feeding beetle to crested?

[Madortoise]

Hey people,
Can I feed the orange and black beetles I see everywhere in my backyard to my crested geckos? I believe they are this kind:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/138391/bgimage
I normally feed mine Repashy superfoods CGD most of the time and 1x or 2x/wk calcium dusted crickets. Oh--They love love love the crickets but ants also love them, too, so I can buy very small amount at a time. I wouldn't want to feed roaches. What do you think? Beetles--yes or no? Where would I look to see if they are good or bad?

 

[Tom]

I wouldn't risk it. Some of those beetles are pretty toxic and others have a noxious smell to deter predators. Often in nature, those bright colors are a signal to predators that says, "Don't eat me. I'm toxic and I taste bad."

 

[Madortoise]

You're probably right, Tom. I think it's actually this one since I see colony of them where as other one is reportedly more solitary.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/316 I won't feed them unless I know for certain they won't hurt my crested.

Tom, what about isopods? They seem harmless?
According to a few blogs/websites, I could.

 

[Tom]

I've heard of people feeding those out, but I've never done it myself. I know box turtles will gobble them up whenever possible too. I can't tell you whether they are safe or not, but I'd feed that before I'd feed a brightly colored beetle. Really, just to be safe, I only feed insects from known feeder sources. I've never been a fan of feeding wild caught bugs. So much risk. There are so many good species that are readily available. It just doesn't seem wort it to risk something so precious as a crested gecko. How come you don't like roaches? They work really well for all of my insectivores and I've got many different sizes.

 

[Madortoise]

Why don't I like them roaches? Well...I'm afraid if they escape, I may have infestation at my house. Some crickets have escaped and co-habitated with us for a while but they didn't multiply and it was actually pleasant to hear them sing at night.
I am thinking of catching a bunch of sowbugs and having them go through cleaning diet.
Here you go. I'm inspired by this post... http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatr...-as-food-for-captive-reptiles-and-amphibians/

 

[Tom]

Great site.

One of the many benefits of roaches is that most of the species used, like Blaptica dubia, are very tropical and WON'T survive for very long outside of their warm humid bin, unlike crickets. Their babies will desiccate and die pretty quickly in a normal house. Unless you live in South Florida or Louisiana...

 

[Madortoise]

Great site.

One of the many benefits of roaches is that most of the species used, like Blaptica dubia, are very tropical and WON'T survive for very long outside of their warm humid bin, unlike crickets. Their babies will desiccate and die pretty quickly in a normal house. Unless you live in South Florida or Louisiana...

Good to know....perhaps some day since I'm in so-cal w/relatively dry weather....

 

[Madortoise]

Can one of you mods change the title of this thread to different bugs to feed?