Crickets or Hoppers!

[Paul]

These are the pics I mentioned - taken back in 2008.

 

I need to ask my niece's son for some new stock from his pet shop. These were from a pet shop in town destined to be eaten by snakes and such, but I rescued them, and afterwards, released them by the canal near our house!

 

 

 

Enjoy.

 

Paul.

[Leon]

damn good Paul..

 

I have a Gecko, maybe time for some "food" to escape into a spare tank I have..

[annie]

Smashing pictures Paul. If you had not said they are crickets I would have thought they were locust..

 

Are they native to here, if not would they survive and would they cause any harm to our own?

[Paul]

damn good Paul..

 

I have a Gecko, maybe time for some "food" to escape into a spare tank I have..

 

Thanks Leon - give it a go - I'm sure the gecko won't miss a nibble...

 

Smashing pictures Paul. If you had not said they are crickets I would have thought they were locust..

 

Are they native to here, if not would they survive and would they cause any harm to our own?

 

Thanks Annie.

 

They may be crickets, or hoppers, or locusts. I just googled pet food and one that appeared was the "Shistocerca gregaria" which is a hopper. Possibly what these were I was photographing - but to be honest, I'd be hard pushed to be able to tell the difference!

 

Paul.

[Paul]

PS Annie, I don't know if they would have survived, but it was a better option than being eaten... 

 

 

Paul.

[JohnP]

Taken back in 2008... may I ask what camera and lens you used, I had nothing in my armoury back then that could have taken shots as good as these... even if I had I still couldn't have got results like this then... or now for that matter.

[Paul]

Thank you kindly John, much appreciated.

 

 

These were all taken on the Canon EOS 400D, using a Sigma 105 macro lens (and maybe extension tubes too). All done indoors, so controllable to a large extent. The critters were sold to me ar about 1/3rd their usual price as they were "old" stock and wouldn't be moving much fast enough to be live food, so being slow, meant easy to photograph once all set up.

 

Paul.

[JohnP]

That's funny... I've just checked over my old 400D and charged a couple of batteries, although I use my 60D nearly all the time I like to use the 400D occasionally. Next week I'll take it for an outing, I've just put my 70-300mm lens on it and I'll use it for any long shots and use the wide angle or macro on my 60D. Sometimes I'd rather change cameras than change lenses in the field.

[Kobione]

Brilliant, Paul - your usual fantastic close up standard!!

[Paul]

Thanks Dee - these are 6 years old, so all is good from then, then 

 

 

Paul.

[NannyFerret]

Fantastic detail!  
I couldn't have pets that would eat live food.  It's different when they are in the wild and have to eat live  insects etc. to survive.

[Paul]

Thanks Tina.

 

Our cat eats Whiskas, Felix, and Gourmet. But I bet he's had a fair share of the local mouse and bird population too, lol..

 

Paul.

[Black Pearl]

The bairn keeps these as pets, he's got about 40 in a terrarium thingy in his bedroom.

[Paul]

The bairn keeps these as pets, he's got about 40 in a terrarium thingy in his bedroom.

Perfect camera fodder then. I'd be going round if I are you BP!

Paul.

[Black Pearl]

I keep meaning to put the thing into the conservatory so it gets a bit more light and having a go....one of these days.

[Paul]

You'll need one out of the tank if possible. But be prepared to chase it if it leaps away - they can move a long way and very quickly. I was lucky, mine were lethargic.

Paul.

[Black Pearl]

Sod that - its bad enough when he buys a new box and we try to get them into the tank without them getting out.

[Paul]

Sod that - its bad enough when he buys a new box and we try to get them into the tank without them getting out.

 

Just store them somewhere cool for a while before emptying the container. They'll soon warm up and leap into death!  

 

 

Paul.

[ChrisLumix]

Pssst. Paul, word reaches me that there's a snake - a very narked snake - looking for you. Apparently it's muttering something about getting its supper one way or another, size is no object..

[Paul]

LOL... Good job I'm bigger than a crocodile then. Oh - that's not big enough for some snakes, lol....

 

 

Paul.

[NannyFerret]

Thanks Tina.

 

Our cat eats Whiskas, Felix, and Gourmet. But I bet he's had a fair share of the local mouse and bird population too, lol..

 

Paul.

Ah, Yes! But you don't dangle a live mouse in front of it to eat, do you?

I have had many mice and birds brought to my doorstep by one or the other of our cats when we had them. That's their nature and I accept that.

[Paul]

No I don't dangle any - the wife won't let me, heehee 

 

 

Paul.