[Ned]

I've decided to try breeding my own locusts for my two Leopard geckos. They seem to love them but they are pretty expensive compared to cricketrs and mealworms so if I can get them breeding hopefully I won't have to buy any eventually.

I've only been able to find 3 or 4 articles on how to breed locusts, each one all saying different things, different temperatures e.t.c. so it may be tricky.

I'm going to attempt this with the following setup:

1 x Exo Terra 12"x12"x12" tank
1 x 7W Heat Mat 6" x 11"
1 x 40W Basking Spot Lamp

Will be using newspaper as substrate, and feed them progrub and apple/carrots e.t.c.

The stuff has arrived and i've setup it up.

I've taped the heat mat to one side of the tank, and put the lamp on the same side. Heat mat will be on 24x7 to give back ground heat, the lamp on during the day to get a higher day temp (around 36/38C).

I have a few egg boxes in there for hiding, but they seem to like clinging to the roof at the moment, I think I need some more branches e.t.c in there.

I also need to get another pot, and fill it with damp sand or compost, this is where the females should hopefully lay their eggs.

I'll post some pictures later, and update the thread with progress. I'll more than likely write something for the main site too, once the project proves to be successfull.

Sweet! This is such a good idea Ned.

Can't wait to see pictures!

ooh cool! cant wait to see some piccies xx

[Ned]

OK, so the photos.

This is the kit:



On the Shelf, light in place and heat mat taped to outside wall:



The heatmat (taken from inside the tank):



Some of the tank all setup:





I've moved the egg boxes under the lamp now.

Locusts:




I still need extra branches / egg boxes and a pot of compost/sand for laying eggs (but they are not adult yet anyway).

wow, looks sweet mate!

[Ned]

Managed to get hold of sand now, I think have a suitable pot to stick it in.

I still don't have any adults yet but a few of them are not far away from maturing, and then hopefully the breeding will being.

Looks like I may have to buy another lot in anyway as it will take a couple of weeks for breeding then hatching.

Once the sand goes in i'll post up the final tank pics. Then fingers crossed for baby locusts.

So when they lay eggs do you need to take them out to stop the other adults eating them?
And do you need to seperate the babies from the adults once they hatch?

[Ned]

I'm not 100% sure at the moment, half the info I found said remove them but half said it should be fine to leave them in and let them hatch.

Providing there is plenty of other food available the adults shouldn't eat the baby locusts. Hopefully

Well fingers crossed that you have some that hatch!!!

Are Locusts noisey? Do they make the same noise that crickets do?

[Ned]

They are silent, although they do make some disturbing scratching/scuffling noises when they fall on their back and try to turn themselves over.