thorny devils

Bartman · 12-21-03, 10:57 PM

I find these guys so cool lookin. I was jst wondering if anyone had info on breeders and such. If you own one, what do you feed them..i believe the eat ants in the wild but large amounts of ants are hard to get

Thanks!

Dani33 · 12-21-03, 11:27 PM

Hi, I looked it up just because it's sounds interesting. I've seen them before on TV. I don't know how accurate this is but maybe it helps. http://centralpets.com/pages/critter.../LZD4440.shtml

Looks awesome, I wouldn't mind one!

Kyle Barker · 12-22-03, 01:06 AM

good luck. MAY be a few in europe, and ausie's probably keep em... Lots of info on em, but you wont find any here.

Edwin · 12-22-03, 09:17 AM

It will be almost impossible to get one here, beautiful animal though..

Bartman · 12-22-03, 02:53 PM

I remember seeing the member BAZ in one of the show photographs holding one that looked like he just purchased it. Anyone else know bout that?

Another question is since they eat a lot of ants, would you need to get an ant hill going??? That is what someone told me but they werent to educated on this specific species..any thoughts?

thansk for the replies!

Kyle Walkinshaw · 12-22-03, 03:05 PM

Those things eat close to 1000 tiny ants per day, making them next to impossible to feed in captivity and as already mentioned there are none in the Canadian pet trade

Bartman · 12-22-03, 03:06 PM

Couldnt you feed em pin heads?

V.hb · 12-22-03, 03:10 PM

theres something in ants they need to thrive though. I cant remember what it is, but they need it.

Hamster of Borg · 12-22-03, 03:17 PM

Most species that specialize in ants (namely horned lizards) do not do well in captivity or switched to other food sources and no one is really sure why. I'd be willing to bet that thorny devils are the same way. Unless you intend to be importing thousands of native Australian ants a week, chances are you'd never be able to keep it alive in captivity. I'm not even aware of any zoos in the US or Canada that have them.

Rav

Bartman · 12-22-03, 03:41 PM

ok so their deffinetly out of the question..thanks for the replies!
To bad, they look awsome.

Kyle Barker · 12-22-03, 09:11 PM

isnt it the formic acid that the horned liz's need? I know a lot of people keep them on harvester ants (horneds). i would of thought those wood ants (formica sp) would work great too.

Wuntu Menny · 12-22-03, 09:30 PM

The thorny devil ( Moloch horridus ) is likely THE most specialized ant feeder out there. They only feed on very specific species of Australian ants and from what I understand, do not take to captivity at all. Yes, it is the formic acid that makes the ant so vital to both the devils and North American horned lizards. Researchers are also finding that there are other, more subtle components to the ant's composition that the predators benefit from. For this reason, only certain types of ant are suitable to specific sp of lizards.

I've never heard of any captive devils anywhere, Oz included, and after working with horned lizards personally, I strongly advise against others attempting the same. I agree completely that these are fascinating and beautiful animals, but it seems that none of them adapt well at all to life in a cage.

Kyle: Yup. I tried Formica sp as well as Pogonomyrmex based on consultation with herpetologists specializing in the genus Phrynosoma and it didn't work. I'm content now to observe them in the field and let them do what they do best.

WM

KrokadilyanGuy3 · 12-22-03, 10:09 PM

To be specific..
Thorny Devils main ant diet are Iridomyrmex. The species of Iridomyrmex mostly found in Thornies are Iridomyrmex flavipes.
However, like the N.A. verisons they do eat other ant species and insects. As far as I know, which I am probably wrong, Iri's are only found in Australia and being how Native species can not be exported on normal circumstances and not very many people work with ants, much less Iri's.. Good luck on finding a supply.
That is if you find a legal animal. They are an endangered species.
According to a friend there are a few reptile farms/zoos in Oz keeping them and once I get an email from her, I will tell them to you.
Also C.C Spoon has written a book on keeping and breeding Thorny devils in captivity and has kept them for quite a few yrs.
As being a horned keeper/breeder as well, I honestly dont see any reason for someone who is honestly dedicated and legal not to keep them. Simply being if you can provide proper care and feeding. Also, call Antsalive.com and they will send you a queen if you provide proper paperwork from your state department but they only do this every so often. Or go out in April/may and collect several dozen winged harvesters and set them up in the proper enclosures and hope.
Xain

CHRISANDBOIDS14 · 12-22-03, 11:39 PM

Yah, Great lil guys. They are almost impossible to maintain properly though because they eat so many ants.

Silklady · 12-22-03, 11:54 PM

hi, just to let you know, rob and I own something like a thorny devil. I know that it eats many pinheads and really tiny silkworms, but upchucks butter worms. MMM butter mash! If you want more info on it email Rob at info@silkworms.ca
The critter is so cute! This breed I know for a fact that it does not shoot blood from its eyes. Sorry, i don't have any pics, But Rob might!
Silklady