Grasshoppers? Okay for my Neo the Leo?

[LzzrdBoy]

My buddy has a Blue-Tongue Skink who's loves the grasshoppers. As a result, this guy runs up to the horse ranch once a week and stocks up big time. I mean like 100 of these little suckers. That said, is it possible to feed my Neo the Leo grasshoppers? Not super-big ones obviously but can I feed them at all? Of course, I would adhere to the "no bigger than his mouth" policy.

Thanks in advance as always!

 

[LzzrdBoy]

Surely someone can chime in on this one right? Are grasshoppers totally unheard of when it comes to Gecko feeders? Maybe I'm way off here?

 

[M_surinamensis]

You should not... and he shouldn't be using them either.

Three reasons for this-

Wild insects are often intermediate hosts to multi-stage parasites and can harbor bacterial and viral agents.

Wild insects may have come into contact with pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other toxins. Death upon exposure is not always immediate, wild collected insect prey can potentially be dosing your predatory pet with low levels of poisons.

Grasshoppers specifically, some species of them anyway, consume toxic plants which they have developed an immunity to, but which they partially metabolize in order to become themselves toxic. Not quite the degree of refinement and toxin recycling seen with say, dart frogs, but similar.

 

[LzzrdBoy]

You should not... and he shouldn't be using them either.

Three reasons for this-

Wild insects are often intermediate hosts to multi-stage parasites and can harbor bacterial and viral agents.

Wild insects may have come into contact with pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other toxins. Death upon exposure is not always immediate, wild collected insect prey can potentially be dosing your predatory pet with low levels of poisons.

Grasshoppers specifically, some species of them anyway, consume toxic plants which they have developed an immunity to, but which they partially metabolize in order to become themselves toxic. Not quite the degree of refinement and toxin recycling seen with say, dart frogs, but similar.

Great info my friend. Thanks very much. Odd though...my bro has been feeding his skink grasshoppers for nearly 4 years now without issue. I'm not going to risk it but after so long, is it possible they're simply not a problem for his skink? Or is it more possible that he's just been lucky. LOL!

Either way I'll be passing on this info to him. Thanks again! Love the knowledge here. You guys rock!

 

[M_surinamensis]

Little of both.

Skinks are pretty tough lizards, so a little exposure to something risky might never develop into a visible problem.

And... he might just be lucky. Parasite transmission vectors can be slightly unpredictable. Not every grasshopper species will consume plant toxins. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers may not have been used anywhere near where he's collecting them.

I wouldn't risk it, because there are too many uncontrolled factors and unknowns when it comes to what field collected prey has been exposed to- but with the exception of the species that specifically seek out toxic plants, these risk factors are all kind of wide open and highly dependent on the history of each individual feeder insect.

 

[LzzrdBoy]

Little of both.

Skinks are pretty tough lizards, so a little exposure to something risky might never develop into a visible problem.

And... he might just be lucky. Parasite transmission vectors can be slightly unpredictable. Not every grasshopper species will consume plant toxins. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers may not have been used anywhere near where he's collecting them.

I wouldn't risk it, because there are too many uncontrolled factors and unknowns when it comes to what field collected prey has been exposed to- but with the exception of the species that specifically seek out toxic plants, these risk factors are all kind of wide open and highly dependent on the history of each individual feeder insect.

Got it...thanks again!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

The dietary requirements and tolerances are much different when comparing a skink to a leo. While leos are strictly insectivores, a captive skink eats chicken, turkey, vegetables, fruits, eggs, in addition to insects.

 

[LzzrdBoy]

The dietary requirements and tolerances are much different when comparing a skink to a leo. While leos are strictly insectivores, a captive skink eats chicken, turkey, vegetables, fruits, eggs, in addition to insects.

Thanks for the info orchidslave but to be completely honest, I don't think I can take the word of someone who interbreeds Geckos with Kittehs. Sorry!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

LMAOOOoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BrilliantEraser]

He's certainly got a point. Are Cat/Gecko crosses even viable? Would they survive in the wild? And if so, would they themselves hunt crickets?

I think we may need to start a Cat/Gecko cross awareness board. These are animals with very specialized needs!

:laugh: