Buzz
Whether you're intending to use them as sustenance for a pet reptile or amphibian, or you fancy them as pets themselves, the process of breeding grasshoppers is remarkably uncomplicated. Initially, you'll need to capture a male and female grasshopper, or procure them from a pet supply store. Afterward, it's merely a matter of establishing a suitable habitat and providing their offspring, or nymphs, with adequate time and space to mature, and you'll find yourself cultivating numerous generations of grasshoppers!
Procedures
Providing Shelter for the Grasshoppers
Opt for a medium-sized aquarium or terrarium equipped with a ventilated lid. You require a container that's spacious enough to accommodate your grasshoppers comfortably, offers ample ventilation for fresh air circulation, and can be securely sealed to prevent any escape attempts. A glass aquarium also facilitates clear observation of the grasshoppers.
- You can procure aquariums and terrariums from local pet supply outlets or online platforms.
- Opt for a container with a capacity of at least 5 US gallons (19 liters) to ensure sufficient room for your grasshoppers' movement.
Layer the bottom of the container with 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) of sand. Utilize clean sand obtained from a pet supply store, ensuring an even spread across the container's base. The female grasshoppers will deposit their eggs in the sand, necessitating cleanliness and an adequate depth for egg-laying.
- Dry coconut fibers or oatmeal flakes can serve as alternatives to sand.
- Avoid adding water to the sand to prevent excessive humidity within the container.
Position dried branches within the container. Providing a few twigs and branches offers additional perching spots for your grasshoppers, reducing the likelihood of conflict and promoting breeding. Even a couple of sticks at the container's base will suffice.
- Grasshoppers with activities are more engaging to observe!
Install a heat source, such as a lightbulb, to regulate the temperature for the grasshoppers. Affix a light fixture above the container to maintain temperatures between 82 °F (28 °C) and 90 °F (32 °C) during the day. You can utilize a standard lightbulb or one designed for reptile habitats.
- Use a standard thermometer to monitor the container's temperature.
- At night, the container temperature can drop to 60 °F (16 °C). You may switch off the light, but ensure the temperature remains within acceptable limits, and remember to reactivate the light in the morning!
Caution: Avoid placing the lightbulb too close to the container's lid to prevent potential melting or fire hazards.
Facilitating Grasshopper Mating
Introduce both male and female grasshoppers into the enclosure. Whether obtained through capture, purchase from a pet supply store, or online order, ensure the presence of both sexes to initiate breeding! Female grasshoppers exhibit larger size compared to males, with straight abdomens devoid of curvature.
- Male grasshoppers feature a rounded abdomen that tapers into a slight curve before extending into an elevated angle.
Position a small dish of moist sand in a corner of the enclosure. Female grasshoppers favor moist soil for egg-laying, necessitating a designated area within the enclosure. Fill a small dish with 2 inches (5.1 cm) of sand and lightly mist it until damp, avoiding saturation.
- Utilize clean sand from a pet supply store and mist it every other day to maintain moisture.
Ensure adequate sustenance for your grasshoppers. Hunger impedes breeding in grasshoppers and may incite aggression and cannibalism. Provide fresh grass daily, particularly when breeding is desired, and eliminate any dried, uneaten foliage.
- In arid regions, lightly mist the grass to offer hydration to the grasshoppers.
- Grass treated with insecticides poses a threat to grasshoppers. If unsure of grass safety, opt for commercially available grasshopper feed from pet supply stores or online sources.
Suggestion: If grass consumption is minimal, experiment with different grass varieties or introduce lettuce.
Allow uninterrupted mating for the grasshoppers. In the presence of both male and female grasshoppers, well-fed individuals will initiate mating. The smaller male mounts the female's back, with the mating process lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to a full day.
- Disturbance during mating is highly discouraged.
Transfer the bowl to a different container upon egg deposition by the grasshopper. Following successful mating, the female grasshopper's abdomen will enlarge. Within 1-2 weeks, she will lay her eggs in the moist sand within the bowl. Relocate only the bowl to a separate container to facilitate hatching.
- Avoid transferring the female grasshopper to the new container to prevent potential egg consumption.
- The secondary container can be smaller but should be equipped identically to the larger one.
- Fill the base of the smaller container with 2 inches (5.1 cm) of dry sand, ensuring adequate ventilation and preventing grasshopper escape through the lid.
- Maintain the separate container's temperature between 82 °F (28 °C) and 90 °F (32 °C).
Allow a 10-month incubation period for the eggs. Upon relocating the bowl to a new container, maintain consistent conditions for nymph development within the eggs. Upon readiness, tiny grasshoppers resembling adults will emerge from the bowl's sand.
- Grasshoppers typically mate in autumn and winter to coincide with nymph hatching in early summer.
- Commence grass feeding as soon as nymphs appear.
Permit 3 weeks for nymph maturation. Before reintroducing them to the larger container alongside adult grasshoppers, allow nymphs sufficient time to mature. Premature return to the main container risks predation by adult grasshoppers.
- Nymphs undergo 5 or 6 molts as they grow. Safeguarding them in a separate container enhances survival prospects.
- Provide daily fresh grass and remove any dried foliage.
Essential Materials
- A 5 US gal (19 L) aquarium or terrarium
- Sand
- Twigs or small branches
- A lightbulb
- Spray bottle
- Small, shallow bowl
Useful Advice
Cautionary Notes
- Avoid placing the lightbulb too close to the container's lid as excessive heat may pose a fire hazard.
