Feeders for arboreal critters

[It_Glows]

I'm just wondering what are some good feeders(preferably roaches?) for arboreal species of arachnids? I'm getting a Damon Variegatus. I am ALMOST tempted to buy crickets since they hang out just about everywhere. What do you guys feed your arboreal tarantulas and such? Care sheets say just about anything, even mealworms. but... I don't know...

 

[Bugs In Cyberspace]

Crickets and a horizontal rather than vertical enclosure, but still with some height, are better for whipspiders.

If you must, a non-burrowing species of cockroach would be the way to go, like Turkestans or bullet roaches, or if you're in Florida, skunk roaches!

 

[ZephAmp]

^^^ I second this.

Many species of Madagascar hisser nymphs are arboreal as well.

 

[Louise E. Rothstein]

Adult Panchlora nivea may also be suitable feeders:although the brown nymphs burrow in moist substrate the green adults fly,perch,and climb.

 

[zonbonzovi]

Mine have a tough time with the Panchlora, although others have had success. If you're using cork bark, they hide in the creases. Occasionally, I'll see a Panchlora or dubia carcass, but I supplement with crickets & hisser nymphs to keep 'em healthy.

 

[Pssh]

I like throwing in flying insects to anything that will hunt them down. Very neat to see certain animals chase down a butterfly.

 

[Louise E. Rothstein]

Please do feed cabbage butteflies-they remain eminently unendangered.
Please do NOT feed "mystery" butterflies-some kinds ARE endangered.

Please do find out what they are BEFORE you feed them off.

Thank you.

Yours very truly,

Louise Esther Rothstein.

 

[BQC123]

For my D. diadema crickets work best. I have fed freshly molted B.dubia, but they are often not eaten. Some people had recommended lats to me, but I have not tried yet.
I have seen a guy hand or tong feed his though.

 

[It_Glows]

For my D. diadema crickets work best. I have fed freshly molted B.dubia, but they are often not eaten. Some people had recommended lats to me, but I have not tried yet.
I have seen a guy hand or tong feed his though.

My vow is to never buy another filthy cricket again. Last time I tried I woke up with one of my scorpions dead. No idea how, could have even been a coincidence. I got her full grown... But I despise crickets regardless... So they get the blame.

I'm going to need to tolerate those nasty things until I can find an arboreal roach nymp for my younglings

 

[Entomancer]

Please do feed cabbage butteflies-they remain eminently unendangered.
Please do NOT feed "mystery" butterflies-some kinds ARE endangered.

Please do find out what they are BEFORE you feed them off.

Thank you.

Yours very truly,

Louise Esther Rothstein.

I second this.

It might be cool, but it is unsustainable, and you are not feeding a wild animal, so don't bother using that excuse.

You are feeding a captive animal, and there are sources of captively raised food for them. If you randomly catch whatever you find...

1) It may be contaminated with chemicals or parasites

2) It might be an endangered species, and you will be damaging the entire species' chance for survival.

3) It might be poisonous, and kill or harm your animal. Example; Fireflies are very toxic to Bearded Dragons, and a Bearded Dragon allowed to dine on them might die.

By indiscriminately feeding whatever you find outside, you are potentially damaging the environment and the animal.

So don't do it.

 

[Bugs In Cyberspace]

It is noble to show concern over endangered species, but I really think these points are misplaced here in a topic about what to feed pet whipspiders.

1. I've NEVER had a pet insect die on account of pesticides. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but this myth is over-perpetuated in our hobby.
2. Name one endangered species I'm likely to find in my backyard, or he in his. The chances of him catching a cabbage butterfly are good. The chances of him catching an endangered butterfly are astronomically low to a point of ridiculousness in even mentioning it.
3. Pet reptiles are not pet bugs.

Again, the points raised by these other two members are worth discussion and I agree with them in spirit, but the points echo more as preaching in my ears, than as practical concerns.

Please note this is coming from a guy that finds a new species of bug in his backyard every time he makes an effort to look. I care tremendously about the diversity in my urban backyard and its protection, but I'm not going to let this fear-mongering go unchallenged without discussion.

 

[Galapoheros]

That was sort of a relief to me BIC, I was trying to figure out a way to say the same thing, I couldn't have done better than that. A growing # of people are starting to think hard-core in this direction. Some might say, "That's what we need!", but I wouldn't agree, the feel is too military and becomes too fanatical imo. I just deleted a bunch, I didn't want to derail the thread in a big way.

 

[H. laoticus]

I do think that we should take precautions and try our best to educate ourselves on the animals that inhabit our backyards, but I have to agree there's a bit of fear-mongering that's been spreading like wildfire. Know what you're feeding your pets is all
As for feeders, crickets do a great job of getting themselves killed, but I find that B. lateralis aren't too shabby at it either.

 

[Highland scorpion king]

With respect, while one might never have heard of a spider orc reptile dying because of contaminated wild caught feeders,it DOESNT mean it's impossible,and the question would be would one want to risk the health or possibly life of for example ones hyper expensive Pamphobeteous Solaris ,or Poecilotheria Hanuvalisumica by cheapskating on its food source???