any luck with any other beetles either although when I get mealworm beetles that don't fully morph deformed wings, like pupae with legs walking around; they eat them like candy! If only there were some way to make them all morph deformed like that!

I have seen them take the pupae of the superworm with gusto but only if I hold them so that they wiggle real well. They love these. Also the pupae of the silkworms. Any pupae that wiggle they seem to love.

They also love all sort of caterpillar that is safe to feed. I have great results feeding silkworms and hornworms but find the hornworms to be way to costly. I just had my first 2nd generation silkworms hatch today. It has taken months! I don't know that 3 worms out of a few eggs are worth it but free food is free food! I don't mind buying the eggs though and in the spring and early summer I just collect the mulberry leaves for chow. The rest of the year I buy the powder and make it. Costs a bit but they love the silks! I don't like them as a steady diet but mixed with the roaches I think my animals do well.

Of the roaches I have to agree that the orange spot are the best I have used. I like the lobsters but didn't like the escapees. The armata loved them and took them with greed from the tongs but it is very time consuming tong feeding 7 hungry animals! They can pack away a lot of full-grown lobsters in a feeding too. If you have time and patience though these are very good and are great breeders! I never got the hang of picking out the smaller ones for the young animals though. I am not one to handle bugs too well!

The orange spots however are so easy. I shake them into a dog crock and with my rubber glove on I pick out the adults. Then I pick out the 5/8-3/4" nymphs for the adults, then the 3/8-1/2" nymphs for the juvies, and the 3/8" and smaller go to the smallest kids. Of course all get a good dusting and then into a bowl with chow and a slice of apple or carrot for feeding. Trust me, they don't last long. The babies gorge themselves! The adults are a bit more conservative!

I will never get rid of my mealworm colony either. Although they are not my favorite feeder, or my MHDs, they are available in an emergency. I find that sometimes they are what the hatchlings take first. They are also what my coronata variants take when they will take nothing else in the winter.

I have also just recently started a colony of mini-mealworms. I am not sure how well they are doing yet but I do know that the hatchlings really love these fast moving little worms. So, I feel it would be foolish to not have them on hand when a clutch hatches.

I would love to have a ready source of grasshoppers and snails but haven't been able to figure that one out yet. I chased down a fella that supposedly had snails and made arrangements to purchase but when it came down to final price and shipping he stopped replying to my emails! Funny how that happens! Me thinks he was maybe harvesting garden snails and had not permits or something. Who knows!

Anyway, If anyone else does find some great feeders do be sure to share. I know that there have to be foods that we are missing here.

Also jobi, on the fruit and flower note, I recall from that article that even it noted the fruits and flowers. Is there anything we have available that would be a comparable that would be worth trying to offer? Have you tried any fruits? Any flowers?
-----
Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]