Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
Howdy. Isopods vary extremely in their quality as food. The common sowbugs were never eaten by any of my animals except toads and helmeted geckos (Tarentola chazaliae). I am even eager to get rid of any sowbug coming with collected moss because they're notorius eaters of softshelled lizard-eggs. On the other hand here in germany a small white tropical sowbug (very softshelled) is a well-used and often cultivated food for any small animal, be it frog, cham, or gecko. A class of rollable Millipeds is often mistaken for the sowbugs that can roll up. easiest-to-see difference is the count of legs on a segment: while the isopod got one pair of legs/segment, the millipeds got two pair/segment (DIPLOPODS). And the Millipeds are the toxic ones. Greetings from Hamburg Sven Vogler - Original Message - From: Lyle Puente [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gecko@lists.gekkota.com Subject: Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 15:03:41 -0500 Hi Mike, I haven't heard about any toxicity. Some species do exude and sticky noxious fluid when molsted. I don't know which and if this is toxic. I learned about their usefulness with chameleons years ago and have used them with unknown negative effects. Doesn't mean they don't have potential though. Any entomologists on the list care to comment ? On Jan 20, 2005, at 2:44 PM, Mike Martin wrote: lyle - you say that people use pill bugs in their terraria to help break down organic matter and consume mites. for some reason, i think i remember reading somewhere that pill bugs are toxic, otherwise i probably would have attempted using them as a feeder or at least a recycler in some of my terraria. do you know anything about this as far as native north american pill bugs are concerned? i'd like to try them in at least one of my setups if you guys really think they're safe. mike Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko -- _ Web-based SMS services available at http://www.operamail.com. From your mailbox to local or overseas cell phones. Powered by Outblaze ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
Yep Lyle, I'm still here. Mostly lurking, though. Very interesting about the sow bugs. Never would have thought of trying to raise them. Easy to reproduce are they? I am used to seeing them under rocks and in damp basements. Do they dessicate easily in captivity? Can they climb glass? joe Original Message From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gecko@lists.gekkota.com Subject: Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:11:06 +0100 Howdy. Isopods vary extremely in their quality as food. The common sowbugs were never eaten by any of my animals except toads and helmeted geckos (Tarentola chazaliae). I am even eager to get rid of any sowbug coming with collected moss because they're notorius eaters of softshelled lizard-eggs. On the other hand here in germany a small white tropical sowbug (very softshelled) is a well-used and often cultivated food for any small animal, be it frog, cham, or gecko. A class of rollable Millipeds is often mistaken for the sowbugs that can roll up. easiest-to-see difference is the count of legs on a segment: while the isopod got one pair of legs/segment, the millipeds got two pair/segment (DIPLOPODS). And the Millipeds are the toxic ones. Greetings from Hamburg Sven Vogler - Original Message - From: Lyle Puente [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gecko@lists.gekkota.com Subject: Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 15:03:41 -0500 Hi Mike, I haven't heard about any toxicity. Some species do exude and sticky noxious fluid when molsted. I don't know which and if this is toxic. I learned about their usefulness with chameleons years ago and have used them with unknown negative effects. Doesn't mean they don't have potential though. Any entomologists on the list care to comment ? On Jan 20, 2005, at 2:44 PM, Mike Martin wrote: lyle - you say that people use pill bugs in their terraria to help break down organic matter and consume mites. for some reason, i think i remember reading somewhere that pill bugs are toxic, otherwise i probably would have attempted using them as a feeder or at least a recycler in some of my terraria. do you know anything about this as far as native north american pill bugs are concerned? i'd like to try them in at least one of my setups if you guys really think they're safe. mike Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko -- _ Web-based SMS services available at http://www.operamail.com. From your mailbox to local or overseas cell phones. Powered by Outblaze ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
Thanks Sven! We have some here that are larger and harder shelled. These are unable to roll completely. The Orange are the smaller softer type. Perhaps similar to this small white type. On Jan 21, 2005, at 4:11 AM, Sven Vogler wrote: Isopods vary extremely in their quality as food. The common sowbugs were never eaten by any of my animals except toads and helmeted geckos (Tarentola chazaliae). I am even eager to get rid of any sowbug coming with collected moss because they're notorius eaters of softshelled lizard-eggs. On the other hand here in germany a small white tropical sowbug (very softshelled) is a well-used and often cultivated food for any small animal, be it frog, cham, or gecko. A class of rollable Millipeds is often mistaken for the sowbugs that can roll up. easiest-to-see difference is the count of legs on a segment: while the isopod got one pair of legs/segment, the millipeds got two pair/segment (DIPLOPODS). And the Millipeds are the toxic ones. Greetings from Hamburg Sven Vogler - Original Message - From: Lyle Puente [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gecko@lists.gekkota.com Subject: Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 15:03:41 -0500 Hi Mike, I haven't heard about any toxicity. Some species do exude and sticky noxious fluid when molsted. I don't know which and if this is toxic. I learned about their usefulness with chameleons years ago and have used them with unknown negative effects. Doesn't mean they don't have potential though. Any entomologists on the list care to comment ? On Jan 20, 2005, at 2:44 PM, Mike Martin wrote: lyle - you say that people use pill bugs in their terraria to help break down organic matter and consume mites. for some reason, i think i remember reading somewhere that pill bugs are toxic, otherwise i probably would have attempted using them as a feeder or at least a recycler in some of my terraria. do you know anything about this as far as native north american pill bugs are concerned? i'd like to try them in at least one of my setups if you guys really think they're safe. mike Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko -- _ Web-based SMS services available at http://www.operamail.com. From your mailbox to local or overseas cell phones. Powered by Outblaze ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
Hi all, I do feed pillbugs to small turtles, they like them a lot! The geckos have not seemed too interested. These have been discussed as food on turtle lists, and toxicity has never been mentioned, so I don't believe they are toxic. They are high in calcium! I have them in most of my terrariums, but pretty much don't see them, like others have mentioned. Locally we have the flatter softer kind and the harder ones that can roll into a ball, both gray. I'd be interested in the orange ones! Melody Lyle Puente wrote: On Jan 21, 2005, at 8:06 AM, JCLoucek wrote: Yep Lyle, I'm still here. Mostly lurking, though. It's good to know some of our long time members are here lurking. Very interesting about the sow bugs. Never would have thought of trying to raise them. Easy to reproduce are they? Yes, I'm not sure about this batch, but if similar to others I have kept they should be easy. I set one up in a peat based terrarium with plants and cork. Those I see now an dthen. I added some to a few with Geckos and other lizards to see how they do or if they are eaten. So farI just dont see them. I am used to seeing them under rocks and in damp basements. Do they dessicate easily in captivity? Can they climb glass? no cllmbing glass and so far Im not sure how delicate they are. joe Original Message From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gecko@lists.gekkota.com Subject: Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 10:11:06 +0100 Howdy. Isopods vary extremely in their quality as food. The common sowbugs were never eaten by any of my animals except toads and helmeted geckos (Tarentola chazaliae). I am even eager to get rid of any sowbug coming with collected moss because they're notorius eaters of softshelled lizard-eggs. On the other hand here in germany a small white tropical sowbug (very softshelled) is a well-used and often cultivated food for any small animal, be it frog, cham, or gecko. A class of rollable Millipeds is often mistaken for the sowbugs that can roll up. easiest-to-see difference is the count of legs on a segment: while the isopod got one pair of legs/segment, the millipeds got two pair/segment (DIPLOPODS). And the Millipeds are the toxic ones. Greetings from Hamburg Sven Vogler - Original Message - From: Lyle Puente [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: gecko@lists.gekkota.com Subject: Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 15:03:41 -0500 Hi Mike, I haven't heard about any toxicity. Some species do exude and sticky noxious fluid when molsted. I don't know which and if this is toxic. I learned about their usefulness with chameleons years ago and have used them with unknown negative effects. Doesn't mean they don't have potential though. Any entomologists on the list care to comment ? On Jan 20, 2005, at 2:44 PM, Mike Martin wrote: lyle - you say that people use pill bugs in their terraria to help break down organic matter and consume mites. for some reason, i think i remember reading somewhere that pill bugs are toxic, otherwise i probably would have attempted using them as a feeder or at least a recycler in some of my terraria. do you know anything about this as far as native north american pill bugs are concerned? i'd like to try them in at least one of my setups if you guys really think they're safe. mike Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko -- _ Web-based SMS services available at http://www.operamail.com. From your mailbox to local or overseas cell phones. Powered by Outblaze ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
I've only seen the orange pill bugs mentioned once, on a website devoted to Woodlice http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/7649/woodlice/wliceod.htm As for toxicity, I've never had a problem using them as feeders. I do remember reading someplace that a diet high in them can cause a vitamin shortage, however, I can't recall where I read that and I'm not even too sure anymore which vitamin it is. The problem didn't seem to be worth worrying about since I never use them as a main food item, so I didn't bother remembering all the details. I've fed both sowbugs and pill bugs to chameleons, dart frogs, various geckos and anoles. The Panther and Jacksons chams would pick them first out of a mixed bowl of crickets, mealworms, silkworms and pill bugs. Dendrobate frogs who don't have teeth and normally don't eat anything much bigger than a fruit fly would happily eat several pill bugs or sow bugs that were 4 or 5 times bigger than any fly they'd tackle. And some geckos love them. Pictus, fat-tails and other terrestrial geckos that live in forests or grasslands recognized them, possibly they eat them 'back home'. Arboreals like day geckos didn't seem too impressed, they'd eat the odd one but not really worth it. There was a pair of Grandis though that would eat them, even fight to the point of trying to steal a piece out of the other's mouth. They're easy to raise, though not as prolific as some of the bugs we raise. Some of mine have established themselves in tanks, but I still have to add feeders every few months. There's a pretty good caresheet at http://www.pollywog.co.uk/woodlice.html Newborn pillbugs would be great for premature geckos. I've had good luck using them to get a feeding response from premature leos and pictus. The bugs move fast enough to get the gecko's attention, but don't jump or fly away like crickets and fruit flies. If nothing else, they're cute suckers to keep as pets. :) Hilde -- ~*~*~*~*~*~ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, white wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO what a ride! ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
thanks Hilde, thats a great post. I agree too that they are great to keep for their own sake. I have some set up with an arboeal Abronia and he seems to care less about them. I did it to see if he was interested and alos to have them established in the cage. I set them up with some Uroplatus as well with out so far noticing them being bothered. On Jan 21, 2005, at 4:26 PM, Hilde wrote: I've only seen the orange pill bugs mentioned once, on a website devoted to Woodlice http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/7649/woodlice/wliceod.htm As for toxicity, I've never had a problem using them as feeders. I do remember reading someplace that a diet high in them can cause a vitamin shortage, however, I can't recall where I read that and I'm not even too sure anymore which vitamin it is. The problem didn't seem to be worth worrying about since I never use them as a main food item, so I didn't bother remembering all the details. I've fed both sowbugs and pill bugs to chameleons, dart frogs, various geckos and anoles. The Panther and Jacksons chams would pick them first out of a mixed bowl of crickets, mealworms, silkworms and pill bugs. Dendrobate frogs who don't have teeth and normally don't eat anything much bigger than a fruit fly would happily eat several pill bugs or sow bugs that were 4 or 5 times bigger than any fly they'd tackle. And some geckos love them. Pictus, fat-tails and other terrestrial geckos that live in forests or grasslands recognized them, possibly they eat them 'back home'. Arboreals like day geckos didn't seem too impressed, they'd eat the odd one but not really worth it. There was a pair of Grandis though that would eat them, even fight to the point of trying to steal a piece out of the other's mouth. They're easy to raise, though not as prolific as some of the bugs we raise. Some of mine have established themselves in tanks, but I still have to add feeders every few months. There's a pretty good caresheet at http://www.pollywog.co.uk/woodlice.html Newborn pillbugs would be great for premature geckos. I've had good luck using them to get a feeding response from premature leos and pictus. The bugs move fast enough to get the gecko's attention, but don't jump or fly away like crickets and fruit flies. If nothing else, they're cute suckers to keep as pets. :) Hilde -- ~*~*~*~*~*~ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, white wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO what a ride! ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
Lyle Puente wrote: I set them up with some Uroplatus as well with out so far noticing them being bothered. I had them in with U. phantasticus, lineatus and sikorae, all of them would eat them once in a while, though the females seemed to like them more than the males did. I'm getting a bit old, meant to mention that in the previous post :) Resident pillbugs are also great in tanks with live plants. They help aerate the soil as well as recycle the dead vegetation. Hilde -- ~*~*~*~*~*~ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, white wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO what a ride! ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
that was my biggest hope. I keep a large number of plants, the orchids even bloom once in a while. Im wondering if the orange may reflect more of a copper deficiency though rather than an anomaly. Resident pillbugs are also great in tanks with live plants. They help aerate the soil as well as recycle the dead vegetation. Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
which uroplatus have you put them in with? im interested in this whole pill bug thing since ive been wanting to get my animals a better variety in their diet. i've got phantasticus, pietschmanni, and henkeli so chances are ill be picking up some of these pill bugs at the reptile show in columbia, sc if anyone is carrying them. thanks Hilde, thats a great post. I agree too that they are great to keep for their own sake. I have some set up with an arboeal Abronia and he seems to care less about them. I did it to see if he was interested and alos to have them established in the cage. I set them up with some Uroplatus as well with out so far noticing them being bothered. On Jan 21, 2005, at 4:26 PM, Hilde wrote: I've only seen the orange pill bugs mentioned once, on a website devoted to Woodlice http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/7649/woodlice/wliceod.htm As for toxicity, I've never had a problem using them as feeders. I do remember reading someplace that a diet high in them can cause a vitamin shortage, however, I can't recall where I read that and I'm not even too sure anymore which vitamin it is. The problem didn't seem to be worth worrying about since I never use them as a main food item, so I didn't bother remembering all the details. I've fed both sowbugs and pill bugs to chameleons, dart frogs, various geckos and anoles. The Panther and Jacksons chams would pick them first out of a mixed bowl of crickets, mealworms, silkworms and pill bugs. Dendrobate frogs who don't have teeth and normally don't eat anything much bigger than a fruit fly would happily eat several pill bugs or sow bugs that were 4 or 5 times bigger than any fly they'd tackle. And some geckos love them. Pictus, fat-tails and other terrestrial geckos that live in forests or grasslands recognized them, possibly they eat them 'back home'. Arboreals like day geckos didn't seem too impressed, they'd eat the odd one but not really worth it. There was a pair of Grandis though that would eat them, even fight to the point of trying to steal a piece out of the other's mouth. They're easy to raise, though not as prolific as some of the bugs we raise. Some of mine have established themselves in tanks, but I still have to add feeders every few months. There's a pretty good caresheet at http://www.pollywog.co.uk/woodlice.html Newborn pillbugs would be great for premature geckos. I've had good luck using them to get a feeding response from premature leos and pictus. The bugs move fast enough to get the gecko's attention, but don't jump or fly away like crickets and fruit flies. If nothing else, they're cute suckers to keep as pets. :) Hilde -- ~*~*~*~*~*~ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, white wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO what a ride! ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko Lyle Puente President Global Gecko Association My Brothers Banned http://www.mybrothersbanned.com ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
Re: [gecko] Orange Pill Bugs
I've goot normal old grey pillbugs in my Uroplatus vivarium, and they do a great as detritovors. I have never noticed the U. henkeli eating them, but then he is prowling the vivarium all night while I'm usually asleep, so he could be eating them without my knowledge. I noticed someone mentioned their females had a greater affinity for the woodlice than the males, so I'll try to keep an eye on the females I'm getting this spring to see if they eat them. Jared ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
[gecko]Red Mites on Uroplatus Geckos...
Greetings all, Anyone ever dealt with Mites on Uroplatus Geckos? I just recently imported a fairly good sized group of these geckos and two animals that are housed together have just started to show signs of red mites. The mites are in low numbers and are not very obvious. I saw about ten total on both geckos. The animals that are invected are my Mossy Leaf Tails. Any tips would be appreciated as I would like to part with this issue as soon as possible. I'm looking for the safest method of ridding them from the geckos. Cheers Jason ___ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list gecko@lists.gekkota.com http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko