I have limited space for my big BST cage (it's pretty big and bulky), but I do have another one (they're actually flexible cat/dog carriers) to use, it's just a matter of finding the room for it. I have GF cats on my new passiflora vine, and I'd like to try bringing some in. I only have one BST cat right now, but I know I'll be finding more soon. Can I raise them in the same crate, or would they be unhappy?
Can you raise BST and GF cats in the same cage?
I have raised both the same cage before, but I have a big cage. As long as they don't eat all of their food, and get on the other one's plants (which they shouldn't do anyway), they should be OK.
Mark
I like to use the small Gladware containers for ease in keeping them cleaned out and to make sure I don't loose a whole group to a virus spread by one. Here is my set up.
I cut the tops use a close weave material, floral foam in the bottom of a pudding cup.
They crawl up on the sides of the Gladware just fine and do their chrysalis. You can easily peel the webbing off and pin it on to styrofoam in a emerging cage. Wash that container and you are ready to go again.
Thanks Mark and Sheila! I hadn't thought of the virus issue. But Sheila, I haven't quite got your method straight: While your cats are maturing, do you stand your plastic containers up on end? Where do you get that meshy stuff? And how many cats do you raise in one container? I have just always used my big animal carrier, which has mesh sides; once they start roaming, before they pupate, they have that huge space. In those little containers, they would just have a tiny space to roam, no? I wish I could visit other butterfliers, to SEE their methods, everyone does it differently!
Yes we all have adapted what works for us. I do mine a lot like what Debnes showed me last year. She had lost a lot to parasite wasp when having a group cage; and switched to the smaller ones. Check out the "sticky" at the top of this forum for a lot of info on how others do it and what works or doesn't work. I just get material from cloth store that has a mesh with tighter weave than tule does. Yes, they always sit on the side so they are taller. I use Glad Press n'Seal to wrap the wet floral foam in btw.
As for the number of cats, when they are small first and second instar, they are fine with 6 or so per cage. After they get larger and eat more they need more room and may fight over food. I never keep more than two adults per cage, preferably one.
My DH has put a series of 3" shelves in the plant shed where I can stand them up on end. They can't be in a window, because they would cook in the sun; but the light from a window is great.
Good info, thanks Ms Sheila....