Can I leave food in with assassin bug?

[SoulSpiegel12]

Hey guys! Just wondering if I am able to leave food in with my assassin bug such as dubias. One escaped in there earlier and need to know of I should remove it or not. Also are assassin bugs scavengers? My subadult does not like superworms but that is all the feeders I will have left once the dubias are gone and the lps around here doesn't have any more crickets or dubias. Just wondering if I could leave a dead superworm in there for it to feed on. Thanks again!

 

[chanda]

You should be ok leaving the dubia in there, particularly once the assassin bug is mature. The only time the assassin bug would be vulnerable would be during or immediately after a molt. If the assassin is still a juvenile, it's possible that the dubia could harm it when it molts - but the assassin is likely to molt high in the cage, hanging from whatever vertical climbing structures (wood, cork bark, fake plants, etc.) you've provided for it - while the dubia is more likely to burrow into the substrate and hide.

The problem with dubias for assassin bugs is that if the assassin doesn't get it right away, the roach will burrow into the substrate and could remain hidden for weeks or months without being eaten. You can prevent this by crushing the roach's head before offering it. A roach with a crushed head will still run around a bit, triggering a prey response, but will not burrow - and cannot harm your pet.

I have not noticed any of my assassin bugs scavenging, though they will sometimes share prey (particularly as juveniles - the adults are not so fond of sharing). If you are trying to get one to take a dead feeder, you could try using long tongs to make the feeder appear to be alive/moving.

While your assassin may not like superworms, if it gets hungry enough, it should take them anyway - unless they are too big and are perceived as a threat rather than food.

 

[SoulSpiegel12]

You should be ok leaving the dubia in there, particularly once the assassin bug is mature. The only time the assassin bug would be vulnerable would be during or immediately after a molt. If the assassin is still a juvenile, it's possible that the dubia could harm it when it molts - but the assassin is likely to molt high in the cage, hanging from whatever vertical climbing structures (wood, cork bark, fake plants, etc.) you've provided for it - while the dubia is more likely to burrow into the substrate and hide.

The problem with dubias for assassin bugs is that if the assassin doesn't get it right away, the roach will burrow into the substrate and could remain hidden for weeks or months without being eaten. You can prevent this by crushing the roach's head before offering it. A roach with a crushed head will still run around a bit, triggering a prey response, but will not burrow - and cannot harm your pet.

I have not noticed any of my assassin bugs scavenging, though they will sometimes share prey (particularly as juveniles - the adults are not so fond of sharing). If you are trying to get one to take a dead feeder, you could try using long tongs to make the feeder appear to be alive/moving.

While your assassin may not like superworms, if it gets hungry enough, it should take them anyway - unless they are too big and are perceived as a threat rather than food.

Thanks for the help! I also managed to get my assassin to take a superworm, I think when they flail it tends to spook mine but luckily it was able to overpower the super. Thank you again!