Grasshoppers can be a great replacement for crickets in many reptiles’ diets, though breeding them is more difficult and more time intensive. For many pet owners, this extra work is well worth it, as grasshoppers have advantages over crickets. Aside from being larger than most crickets and therefore better suited to larger reptiles, grasshoppers also have the advantage of not fearing light. This means that grasshoppers are unlikely to hide under rocks or in crevices.
Preparing the Enclosure - Clean and dry a medium-sized aquarium with a fitted screen top. A 20-gallon or larger aquarium should be suitable.
Place a heating pad under the enclosure and attach an incandescent light to the top. The heating pad will need to stay on 24 hours a day, but the light is only necessary during the day. Place a vivarium thermometer in the enclosure to ensure that you are maintaining a temperature between 83 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Observe the grasshoppers to see when they lay eggs. Once you notice the females have begun to lay egg parcels, wait a week and remove the mulch substrate to a small, lidded container and replace the mulch in the grasshopper container.
Keep the hatchling grasshoppers separate from the adults until they are matured, about three to four weeks.