Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Insectsunlimited · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:12 am Post subject:

Dave @ Insects Unlimited & I found a few of these in a culture I bought. They turn into little chestnut coloured beetles about 5 - 7mm long & yes they do fly. I also found out that they eat dead inverts so I kept em in a seperate tank & used them as a dustbin for anything that died. I then found out that if there is not enough dead stuff available... THEY WILL KILL. Putting 2 & 2 together... & them having wings... & flying... & killing, I ERADICATED the lot. If you`re a serious breeder, it rather defeats the object if you are painstakingly & lovingly breeding something... & have something that is systematically killing & eating them when your back is turned. I`ve heard that cricket/locust breeders on the continent keep them in the colonies as a lazy "clearer upper" of dead crickets/locusts. I asked one such breeder at the Hamm show & he verified what I`d said & wasn`t worried too much as they eat the dead ones first. It still remains that they do kill. They are carnivores & I still think it better to steer clear of them. By all means, feed them to something but you should get rid.
_________________
Dave Messer @ Insectsunlimited.

It may be the early bird that gets the worm but it`s the 2nd mouse that gets the cheese.

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:05 am Post subject:

I Squish any I find, but the tiny larvae are hard to eradicate once they get in as thye are hardly visible.
_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Insectsunlimited · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:41 am Post subject:

Yeah, I know what you mean. Just got to get the little blighters when they are big enough to spot. At least when they are tiny, they cant do much damage & when they are big enough, you`ll spot em.
_________________
Dave Messer @ Insectsunlimited.

It may be the early bird that gets the worm but it`s the 2nd mouse that gets the cheese.

Scott W · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:29 am Post subject:

yep totally agree, if you are breeding your own insects they ARE NOT WELCOME and you should get rid of them, if however you buy tubs of insects for feeders then they are not really an issue.
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:40 am Post subject:

I had managed to eradicate them over time from my own feeder . It's when I buy fresh stock in that I get them again; they tend to find their way in everywhere. I never have them in large numbers so they dont pose a high loss threat. Just annoying is all.
_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Scott W · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:59 am Post subject:

why are you buying fresh stock? to use as feeders or to add to breeders?
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:09 am Post subject:

Scott W · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:28 am Post subject:

right so for feeders,

Your crickets should take that long? Mine are approx a month to adult size (maybe 5 weeks) and each box yields about 10'000 crickets....that last me about a week (topping up with roaches and giant mealworms).

If you set up one breeding cricket box, then set a weeks worth of eggs in a new box each week, you would only really need 6 boxes ticking over and never need to buy another cricket Wink

Also, once you set up a colony, don't add fresh blood. Wink

_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:37 am Post subject:

hmm I must be going wrong somewhere then. Will have to review it all!
_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject:

What are your main breeder box measurements Scott?
_________________
www.rickslivefood.co.uk