Reptiles that eat insects all their lives?

[Cirith Ungol]

I'm trying to find a pet reptile that's both nice and half easy to keep and that will help me keeping down the numbers in my exploding roach colonies.

Are there any pet reptiles that will meet the above criteria? Bearded dragons for example won't do because they will convert their diet to vegetarian foods only.

 

[Aubrey Sidwell]

Why not a veiled chameleon? They are ravish eaters. The one I know of that is a male eat's 10-15 crickets daily. They can be vegetable eaters but not sustained. They live on a protein diet. Just coat the roach with calcium powder the same as you would for a cricket and watch them dissapear.

 

[TheDarkFinder]

Anoles, chamenlons, most geckos-but some need fruit, skinks, most frogs.
a short list. A dozen anoles works wonders for a over productive roach colony.
thedarkfinder

 

[Stylopidae]

Pacman frog or a pixie frog will work,also

 

[Crotalus]

Leopard gecko

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Thanks so far... but keep it comming!! I need as many options as possible!

I'm looking up every suggestion!

 

[Kayv]

Askie monitors, with maybe an occational pinkie.

 

[ReptileMan27]

Monitors and chams are not begginer herps and require alot of care and room. Your best bet would be a leopard gecko or fat tailed gecko . They both eat cricks,and mealworms as there staple diet. There are also very easy to care for and dont get big.

 

[padkison]

After much research, my son is planning on getting a Leopard Gecko in May at the exotic animal show. This is based on ease of care, coolness and price. They don't need a UVB light. If you avoid getting more than one male, you can house multiples in one cage.

Check here for care sheet.

http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html

Many petstores carry them.

 

[jwmeeker]

I would go with a dwarf monitor, such as a the red or yellow ridge tailed monitor, often called an ackie (V. acanthurus). They only get about 18-24 inches including the tail and are super active. That's what I'm feeding all of my B. dubia to, plus a few other dwarf monitors.

Justin
www.donmeeker.50megs.com

 

[LHP]

Blue tongued skinks might be worth a look. While they are omnivores, they can certainly help you with your roaches (I know mine do!). I give mine a mix of veggies, a little fruit (suckers for bananas!) and protein. Some of the protein items mine get include eggs, chicken, worms, lots of roaches, catfood, fish, rat pups, and mice. They are fantasic animal room gargbage disposals...if a snake refuses a mouse (F/T) the skinks never do.

They are beautiful, hardy, usually handlable, and their diets are easy if kept balanced. All around great pet lizards!

Lindsey

 

[RVS]

Monitors and chams are not begginer herps and require alot of care and room. Your best bet would be a leopard gecko or fat tailed gecko . They both eat cricks,and mealworms as there staple diet. There are also very easy to care for and dont get big.

I completely agree with ReptileMan.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Thanks again for your suggestions!

So of all mentioned, which one is the reptile that can be without food the longest?

 

[Steffen]

Some snakes eat insects as well. I suppose they would be the one to go the longest time without eating.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Some snakes eat insects as well. I suppose they would be the one to go the longest time without eating.

Arn't those snakes pretty small in general? I doubt they'd be able to gobble up a fully grown dubia roach... or am I wrong? :?

I've also been looking into legless lizards. That would be my top priority because they absolutely rock, but I don't seem to be able to get my hands on one

 

[Stylopidae]

I've heard pacmans can live for more than eight months without food.

Mine didn't eat for three months and didn't seem to lose any weight

Plus, their appetites are huge to begin with

 

[Cirith Ungol]

I've heard pacmans can live for more than eight months without food.

Mine didn't eat for three months and didn't seem to lose any weight

Plus, their appetites are huge to begin with

Huh? Don't they eat gosts?

Got any scientific name for that creature?

 

[Stylopidae]

Ceterophys ornata/cranwelli

The genus name may be spelled wrong

They can take prey as large as themselves...when Jabba was about three months, he had no problem taking down a dozen full grown crickets every other day when he was at about twice the size of a quarter

 

[Cirith Ungol]

An interesting alternative but I'm not such a big frog person (at least not right now... who knows.. )

 

[Stylopidae]

An interesting alternative but I'm not such a big frog person (at least not right now... who knows.. )

You know...neither was I, but I love Jabba now.

They don't have stringent care requirements. I change mine's waterbowl once every three days and he only uses it to defecate. I find if you keep it moist enough, it'll never need a waterbowl.

True, they never move but their size is impressive enough to be a surprising display animal. All you need to do is keep them warm and wet and they'll never brumate.

Other than that, if you don't want a horned frog (best option to curb an overproductive roach colony IMO) go with a couple of fat tailed geckos or leos.