I caught 8 Paratettix sp. in west Illinois today. I set them up in a terrarium with sand, rocks, and grasses. I've observed 1 mating and feeding on algae. No pics because of their smallness. I figured I'd start a thread on these little-known buggers.

Interesting.
Every time I look into breeding orthoptera I always set them up wrong.

I've bred field crix many times, as with grasshoppers. My main problem is with the young, keeping them in an escape-free, humidity-controllable container. Hopefully these more terrestrial grasshoppers are as easy as crickets.

Really interesting! What are you feeding them? Did you provide molting surfaces or do these do fine without them?

All are adults, but I'm assuming the young (if I get any) will be able to molt off the grasses or taller rocks. They've eaten none of the planted plants, but lots of algae and some green bean. Today I saw several abdomen-sized holes in the ground, so I'm hoping it's evidence of oviposition. The males ride the females for hours, maybe to double their camouflage effectiveness?

Seen some larger holes in the sand, and lots of matings. Had one death, a male. They seem to like fish food a lot.

Update August 3:
The remaining 6 are still very vigorous. There are still oviposition holes being made, and they seem fond of dead grasses.