Reptile & Amphibian Forums

to feed them grasshoppers and praying mantis???I went around the fields collecting different insects for them to try.I just wanna see if its ok.thx Blake

Never feed wild caught insects.

I have several pairs of breeders...I toss in all kinds of bugs I collect. I have bags of "Brood X Cicadas" that they eat regularly. I can see if the area you are collecting in is sprayed with pesticides, other than that, why would you not feed wild insects? That's what they eat in the wild. My gliders have been on the wild insects for years without incident. They have even gotten ahold of a wild mouse or two for a snack.

P.S. Have you ever looked at the many different species of bugs that come in with a shipment of crickets? Those are the critters I don't trust.

np

I agree with the first reply. Never feed wild bugs.
Though they do eat them in the wild. They also get worms and other life threatening parasites in the wild from these bugs. That is one of the reasons captive gliders live so much longer than wild gliders. We dont give them things that have parasites and diseases that htey normally get in the wild.
Mites are another thing. Bugs caught in the wild carry mites. You may not be able to see them. they are so tiny you would need a microscope unless they are adults. Mites are no good for animals!
And then, as mentioned, there are pesticieds. And the bugs you mentioned dont just live in the one area you find them. They come from miles and miles away, stopping wherever there is food available. So just cause there are no pesticides where you found them doesnt mean they arent infected with them.
I dont like pet store crickets either. They can carry just as many parasites despite what the pet store people say about the people they bought them from. I've seen many mite infested crickets in pet stores.
If you can manage, try going with a pinkie mouse/rat, or some catfood, or babyfood meatsticks. My gliders love the meat sticks!
It is so fun to watch them chase down little buggys. and they do love it. But again, I would personally rather see my glider healthy and happy, than amuse myself by feeding it a bug then finding out I hurt it and maybe even killed it.