Anyone here ever kept Camptonotus carolinensis?

[Hisserdude]

Just wondering if anyone here has experience with keeping this species? They seem like they would be fun to rear, but there is no info on the subject on the web.

 

[wil123]

I kept a full grown one for a while not as cool as i had originally thought but definitely interesting.I kept mine in one of those cups you get bettas in.with some peat
moss in the bottom and a plastic leave with a piece of paper towel so he could roll it together and make a hide.I never got to see him feed a would drop a cricket in
there and the next day it would be gone and he would be fat.I think if you got the opportunity to keep one you should not many people can say they have.

 

[Hisserdude]

Cool, I never really get to see my Jerusalem crickets eat, but they are still a blast to keep. I was wondering if they would make their hides in fake leaves, good to know they will. How long did your one live?

 

[wil123]

I had it for about 2 months if i recall right its been 3 or 4 years I dont really remember what happened to it.

 

[Hisserdude]

OK, thanks! I sure hope I can obtain some next year, too bad they don't live here in Idaho.

 

[ReignofInvertebrates]

I wish there was more info on raspy crickets! They are closely related to predatory katydids, but I don't see those available much and they tend to be more than what I'd pay. Someone I know found one in Ohio, and Michigan isn't too far (plus bug guide shows them to be all over the east coast), so I'll have to keep an eye out next summer. It seems Jerusalem crickets aren't very interested in preying on live insects unless they are quite hungry or for whatever reason they decide to leave their burrows.

 

[Hisserdude]

Actually, I have seen lots of my JCs eat live mealworms lately, they prefer to do it in private though. I have never seen the leaf rollers for sale, how much do they go for? The most I will pay for a insect is usually around $5, though there are exceptions, (M.rhinoceros, for example).

 

[ReignofInvertebrates]

Honestly I've never had them for sale or seen them for sale, and I doubt they're abundant up north where I live, so not even sure if I'd sell any that I find or just keep them.

 

[Hisserdude]

Oh I see, you were talking about the predatory katydids when you said they were more than what you would pay for. Yeah if you find some you should definitely try to keep them, or you could trade them away with me, lol!

 

[ReignofInvertebrates]

I'll be sure to post here if I find one. And maaaayybe trade

 

[furball677]

I wish there was more info on raspy crickets! They are closely related to predatory katydids, but I don't see those available much and they tend to be more than what I'd pay. Someone I know found one in Ohio, and Michigan isn't too far (plus bug guide shows them to be all over the east coast), so I'll have to keep an eye out next summer. It seems Jerusalem crickets aren't very interested in preying on live insects unless they are quite hungry or for whatever reason they decide to leave their burrows.

Thanks so much! I never knew predatory crickets/katydids lived in Ohio, it's a miracle! Thanks for the info XD!

 

[Hisserdude]

Thanks so much! I never knew predatory crickets/katydids lived in Ohio, it's a miracle! Thanks for the info XD!

If you ever find any Camptonotus, let us know, we need more husbandry info on this unusual predatory Orthopteran!

 

[Jacob Ma]

I think the reason why they may not be kept as popularly is because of their secretive nature, small overall size, 2-toned coloration, prone to "zombie" fungal infection, and specific habitat requirements (apparently they mainly eat aphids and need fresh, live leaves to roll up).

 

[Hisserdude]

I think the reason why they may not be kept as popularly is because of their secretive nature, small overall size, 2-toned coloration, prone to "zombie" fungal infection, and specific habitat requirements (apparently they mainly eat aphids and need fresh, live leaves to roll up).

Sure they are kinda small, but that don't bother me, neither does their coloration. I know about a guy who kept one and it ate crickets in captivity, so aphids are not needed. And they may use plastic leaves in captivity, if not I'm sure there are other hides they can use, and I doubt a lack of leaves to roll up would have much effect on them, (at least I hope it wouldn't).

 

[Jacob Ma]

Well, the katydids do need some sort of "safe spot", which one that makes use of their adaptation would be their most favorable (and would look interesting too). Aphids are also totally different insects from crickets, which could cause some intestinal problems from such a big switch if they don't already eat crickets or haven't been captive-bred from a cricket-diet katydid.

Unfortunately, only a children, a few avid local-species collectors, and some researchers would generally be interested in keeping these unique invertebrates, as they are not prolific enough to become feeders and not visually appealing specimens worth only about $1 or less.

 

[Hisserdude]

Well, the katydids do need some sort of "safe spot", which one that makes use of their adaptation would be their most favorable (and would look interesting too). Aphids are also totally different insects from crickets, which could cause some intestinal problems from such a big switch if they don't already eat crickets or haven't been captive-bred from a cricket-diet katydid.

Unfortunately, only a children, a few avid local-species collectors, and some researchers would generally be interested in keeping these unique invertebrates, as they are not prolific enough to become feeders and not visually appealing specimens worth only about $1 or less.

In the wild I'm sure they eat other insects besides aphids, and in captivity they surely will. See this bugguide thread here: http://bugguide.net/node/view/809738/bgimage He was able to feed it a wide variety of foods, and it even molted in his care. This suggests that they would adapt to a captive diet quite readily.

Unfortunately, many people would not be interested in these, only Orthopteran enthusiasts who like unusual insects, like myself.

 

[furball677]

If you ever find any Camptonotus, let us know, we need more husbandry info on this unusual predatory Orthopteran!

Ok, sounds good .

 

[furball677]

I really don't care if they're small, I just want to experience keeping some sort of predatory cricket/katydid. I thought that nothing like them lived in Ohio.