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Feeding a "Locust"....SAFE?

Justin M Aug 23, 2003 12:20 PM

OK, I think here in Indiana we have different names for Locust. I know many people call what I call grasshoppers, locusts. I am speaking of the big bugs that fly around in fall and make that loud annoying noise that tells you summer is coming to an end. They are hard to describe so I am not going to. But I am wondering if these are safe to feed to my cham. I caught one and it may be a lil too big but I am just wondering. Let me know what you think, thanks!
-----
1.0 Picasso panther chameleon (Pablo)
0.2 Bearder Dragons (Mic Dundee and Red)
0.1 Leopard gecko (Leo)
2.0 Red-eyed tree frogs
1.0 African side-necked mud turtle (Wrinkles)
1.2 Spring peepers
1.1 Fire bellied toads

Replies (9)

JamieWhitehouse Aug 23, 2003 01:26 PM

>>OK, I think here in Indiana we have different names for Locust. I know many people call what I call grasshoppers, locusts. I am speaking of the big bugs that fly around in fall and make that loud annoying noise that tells you summer is coming to an end. They are hard to describe so I am not going to. But I am wondering if these are safe to feed to my cham. I caught one and it may be a lil too big but I am just wondering. Let me know what you think, thanks!
>>-----
>>1.0 Picasso panther chameleon (Pablo)
>>0.2 Bearder Dragons (Mic Dundee and Red)
>>0.1 Leopard gecko (Leo)
>>2.0 Red-eyed tree frogs
>>1.0 African side-necked mud turtle (Wrinkles)
>>1.2 Spring peepers
>>1.1 Fire bellied toads
-----
-Jamie Whitehouse
-corn_snake_123@msn.com
-formally known as corn_snake_123

JamieWhitehouse Aug 23, 2003 01:28 PM

Im pretty certain a grasshopper isnt a locust. Here in the UK Migrating locusts are a very very common feeder. Yes the massive insects that fly about. They only fly at adulthood, before there the brown flying thing, they are sa black and Yellow insect usally called a 'hopper'. They are very good jumpers but chameleons love them.

>>OK, I think here in Indiana we have different names for Locust. I know many people call what I call grasshoppers, locusts. I am speaking of the big bugs that fly around in fall and make that loud annoying noise that tells you summer is coming to an end. They are hard to describe so I am not going to. But I am wondering if these are safe to feed to my cham. I caught one and it may be a lil too big but I am just wondering. Let me know what you think, thanks!
>>-----
>>1.0 Picasso panther chameleon (Pablo)
>>0.2 Bearder Dragons (Mic Dundee and Red)
>>0.1 Leopard gecko (Leo)
>>2.0 Red-eyed tree frogs
>>1.0 African side-necked mud turtle (Wrinkles)
>>1.2 Spring peepers
>>1.1 Fire bellied toads
-----
-Jamie Whitehouse
-corn_snake_123@msn.com
-formally known as corn_snake_123

Justin M Aug 23, 2003 02:39 PM

This looks nothing like a cricket or anything else like it. It looks more like a fat dragon fly. They do not hop, they fly. O well, no big deal, the "thing" is dead now anyways, I was just wondering. Also, Jamie, did you find out anything about making homemade silkworm chow? You said you were going to ask some factory there if they could give you the ingredients.
-----
1.0 Picasso panther chameleon (Pablo)
0.2 Bearder Dragons (Mic Dundee and Red)
0.1 Leopard gecko (Leo)
2.0 Red-eyed tree frogs
1.0 African side-necked mud turtle (Wrinkles)
1.2 Spring peepers
1.1 Fire bellied toads

JamieWhitehouse Aug 23, 2003 04:28 PM

no what im saying is when is it a juvinile this bug looks completly differnt to when it is an adult. Im sorry i never got no reply fro theat factory and suddenly the resently closed which is a bummer!

-- Juvi locust

-- Adult locust

>>This looks nothing like a cricket or anything else like it. It looks more like a fat dragon fly. They do not hop, they fly. O well, no big deal, the "thing" is dead now anyways, I was just wondering. Also, Jamie, did you find out anything about making homemade silkworm chow? You said you were going to ask some factory there if they could give you the ingredients.
>>-----
>>1.0 Picasso panther chameleon (Pablo)
>>0.2 Bearder Dragons (Mic Dundee and Red)
>>0.1 Leopard gecko (Leo)
>>2.0 Red-eyed tree frogs
>>1.0 African side-necked mud turtle (Wrinkles)
>>1.2 Spring peepers
>>1.1 Fire bellied toads
-----
-Jamie Whitehouse
-corn_snake_123@msn.com
-formally known as corn_snake_123

iso Aug 23, 2003 07:37 PM

from what I understand..Locusts are considered pests. these pests are sprayed down by pesticies to kill them. I think this has been going on for quite some time.

I would be too worried that the food is posionsed.

sorry - I know they look delicious!

JethrozMom Aug 23, 2003 08:35 PM

The bug youre describing, for those of you not in the south, is called a Cicada. There are several different types. The ones in the north are different (smaller) than the ones in the south. Down here our locusts are huge, green, and very very loud and annoying, ALL summer.

That being said, i dont think id feed one to a cham.... i think theyre heavily parasitized and i would worry about impaction because they have really hard bodies...they crunch when you squish em.

Thats just my opinion though,
Jamie
-----
Jamie A. Stine and the Gang:

1.1 Bearded Dragons (Lancelot & Guenivere)
1.0 Giant Frog Eyed Geckos (Peanut Butter)
0.1 Borneo Short Tailed Python (Ezmerelda)
0.1 Red Tailed Boa (Buffy)
1.0 Short Tailed O'possum (Jethro)
1.0 Greyhound (Hank)

Save a life, adopt a retired racer!

micky-kennie Aug 23, 2003 09:04 PM

You are definetely talking about cicadas, I think that they are mostly exoskelleton, and very little insect, I don't think that they would make good food. Locust - grasshoppers that jump and fly for a short distance would make grat food AS LONG AS THEY COME FROM AN AREA THAT WAS NOT SPRAYED WITH CHEMICALS! I catch locusts all the time down by a river near my house and feed them to all my reptiles, they are naturaly gutloaded, and there are many species, so there is a great variety too(helps with food boredom!)Hope this helps!

eric adrignola Aug 24, 2003 11:31 AM

Cicadas are the primary food of parsonii. Wheather they are parasitized or not, I have no idea. They are pests in the larval stage, but the adults dont eat a thing, just make noise. I used to feed them to my WC female veild, she had no trouble with them. The crunchy ness of them isn't too bad a thing, chameleons eat worse things in nature than a cicada.

I would be worried about parasites.

kentoid Aug 25, 2003 03:37 PM

You are talking about Cicadas. They live most of their life underground as larvae only to pupate and crawl above ground to live a few days and mate. The adults don't even have developed mouth parts. They couldn't eat if they wanted to! As far as food for a chameleon, why not. Chameleons love insects, and this is a big one that couldn't bite back! To me they always looked like giant (2-inch) house flies. Try one and see what happens.

K

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