Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Because I have TONS of Indian Walking Stick babies that are hatching and I just wasn't sure if my baby Chameleon could eat them. So if you could please let me know. I would be very thankful. Please & Thank You, Melissa

Hi: Where did you get the walking sticks? Thanks-maggie

I had bought like 5 of them at a pet shop, and after a period of time they all died, and they had laid a TON of eggs, and the eggs just started hatching a few days ago, and now I have like 10 babies, and every day I have new babies-Melissa
Ps Why do you want some?

I have read that Stick bugs were another good variation to add to the diet. Since I wanted to add as much variety to the Chams diet, I'm always looking for more prey to offer is all. But the pricklies make me wonder if they are OK to offer. Oh, you might be interested in this. I found this link last night when searching for more foods:

http://www.bugsincyberspace.com/mantids/index.html

He has raised a numerous amount of different types of Phasmids and it says on the bottom of one of the pages to be careful not to release them into the environment because they are plant eating insects. He offers to aid in disposal of insects. Let us know what you find out about feeding them to the Chams. Thanks-maggie

...of a "bug"

His advice on not releasing is good. It is never a good idea unless you know the scientific name, where it came from, if its indigenous to your area, etc. etc.

I am hoping epollak will comment on his experience. I have heard of folks feeding them to herps so there may only be certain genera that have the defensive chemical - haven't done my homework on these yet!

thanks for the neat site, - I bookmarked it (along with my other 1000 mini-beast sites! LOL!

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Well, finally I had something to give to you! Amazing Blue Reptile if I'm not mistaken has on their site that stick bugs could be fed when available. But, they did not specify what variety. And I don't know if they have updated their site for a while. Maybe, I'll call up Mari and ask her. She and her husband were very nice and helpful when i met them a couple of months ago. Maggie

hmmm... I know that Anisomorpha spp. a.k.a. Florida Walking Sticks, release a very irritating spray when disturbed. I would be most interested to learn about others that do, or do not.

lele

>>Because I have TONS of Indian Walking Stick babies that are hatching and I just wasn't sure if my baby Chameleon could eat them. So if you could please let me know. I would be very thankful. Please & Thank You, Melissa

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

>>hmmm... I know that Anisomorpha spp. a.k.a. Florida Walking Sticks, release a very irritating spray when disturbed. I would be most interested to learn about others that do, or do not.
>>
>>lele
>>
>>>>Because I have TONS of Indian Walking Stick babies that are hatching and I just wasn't sure if my baby Chameleon could eat them. So if you could please let me know. I would be very thankful. Please & Thank You, Melissa
>>
>>
>>-----
>>0.1 veiled - Luna
>>0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
>>0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
>>0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
>>0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

...then YES, they are safe to use as an alternative prey item for your chameleon. Stay away from our own native stick insects as many have some nasty defensive chemicals that can even cause temporary blindness.
Just be careful, and be 100% sure that what you have IS an Indian Walking Stick, and do NOT release. Also, depending on what state you live in, they might be illegal to keep (as in California).
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

Interesting. I just did a little searching on the Indian Walking Stick, Carausius morosus and didn't seen any warnings about their defensive fluids. Now I want to learn more about the whole family of "sticks"

Victor - I am reading a most fascinating book you may be interested in called "For Love of Insects." have you seen it yet? My ento prof/friend (Paul) showed it to me a few weeks ago. It is written by Tom Eisner who is a Chemical Ecologist at Cornell and a lifelong friend of Edward. O. Wilson. He is also a photographer so this book contains amazing photos. It is a very easy read and will be enlightening to both the professionals as well as lay entomophiles! LOL! If you haven't already, check it out
For Love of Insects

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

... I might have to check it out one of these days. I haven't read any books on entomology, to be honest. My limited knowledge is from speaking to some entomologists, online research, and direct first-hand experience.
Not enough minutes in the day to pursue everything that holds my interest, if you know what I mean.
Which reminds me... saw an uncle of mine over the weekend. I haven't seen him in well over 15 years. He started talking about how when I was very young, I'd be fascinated with all sorts of bugs I would find, and how I would just sit there for hours, staring at a line of ants. He got a kick reminding me of my strange old habits. Couldn't wait until he asked me what I've been up to lately...
Hehehe.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

yeah, I didn't think you were quite as into it as me, but I know you have an interest. For the $$ (cheap, considering the publisher, author and photos) it is worth having on your shelf to pick up for a read from time to time.

Do you recall watching the ants? Isn't it amazing how 6-leggeds can hold your interest for so long? I was recently thinking of pursuing insect behavior as I can watch them for ridiculously long periods of time - along with all my other pursuits! LOL! At nearly 50, I will have to live another 50 years to fit it all in! Phasmids are on my to-do list!

You're inot bonsai, too right?
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Now who said I wasn't into it???
I mean, you're a freak about it, but I'm still into it. I like watching my roaches. But phasmids, leaf insects, and the various mantids- DIVINITY!!! Such beauty. So alien and strange.
Yes, I'm also into bonsai. I had my own bonsai business for a while (Bonsai Victor), but I had to quit it because of my move. Which reminds me... wanna trade something for a bonsai (still have a few)? If you're in Riverside, CA let me know.
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Victor Gomez
gomezvi.tripod.com/sdchamkeepers/
gomezvi@yahoo.com

>>Interesting. I just did a little searching on the Indian Walking Stick, Carausius morosus and didn't seen any warnings about their defensive fluids. Now I want to learn more about the whole family of "sticks"
>>
>>Victor - I am reading a most fascinating book you may be interested in called "For Love of Insects." have you seen it yet? My ento prof/friend (Paul) showed it to me a few weeks ago. It is written by Tom Eisner who is a Chemical Ecologist at Cornell and a lifelong friend of Edward. O. Wilson. He is also a photographer so this book contains amazing photos. It is a very easy read and will be enlightening to both the professionals as well as lay entomophiles! LOL! If you haven't already, check it out
>>For Love of Insects
>>
>>-----
>>0.1 veiled - Luna
>>0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
>>0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
>>0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
>>0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Dr. Eisner is a great guy. He lectures in a number of my classes and I have to say, he is one of the most interesting guys here at Cornell. He is the one who determined that fireflies were toxic and he's done a lot of other work chemical prospecting and insects.
Chris
Tom Eisner

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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC) - http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter/
Chameleons Online E-zine - http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tacking Database - http://www.chameleondatabase.com/

Chris,

You teach at Cornell?? What? Tell Tom that I am loving his book and so is my prof/friend at UNH!! Yes, Paul mentioned that when he showed me the book along with some of his (Eisner's) research on the fireflies.

lele
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

>>Chris,
>>
>>You teach at Cornell?? What? Tell Tom that I am loving his book and so is my prof/friend at UNH!! Yes, Paul mentioned that when he showed me the book along with some of his (Eisner's) research on the fireflies.
>>
>>lele
>>-----
>>0.1 veiled - Luna
>>0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
>>0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
>>0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
>>0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Lele,

haha, I'm at Cornell but I don't teach here. I'm a student in the Bio department and he is a favorite guest lecturer for many of the bio classes as well as the classes he himself teaches. I've not read the book but if it reads like he tells stories, there's no doubt its a great read.
Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC) - http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter/
Chameleons Online E-zine - http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tacking Database - http://www.chameleondatabase.com/

I guess I mistook "my classes" as "your classes! ha-ha!! What's your goal upon graduation?

lele
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

>>I guess I mistook "my classes" as "your classes! ha-ha!! What's your goal upon graduation?
>>
>>lele
>>-----
>>0.1 veiled - Luna
>>0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
>>0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
>>0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
>>0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

PhD program in herpetology. I haven't decided yet what aspect but I have a few ideas. I am also considering taking a year or two off to conduct research on my own.
Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC) - http://www.geocities.com/ccicenter/
Chameleons Online E-zine - http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tacking Database - http://www.chameleondatabase.com/