Moths or butterflies

[jbm150]

My girlfriend would probably kill me for doing this but to change things up a bit for my T and to give her something to do on her nightly jaunts, I was wondering about feeding her butterflies or moths. She only comes out at night and as far as I can tell, has never caught a cricket on her own. They seem to sleep when she's active. But I'd love to see if she can catch a moth or butterfly, it'd be entertaining to her and me (not that she needs entertaining). Are swallowtails harmful? Other than monarchs, which others are poisonous? Are the moths and butterflies you can buy mail order WC or CB and would they be safe? Has anyone ever tried culturing them? That'd probably be a huge undertaking. I might just do one every once in a while, since they aren't very cheap.

Yes, I did a search and read the threads on this subject. They were useless because they were about WC and I'm not using those.

 

[xhexdx]

My girlfriend would probably kill me for doing this but to change things up a bit for my T and to give her something to do on her nightly jaunts, I was wondering about feeding her butterflies or moths. She only comes out at night and as far as I can tell, has never caught a cricket on her own. They seem to sleep when she's active. But I'd love to see if she can catch a moth or butterfly, it'd be entertaining to her and me (not that she needs entertaining). Are swallowtails harmful? Other than monarchs, which others are poisonous? Are the moths and butterflies you can buy mail order WC or CB and would they be safe? Has anyone ever tried culturing them? That'd probably be a huge undertaking. I might just do one every once in a while, since they aren't very cheap.

Yes, I did a search and read the threads on this subject. They were useless because they were about WC and I'm not using those.

This makes no sense, as crickets are nocturnal.

I'm not aware of anyone breeding butterflies or moths as feeders. I would think it would be too much work when roaches and crickets are so much easier to breed.

--Joe

 

[Radamanthys]

The only moth i have ever fed my Ts with was a silk moth, and the T was white on the "face" for 2 days because of the wings lol. But it was a feeder like any other. I stay with the roaches, they make crunching noises lol!

 

[jbm150]

LOL I don't know, she seems more concerned with walking around and grooming herself than in the crickets. I've watched her step on them and keep right on going. The crickets just don't seem active enough and all they seem to do is find a crevice and sleep. I generally find their bodies dead but intact or never find them. In her burrow, she'll eat 'em every time but I'd like her to actually hunt something, even if I don't necessarily see it.

Oh yeah, there's no way I can start a roach colony. Thats on the forbidden list. I suppose I could just buy 10 though...

But if I were to use moths or BFs, are the ones for sale WC or CB? Are most harmless to use?

 

[tjmi2000]

Years ago, when I was a noob, I tossed a small moth in with a juvenile P. irmina that attacked and ate it with gusto. The next morning I had a dead spider. It's just not worth the risk to feed wild caught insects. Many carry large levels of pesticides in their tissues that could spell certain doom for tarantulas and culturing moths(with the possible exception of silkmoths) is a labor intensive process that just isn't worth it imo. Start a roach colony-you won't regret it.

 

[barabootom]

My girlfriend would probably kill me for doing this but to change things up a bit for my T and to give her something to do on her nightly jaunts, I was wondering about feeding her butterflies or moths. She only comes out at night and as far as I can tell, has never caught a cricket on her own. They seem to sleep when she's active. But I'd love to see if she can catch a moth or butterfly, it'd be entertaining to her and me (not that she needs entertaining). Are swallowtails harmful? Other than monarchs, which others are poisonous? Are the moths and butterflies you can buy mail order WC or CB and would they be safe? Has anyone ever tried culturing them? That'd probably be a huge undertaking. I might just do one every once in a while, since they aren't very cheap.

Yes, I did a search and read the threads on this subject. They were useless because they were about WC and I'm not using those.

I wouldn't feed butterflies just because I like them. I have fed moths. Moths are a lot easier to catch than butterflies. Just turn a porch light on, catch one and clip it's wings about half off with a scissors. The moth won't feel anything but won't be able to fly. It will still try to flap though and most T's will pounce on it.

I used to easily culture large quantities of silkmoths like polyphemus, luna or cecropia. It's quite easy but still more work than a colony of dubias. Usually a porch light will bring in lots of moths where I live. If you're in town and don't get many just visit a well-lit business and you should be able to get something. Otherwise do an on-line search for pupae. There are dealers out there, esp school supply companies.

 

[jbm150]

I've found awesome moths I would love to feed her but as I live in a very urban area, there's no way I would risk it. I don't know anywhere in South Florida I would use WC feeders, even out in the Everglades. There is just too much pesticide/fertilizer spraying.

 

[spiderfield]

You could try purchasing the larvae (silkworms, waxworms, butterworms, hormworms) and growing them from there. The following site has feeder larvae available:

http://www.mulberryfarms.com/index.html

 

[jbm150]

Dude, you rock! Thanks for the link, looks perfect. I hope none of those are poisonous to Ts. I'll have to research it some

 

[Kirk]

You could try purchasing the larvae (silkworms, waxworms, butterworms, hormworms) and growing them from there. The following site has feeder larvae available:

http://www.mulberryfarms.com/index.html

I might be wrong, but I seem to recollect that some butterfly caterpillars retain the toxic components of the plants they eat. I don't think I'd want to take chances using them as feeders.

 

[Merfolk]

Avoid at any cost if you live at any short distance from a pesticide sprayed area. Some Ts have died overnight after being fed moths caught nearby a farm.
And some of them carry parasite so be careful.

Otherwise, if you can get them CB, they are quite a big hit with all arboreals!!!

 

[spiderfield]

I might be wrong, but I seem to recollect that some butterfly caterpillars retain the toxic components of the plants they eat. I don't think I'd want to take chances using them as feeders.

No, you're right. I think the only one that may cause worry would be the tomato hornworm, as the larval host plants are that of the solanaceous family (nightshades), whose leaves contain varying degress of alkaloids. Not sure how much they retain in them as adults. I'm not sure what goes into the "chow" these suppliers produce, unless its only liquified leaf matter.

 

[Kirk]

No, you're right. I think the only one that may cause worry would be the tomato hornworm, as the larval host plants are that of the solanaceous family (nightshades), whose leaves contain varying degress of alkaloids. Not sure how much they retain in them as adults. I'm not sure what goes into the "chow" these suppliers produce, unless its only liquified leaf matter.

Ok, thanks. On another thread, someone asked about feeding adult beetles to t's. As with this thread, I remarked how peculiar it is that there's so much interest in not simply settling for the safest route possible for feeding t's. I'd hope the reason for keeping t's is well beyond some peculiar desire to watch a variety of prey getting eaten.

 

[redsaw]

I have a friend that feeds house flies to his slings. Its pretty cool watching a P. cambridgei grab a fly out of the air. I wouldnt do it myself but if you want some entertainment that would be up to you to feed them flies.

 

[Kirk]

I have a friend that feeds house flies to his slings. Its pretty cool watching a P. cambridgei grab a fly out of the air. I wouldnt do it myself but if you want some entertainment that would be up to you to feed them flies.

Now that's smart [not] :? . You have no idea what house flies have been eating. I guess we can assume your friend also believes 'professional' wrestling is all real, and quarters under pillows come from fairies.

 

[redsaw]

Now that's smart [not] :? . You have no idea what house flies have been eating. I guess we can assume your friend also believes 'professional' wrestling is all real, and quarters under pillows come from fairies.

Well what can I do. Hes one of those people that if something can be done wrong with husbandry hell do it (unknowingly) and not listen to advice. So I gave up trying to tell him whats he does/is doing is wrong.

LOL no hes not that bad to think 'professional' wrestling is real.

 

[barabootom]

Ok, thanks. On another thread, someone asked about feeding adult beetles to t's. As with this thread, I remarked how peculiar it is that there's so much interest in not simply settling for the safest route possible for feeding t's. I'd hope the reason for keeping t's is well beyond some peculiar desire to watch a variety of prey getting eaten.

I live in the country and sometimes feed june bugs or moths just to give the T's a little variety in their diet. You're right that many butterflies and moths retain toxic elements in their bodies but many do not. Usually the drab moths don't.

 

[jbm150]

Hmm, I was thinking about those hornworms. Thats a good point though about their diet. They could be harmful. It looks like waxworms are beetle grubs, not big on feeding with beetles. I'm not sure what butterworms become but it says they have a high calcium content. Everyone seems to have their opinion on calcium so I'm just going to avoid that one. It might pay to find out about those hornworms and if they can make suitable T feeders

 

[spiderfield]

Actually I think waxworms are moth larvae. Mealworms and superworms are beetle larvae.