If you want to keep insects, know that grasshoppers can be a good choice. Grasshoppers are inexpensive (even free if you catch them yourself), don't require special food, and don't take up a lot of space or other supplies. However, to keep your grasshopper healthy, you need to follow a few basic steps to make sure the grasshopper cage is warm, dry, and the food is safe to eat.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Finding and Catching Grasshoppers
Step 1. Choose the right time to catch the grasshoppers
Grasshoppers can be found on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. If you live in a very hot area, even in the winter the weather remains warm, you can find locusts all year round. However, if you live in an area that is hot in the summer and very cold during the winter, you may only find locusts during the warmer months when the temperature is no longer below 0 degrees, either during the day or at night.
Grasshoppers can't move easily when it's cold. So, the best time to catch a grasshopper is in the morning after sunrise because at that time it can't jump away quickly. However, you may have a hard time finding them because grasshoppers are difficult to distinguish from their surroundings. If you can't catch a locust in the morning, try to do it in the afternoon when the insect is more active and easier to detect
Step 2. Look for grasshoppers in the right places
Depending on where you live, grasshoppers can be very easy to find. Look for grasshoppers in grass fields, vacant land, or grass along riverbanks. You may find it easier to find grasshoppers in areas with lots of grass and leaves because these insects like both.
If you have a garden outside, you may be able to find grasshoppers there
Step 3. Set the trap
To catch grasshoppers, you can use a soft net, a T-shirt, or a flannel blanket. Spread a net or blanket on the ground, then walk over to the blanket. This will cause the grasshoppers in your path to jump onto the blanket. If the blanket is fluffy enough, the grasshopper will have a hard time escaping quickly.
- Once the grasshopper is trapped on the blanket, quickly place the jar (without the lid) over the grasshopper. Tuck a thin piece of cardboard under the hole in the jar to prevent the grasshoppers from escaping when you flip the jar over and attach the lid.
- You can also catch grasshoppers easily when they are perched on the grass. Approach the grasshopper slowly and carefully. Once the grasshopper is within reach of your hand, try cupping the jar above it before it has time to jump. You may have to try it a few times, but eventually one of the grasshoppers will be caught.
Step 4. Use a glass jar to carry the grasshoppers
You can use a jar to catch the grasshoppers and take them home. Glass jars with lids are perfect for this purpose. Don't forget to punch a hole in the lid before you catch the grasshopper so it can breathe in the jar.
If you are a child, ask an adult to help drill holes in the lid of the jar with a knife or sharp scissors
Step 5. Be careful if you keep several grasshoppers at once
If you want to keep more than one locust, it's important to know the consequences. Several grasshoppers housed in the same terrarium can fight, especially if you don't feed them enough. If you put a male and female grasshopper together, both will breed.
- If you want to breed grasshoppers, put both male and female grasshoppers in the terrarium. The female grasshopper will lay eggs in the terrarium substrate and the eggs will hatch into nymphs, which are similar to adults, but smaller in size.
- If you don't want to take care of baby grasshoppers, don't place male and female grasshoppers in the same terrarium. If you see that the female grasshopper has laid eggs, but doesn't want the baby grasshoppers, you can take all the eggs and place them in the freezer. That way, the egg will die.
- Do not release baby grasshoppers in the wild because it can disrupt the natural pattern of the ecosystem.
Step 6. Understand what you are doing
In the wild, grasshoppers only live for a short time. If not killed by the cold, grasshoppers are usually preyed upon by natural predators. However, in theory, grasshoppers can live for several years in a warm and safe environment. If you want to raise a grasshopper, understand that you are taking a commitment to care for it over a long period of time.
- This commitment also includes maintaining the terrarium, daily feeding, and making sure the grasshopper's habitat is warm enough to keep it healthy.
- If you're not ready for this kind of commitment, find another insect whose lifespan is shorter.
Part 2 of 3: Creating a Habitat for Grasshoppers
Step 1. Prepare a glass or plastic terrarium
If you want to observe the behavior of the grasshoppers, a clear glass terrarium is the best choice. Make sure the terrarium is large enough for the grasshopper to move freely and has a lid made of plastic or metal wire.
- Grasshoppers can chew cloth fibers. So, a terrarium with a cloth lid won't be able to keep the grasshoppers in for very long.
- Grasshoppers love to jump. So make sure he can do it in the terrarium.
- You can buy a terrarium at most pet stores.
- A terrarium with a capacity of 20-40 liters is sufficient for grasshoppers.
Step 2. Consider the size of the grasshopper
It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 striped species worldwide with adult sizes varying from 1 cm to 7 cm. To get an idea of how big the grasshoppers will be as adults, pay attention to the size of the grasshoppers in the area where you caught them. Most likely the grasshoppers are from the same species and will reach the same adult size.
- Female grasshoppers tend to grow larger than males. If you want to identify the sex of the grasshopper, pay attention to the belly. The female grasshopper has 4 sharp points at the end of the abdomen which are used to lay eggs on the ground. The male grasshopper has a smooth and rounded belly.
- Make sure the area of the terrarium is adjusted to the size of the grasshopper. Small grasshoppers will not need a large space to live comfortably, while large grasshoppers will need more space to be able to jump around freely.
Step 3. Coat the bottom of the terrarium
You can fill it with dry sand, oatmeal chips, or even desiccated coconut husk. That way, the terrarium will be more comfortable. Make sure the substrate is about 3-5 cm thick so that the grasshopper has plenty of room.
Place a few sticks or sticks in the terrarium so the grasshopper can perch there or jump from one branch to another
Step 4. Make sure the terrarium gets light
Grasshoppers need a dry and warm environment in order to thrive. During the day, the terrarium should have a temperature between 25-35 °C. You can easily adjust this by directing the bulb so that it shines on the terrarium during the day.
- You can also buy heating mats or special light bulbs to warm your terrarium at the pet store. It's a good idea to check with the store first to see if they sell supplies for reptiles before going there. Otherwise, you can use a regular light bulb.
- Although sunlight is not a problem, do not place the terrarium in a place that is exposed to direct sunlight as it can cause the temperature inside to become too hot.
- At night, you can lower the temperature of the terrarium to 15 °C without creating problems for the grasshoppers. To do this, just turn off the lights at night, but don't forget to turn them on again in the morning. The cold grasshopper will be lethargic, it can even die.
Part 3 of 3: Feeding the Grasshopper
Step 1. Choose grass for the grasshopper
Grasshoppers eat almost all types of grass. To give the menu variety, go out and select a few types of grass you come across. For example, take some grass from the lawn and weeds that you find in empty patches on the riverbanks.
- Don't be afraid you'll give a poisonous grass type. If the grass you bring is poisonous, the grasshoppers won't eat it. That way, you'll know what's next.
- Grasshoppers also eat leaves.
- Make sure you give your grasshopper plenty of fresh grass and leaves every day. Grasshoppers can eat up to 16 times their body weight. So he may be eating more than you think. Also, if you have more than one grasshopper in your terrarium, the animals will fight and kill each other if there is not enough food. So it's better to give him more than less.
Step 2. Spray the leaves with water before feeding them to the grasshoppers
The grasshopper needs moisture to survive, but mostly it gets all its water needs from the grass. However, if you live in a very dry area, you can moisten the grass by spraying it with water before placing it in the terrarium or briefly wetting it under a stream of tap water.
Grasshoppers do not like excessive humidity. A few wet leaves may not be a problem, but a damp terrarium will cause problems. Make sure the substrate is not wet and remove grass that is not eaten regularly
Step 3. Avoid insecticides
Try getting food for grasshoppers from places you are sure are free of insecticides and other pesticides because the grasshoppers can die if they ingest them. If you take food from the garden, make sure the area is not sprayed with insecticides/pesticides.
In general, if you're harvesting grass from a place where no humans work (such as abandoned vacant lots overgrown with weeds), you don't have to worry about insecticides
Step 4. Remove any uneaten and dry grass residue
You can feed more than the grasshopper can eat because of its large appetite. However, to keep your terrarium healthy and dry, you'll need to remove any wilted and dry grass/leaves as soon as you see it. Replace it with fresh food at least once a day.
Be aware that grasshoppers also eat at night. So, make sure there is a supply of food in the terrarium at all times
Tips
- You can buy grasshoppers at your local pet store if you have trouble finding the grasshoppers. Many shops provide grasshoppers as food for some reptiles. So, you can buy it at a very cheap price.
- If you want to give grasshoppers something other than grass, try leafy greens like lettuce or celery. However, don't forget to give him the food he usually eats in large quantities.
