Monday, February 22, 2016

Live food- one of the wonderful things I have learned about through having my critters

I had a coworker say to me- "who knows that".   I have found that I have learned so much more than I ever intended by having my newt/salamander/gecko hobby.  The place where I suprise myself is with their food.  I have just as many types of food as I have critters.

I am dedicating this post to my critters live food.

European night crawlers- less bitter than redworms and heartier and easier to keep than Canadian nightcrawlers.


Black worms- these guys have their own mini-fridge and need daily showers.  The newts love them.

White worms- great for small newts and larvae.  They arenot wone of my favorites because they are more work.

Daphnia- fresh water crustaceans.  I tend to purchase and then can feed for a few weeks before I run out.


Brine shrimp- salt water crustaceans.  These are good for the very smallest larva.  

Isopods (aquatic)- very small freshwater crustaceans.  These are the little things that you don't see until you turn out your lights and shine a light. 

Isopods (terrestrial) & Springtails

 Fruit flies- great for new terrestrial larvae



Superworms- are exactly what they sound like.  Superworms are the super sized versions of mealworms.



Meal worms-  I grow these at home- the critters eat the worm.  The worms pupate and become beetles that lay eggs that grow more worms.



Butter worms- low in fat and high in protien. 


Pheonix worms- good in protien.  Not especially lively- I wish they moved more to draw attention.



Hornworms- an eye catching treat.  They are full of protien and soft and wonderful.


Bean beatles - Good protien and a next step up from fruit flies.  The beans lay their eggs in the beans and then the larva chew there way through the bean.


Dubia roaches- better protien than crickets and can produce them at home without noise or smell.

Crickets- easy to obtain and move in a stimulating way.