Why do feeder insects want to escape?

[JZayn99]

Hello guys, sorry for my English. I want to ask why they try to escape? maybe they don't like their enclosure? maybe for example crickets aren't social animals? some entomology can answer me? thanks

 

[Poonjab]

All prisoners want to escape

 

[JZayn99]

It's not the answer that I was hoping for but lol that's so funny thank u

 

[CanebrakeRattlesnake]

Obviously at this point in time we have no way of communicating with invertebrates or being able to know what they're thinking, so it's hard to say if they're actually "escaping" or if they're just trying to explore places we don't want them to go.

I'd say if an animal is displaying signs of stress (odd behavior, not eating or drinking, self mutilation, pacing, actively trying to destroy the enclosure to get out, etc) I would personally count that as wanting to escape or at least needing some form of enrichment.

I feel like most invertebrates don't really want to escape but are rather just meandering around like they would in the wild, except obviously their enclosure is in their way so to speak so they're trying to go over/around it.

 

[JZayn99]

Obviously at this point in time we have no way of communicating with invertebrates or being able to know what they're thinking, so it's hard to say if they're actually "escaping" or if they're just trying to explore places we don't want them to go.

I'd say if an animal is displaying signs of stress (odd behavior, not eating or drinking, self mutilation, pacing, actively trying to destroy the enclosure to get out, etc) I would personally count that as wanting to escape or at least needing some form of enrichment.

I feel like most invertebrates don't really want to escape but are rather just meandering around like they would in the wild, except obviously their enclosure is in their way so to speak so they're trying to go over/around it.

thank u that's not funny but very interesting to read, also because there are no discussion like this on internet

 

[chanda]

If you look at the natural behavior of feeder species like roaches and crickets in the wild, you may notice that the majority of them are nocturnal. Some of them are also fairly solitary in the wild. They spend a great deal of their time wandering around, looking for food, water, mates, or suitable hiding places. Just because you have put them in a cage or other container does not cause them to lose these natural drives. When they seem to be attempting to "escape" they're just doing what they would do normally - plus, if there is some non-optimal condition in the enclosure, they're trying to find a more suitable place. If the enclosure is too bright and does not provide dark hiding places for nocturnal species, then they'll attempt to seek dark places where they can hide. If the substrate is not deep enough to allow them to burrow, they may be looking for deeper substrate. If the air is drier than they are comfortable with, they may be trying to find cool, moist spots like those that exist under rocks, logs, or leaf litter, or underground. If it is too crowded, they may be looking for a little space. If the substrate is dirty (with waste, old molts, spoiled food, etc.) they may be looking for a cleaner environment. If they are nearing a molt or pupation (depending on what kind of feeders you keep) then they may be looking for a quiet, secluded spot where they will not be disturbed. Many beetle, moth, butterfly, and fly larvae will leave their food source when it is time to pupate and wander quite a ways off - because pupating at or near the food source increases the likelihood that they will be disturbed (or eaten!) by hungry siblings.

 

[Matt Man]

I dunno about you guys but I whisper "Ya'll gonna get et" into their enclosure and I figure that's why they are trying to bust out

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

I dunno about you guys but I whisper "Ya'll gonna get et" into their enclosure and I figure that's why they are trying to bust out

I always ask for dinner volunteers when I open the cricket tub. "Who wants to get eaten tonight?"

 

[Matt Man]

I always ask for dinner volunteers when I open the cricket tub. "Who wants to get eaten tonight?"

mighty nice of ya

 

[basin79]

Hello guys, sorry for my English. I want to ask why they try to escape? maybe they don't like their enclosure? maybe for example crickets aren't social animals? some entomology can answer me? thanks

It's natural and normal. They feel a barrier and want to overcome it. You could keep your crickets in a 1 mile x 1 mile enclosure and they'd still try and climb the edges.

 

[JZayn99]

If you look at the natural behavior of feeder species like roaches and crickets in the wild, you may notice that the majority of them are nocturnal. Some of them are also fairly solitary in the wild. They spend a great deal of their time wandering around, looking for food, water, mates, or suitable hiding places. Just because you have put them in a cage or other container does not cause them to lose these natural drives. When they seem to be attempting to "escape" they're just doing what they would do normally - plus, if there is some non-optimal condition in the enclosure, they're trying to find a more suitable place. If the enclosure is too bright and does not provide dark hiding places for nocturnal species, then they'll attempt to seek dark places where they can hide. If the substrate is not deep enough to allow them to burrow, they may be looking for deeper substrate. If the air is drier than they are comfortable with, they may be trying to find cool, moist spots like those that exist under rocks, logs, or leaf litter, or underground. If it is too crowded, they may be looking for a little space. If the substrate is dirty (with waste, old molts, spoiled food, etc.) they may be looking for a cleaner environment. If they are nearing a molt or pupation (depending on what kind of feeders you keep) then they may be looking for a quiet, secluded spot where they will not be disturbed. Many beetle, moth, butterfly, and fly larvae will leave their food source when it is time to pupate and wander quite a ways off - because pupating at or near the food source increases the likelihood that they will be disturbed (or eaten!) by hungry siblings.

great, very good point! so when people ask about an escaped feeder insect it's because maybe they aren't good keepers


for the other guys... I was feeling very bad for the crickets but not anymore

It's natural and normal. They feel a barrier and want to overcome it. You could keep your crickets in a 1 mile x 1 mile enclosure and they'd still try and climb the edges.

ok but after
3782849203 attempts I think they get over it if they are fine or not?

 

[chanda]

great, very good point! so when people ask for an escaped feeder insect it's because maybe they aren't good keeper

Nah - when someone has an "escaped" feeder, it's not necessarily because they aren't a good keeper. It just means the enclosure was not escape-proof. It is in the nature of most bugs to wander. Granted, the typical conditions that feeders are housed in are not necessarily what they might prefer, given the choice - but they are still adequate to house them until they are called upon to fulfill their intended purpose. Even if they were housed under ideal conditions, with lots of room, abundant food and water, a readily-available mate, not too crowded, etc. they would still probably get out given the opportunity, if for no other reason than to see what's on the other side of the tank wall.

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

mighty nice of ya

I was going for cheerily menacing.

 

[Matt Man]

I was going for cheerily menacing.

at least you are asking for volunteers.

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

at least you are asking for volunteers.

I assume anybody I can catch is volunteering. Otherwise they'd try harder.

 

[basin79]

ok but after
3782849203 attempts I think they get over it if they are fine or not?

Nope. They don't have the mental capacity to realise they're stuck in the enclosure.

 

[JZayn99]

Nah - when someone has an "escaped" feeder, it's not necessarily because they aren't a good keeper. It just means the enclosure was not escape-proof. It is in the nature of most bugs to wander. Granted, the typical conditions that feeders are housed in are not necessarily what they might prefer, given the choice - but they are still adequate to house them until they are called upon to fulfill their intended purpose. Even if they were housed under ideal conditions, with lots of room, abundant food and water, a readily-available mate, not too crowded, etc. they would still probably get out given the opportunity, if for no other reason than to see what's on the other side of the tank wall.

ok but I think (based on what u say) it's clear that if they are fine there will not too much escaped insects, also because, for example, I had crickets in a very small enclosure before (my stupid mistake) and there were a lot of escape attempts compared to now

 

[chanda]

ok but I think (based on what u say) it's clear that if they are fine there will not too much escaped insects, also because, for example, I had crickets in a very small enclosure before (my stupid mistake) and there were a lot of escape attempts compared to now

Yes, if they are housed in unsatisfactory conditions (such as being too crowded, or in a too-small container) they will have more incentive to roam - which will lead to them encountering potential escape routes (like ventilation holes or gaps between the container and lid) more often. But they're still going to roam (and escape) even if those conditions are not present. Don't believe me? Put them in a big enclosure with lots of food - and leave the lid open for a day or two. You are guaranteed to find crickets in the shower, under the bed, in your shoes, climbing up the kitchen wall, or other places you might not necessarily want to find crickets. Most of the time, their intent is not so much escape as it is exploring/foraging. (The exception is when a ginormous potential predator reaches into said enclosure to grab some and feed them off. When you do that, they are definitely attempting to escape - from you!)

 

[JZayn99]

Yes, if they are housed in unsatisfactory conditions (such as being too crowded, or in a too-small container) they will have more incentive to roam - which will lead to them encountering potential escape routes (like ventilation holes or gaps between the container and lid) more often. But they're still going to roam (and escape) even if those conditions are not present. Don't believe me? Put them in a big enclosure with lots of food - and leave the lid open for a day or two. You are guaranteed to find crickets in the shower, under the bed, in your shoes, climbing up the kitchen wall, or other places you might not necessarily want to find crickets. Most of the time, their intent is not so much escape as it is exploring/foraging. (The exception is when a ginormous potential predator reaches into said enclosure to grab some and feed them off. When you do that, they are definitely attempting to escape - from you!)

nono of course I believe u, and not only because I'm entomophobic

 

[Matts inverts]

I think they get bored being in a small tank because even a cricket can get bored of a tank no mater how big it is