Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have alot of those rollie pollie bugs in my back yard and I was wondering if that would be a good food source for my Bearded Dragons and of my tokay geckos thanks.

yes,rollie pollies are ok as feeders

Hi there,
I will clarify spooks cheap shot (I often wonder why he bothers to say anything at all on this forum, since it is rarely informative and generally hostile).
In theory, rollie pollie/pill bugs/potato bugs are fine feeders. The problem lies in the fact that they are wild caught insects, who have been exposed to who knows what insecticides and poisons. One suggestion I would make is to set up a breeding colony of these guys if you really want to use them. I dont know much about their husbandry, but I am sure it could be done. The offspring would be insecticide free, and safe to use as feeders.

a few things to note:

1) they have a lot of chiton I think -- may wan to think about that.

2) they are not "Insects" more closely related to a crab then to an insect.

3) question: what is the food value of them?? stuff like fat, protine and so on...
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First of all isopods are not insects. Secondly, why would you say this animal is a good feeder? Do you use it? Do you know someone who has? How long have they used it for? Even if the beardies eat it and it doesn't carry a ton of parasites (they live off rotting matter) it has a very tough ectoskeleton and would be very hard on the digestive system.
Why would you and waldo give advice like this?

Actually I do know someone who has been feeding rollie pollies for over 2 years now,not only does she feed them to her dragons but also her horned toads and collard lizards.If you don't know what you are talking about spook,then you should be quiet.

How many a day do you feed to your dragon? If it's such a good feeder why haven't you?

You just don't give up do you spook? I never said they were great feeders,just that they are safe.Obviously not something for everyday feeding,just a change of pace. I don't feed any to my dragon,why you ask? because hes a baby and I have 1000 roaches to feed off and all the rollie pollies I do catch go to my frogs. Of course there are risks invloved in feeding any wild caught bugs but the question wasn't about the safty of wild caught versues captive bred feeders,just if rollie pollies were ok.You really need to chill out.

Let me know when you start feeding them to "your" beardie.

Isopods can be good feeders for turtles, pedes, and a few other things, but I wouldn'd feed them to a bearded. It is "always" a bad ideal for you to use anything you catch outside as a feeder. The risk is way bigger than the reward. If you are trying to cut down on food bills then breeding your own insects can be done. I have tried to breed almost every insect I can get my hands on. Crickets reproduce fast but stink and are more work then other feeders. If you have a mulberry tree than silkworms can easily be breed and make great feeders. Superworms and waxworms are good for treats but don't make good everyday feeders. Roaches are a new feeder to the market and what I personally breed because they are very easy. I have a new species called Blatta lateralis that can't climb, doesn't burrow, and is the same size as a cricket. They are very popular in Europe like many of the other good feeder insect I've found. I'm also am waiting for my shipment of firebrats which are a fast breeding small feeder good for baby dragons, geckos, etc.. Very soft exoskeleton and an excellant food source. To bad locust are banned in the U.S. Everyone overseas prefers them to crickets. I always wondered why if they where such a threat to agriculture then how come they don't cause problems in Europe? Anyhow, I scour the earth in search of new feeders that match items our animals would typically find in the wild. Then I find someone captive breeding these insects and start my own colonies. Did anyone read the most recent Reptiles article on feeders? Not to much other than cricket, mealworms, some silkworms, but there was mention by the big guys of the " NEW UN-NAMED FEEDERS" that they see as the future. Hmmm wonder what the could be talking about.. Anyway, isopods are interesting pets if you just want to keep some for fun. I have a colony of the Spanish orange ones and they are pretty cool.
James