emaytiti Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hi guys. I have some hoppers that are just getting their wings and im trying to grow them up to breed. But, for some reason I am losing alot, they seem to just fall over on their side and die??? :dunno: Help please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 What conditions/set up are they in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MalcolmX Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 hi matt. i find locusts need water (just spay them a little), at this time and again when they are laying. they may need dry food.. some oats of some sort work well. make sure they have fresh green grass a couple of times a day. make sure they are warm enough (28c to 38c). hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 A dish of bran flakes seems to be apreciated.Where do you get your grass from?orchards etc nearby?you have to be very careful with this as even small traces may nt kill them but render them sterile.Also your house may have been sprayed at some time with residual insecticide?(ripcord etc) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emaytiti Posted June 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 What conditions/set up are they in? They are in a 30x30x60cm (wxdxh) with a 60w spotlight bulb. given grass 1-2 times daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emaytiti Posted June 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 hi matt. i find locusts need water (just spay them a little), at this time and again when they are laying. they may need dry food.. some oats of some sort work well. make sure they have fresh green grass a couple of times a day. make sure they are warm enough (28c to 38c). hope this helps Wouldnt that make it humid?? temps and grass are good. will put some oats or bran in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emaytiti Posted June 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 A dish of bran flakes seems to be apreciated.Where do you get your grass from?orchards etc nearby?you have to be very careful with this as even small traces may nt kill them but render them sterile.Also your house may have been sprayed at some time with residual insecticide?(ripcord etc) Ok, will add some bran/oats into their enclosure. Grass is from the backyard, pretty sure its not sprayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MalcolmX Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 spraying them will make it humid for a short period but the dry grass absorbs the water. they dont mind a little humidity for ralatively short periods(days not weeks). whats the temperature in there? a 60w bulb in an uninsulated tank might not get them warm enough, unless its on 24/7. do they munch into the fresh grass as soon as you put it in? they should really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emaytiti Posted June 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 spraying them will make it humid for a short period but the dry grass absorbs the water. they dont mind a little humidity for ralatively short periods(days not weeks). whats the temperature in there? a 60w bulb in an uninsulated tank might not get them warm enough, unless its on 24/7. do they munch into the fresh grass as soon as you put it in? they should really. OK, its covered up on most sides and is on 24/7 Yes they do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 not just lawn grass?They like that tall lush stuff on the roadsides etc,wild oats is good,fog grass which is slightly furry they do not go for unless starving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 please if you can post a pic of your tank set up and dimensions locusts are easy spraying i find isnt good. too m oist. anyway, may work for some. i put grass once a day in the morning, and thats it. no oats or bran. i get a goodyield out of them. during summer i get triple yield , winter not as much. i dont use thermos, i jsut have a 100w bulb on for 12 hours a day. off at night even during winter. they breed, eat and stuff. what you will find is that there are some locusts that will eat the heads and kill other locusts, natural selection, weak ones will just die, its natural, what % do you have gettingd dead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason22 Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 it shouldn't matter what season it is, i get the same yield all year round. as far as mine know it lunch time in the middle of summer 24/7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emaytiti Posted June 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 can`t see alot of grass in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emaytiti Posted June 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 can`t see alot of grass in there? Had'nt got around to it yet :slfg: There's grass in there now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MalcolmX Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 looks good but you need to give them a little more wet grass than they can eat in a 10 min session. one problem you could be having is low numbers, the more you pack em in the better they do, for me anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 I use heavy short glasses of water with the grass stuffed in them and they stay fresh until eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 same for me as Alan,10 minute demand feeding would be a waste of time?How many ten minute intervals in a day?They are eating machines.I feel like saying do it properly and you won`t have to come asking on here,but I won`t. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 I am sure someone will correct me if needed but I understand that they require fresh grass that is busy growng because it contains a hormone that makes the grass grow. This stimulates them to breed as there will be plenty of grass to feed the offspring. This is why they can be difficult to breed in the middle of summer when the grass stops growing and goes to seed or in the winter when it just stops growing (down here anyway). My breeders get two glasses stuffed full of grass and it lasts one or two days depending on how many there are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason22 Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 I am sure someone will correct me if needed but I understand that they require fresh grass that is busy growng because it contains a hormone that makes the grass grow. This stimulates them to breed as there will be plenty of grass to feed the offspring. This is why they can be difficult to breed in the middle of summer when the grass stops growing and goes to seed or in the winter when it just stops growing (down here anyway). My breeders get two glasses stuffed full of grass and it lasts one or two days depending on how many there are. i have read that in a few different places as well. lucky for me i'm in the mighty waikato lol and there is always fresh grass somewhere. i use the grass in a jar of water as well. there should not be a time where there is no fresh grass in the tank. lunch time all day long is the best way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.