How to Raise Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers can be good food sources for lizards and birds. Instead of buying them every time your lizard is hungry, you might want to raise them yourself. Although they're a little more difficult to maintain than some other insects, there are a few easy steps for maintaining and raising hoppers for your lizard's dinner.

Things You'll Need

  • Jar or aquarium with lid (approx. 1 gallon)
  • Heat source
  • Sand (approx. 1 cup)
  • Food (lettuce, plants, for example)
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare your grasshopper cage. It should have a lid, so grasshoppers can't jump out. Put sand in a cup and moisten. Sand should always be kept moist but not soggy. Place the cage near your light source -- light should be available for about 16 hours a day. Grasshoppers need to stay warm.

    • 2

      Release your grasshoppers into the cage. You can either buy grasshoppers at your local supply shop or catch them in your garden. Thoroughly wash the food you're going to feed them, to remove any pesticides, and place it in the cage. Do not put water in the cage; grasshoppers will get their water from the food.

    • 3

      Clean the cage daily to keep it from smelling. Remove any uneaten food and waste, and put new food in.

    • 4

      Catch grasshoppers using a small container (i.e., pill bottle) to trap them, instead of using your fingers. If you grab a grasshopper by its leg, it could lose the leg and escape.

    • 5

      If your grasshoppers lay eggs in the sand, cover the sand with a jar and take it out of the cage. Place the sand close to a heat source until the eggs hatch.