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 #1906481


Computerkid26
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 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

My apology that this topic has come up a number of times but I have been buying and breeding crickets for my Emperor scorpion and I found that it took too much work and time too breed them. I’m thinking of buying roaches and start breeding them.

I’m tired of breeding and buying crickets because I hate picking them up. I’m totally fine with the little one that are not fully develop but the adult one scare the hell out of me; I’m also scare whenever I tried to pick them up and they jumps around. Also I know that they are not getting enough nutrition but all I feed them are crush oatmeal so cannibalism among them are quite high and whenever I open up the bin to take out the dead one, they smelled really bad. Further more I find the whole breeding process to be bothersome because it takes too long (usually 2-3 week for eggs to hatched and in my case where my room’s temperature fall into the 70s during night, take about 2 months for the pinheads to grown into adults) and you have to periodically check the soil to make sure the eggs are not drying up.


1. Are roach easier to breed than cricket? What are some common types of roaches for feeder? Are they excellent climber?

2. Anyone here living in the San Francisco Bay Area know where to buy roaches? In my area they have Petco and Pet Club but I know they don’t have roaches so I would be appreciated if anyone could help me on his. I’m trying to avoid online ordering until last resort. Thanks you everyone. Have a great Thanksgiving.



11/29/08  07:00am

 #1906525


Manderzratz
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   Message To: Computerkid26   In reference to Message Id: 1906481


 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

i have dubia roaches. WAY easier to breed. don’t smell, chirp, climb, or fly. dubias, lobsters, and orange head are some of the more common feeder roaches used.

if you don’t want online ordering, i’d try a reptile show.

adult male-



adult female-
11/29/08  10:02am

 #1907352


Computerkid26
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   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1906525


 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

Very cool. I’ve posted up Craiglist Ad for feeder roaches around my area and if not I’ll probably just order them online.
12/01/08  02:10am

 #1908178


Computerkid26
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   Message To: Computerkid26   In reference to Message Id: 1907352


 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

Yeah...Finally I just bought 100 mix sizes of Dubia roaches. I know they eat vegetable, fruit and dog food. I don’t want to buy those cricket water crystals because I’m on a tight budget. How do you provide water for them? Also do you suppose to mist their cage to get it moist because the roach container where I bought it from was pretty moist inside when I took them out?



12/02/08  07:00pm

 #1908218


Manderzratz
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   Message To: Computerkid26   In reference to Message Id: 1908178


 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

i take a baby food lid and a piece of tp and give ’em brita water by soaking the tp and sitting it in the lid. i also give them a nice big piece of romaine (like 1/4 leaf) on the floor of the tub near the water lid. i change both daily and mine thrive.

i crush up their food as they eat more that way. i feed mine cricket food, natural balance dog food, harlan teklad rat food, natural gold ferret food, shrimp pellets, bottom feeder tablets, and pasta. i have everything normally anyway so it’s easy enough.

also the temp in the cage should be 83-93 or so for optimal breeding. the humidity i keep between 45-70%. i try to keep it 55-70% preferably so that molting is simple enough for them.
12/02/08  07:45pm

 #1908222


Manderzratz
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   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1908218


 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

oh and don’t use them for feeding. you need to leave ’em be for at least 3-4 weeks so your colony can thrive and grow. once that’s done though, you’ll have a nice steady flow of roaches of all sizes.
12/02/08  07:48pm

 #1908445


Computerkid26
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   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1908222


 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

Thanks Manderzratz. I still have two questions for ya.

1. So their tank is supposed to be medium-high in humidity right? If so how do you maintain the level of humidity, by misting the cage daily and can’t that create mold problem?

2. The tank is inside my room and at night here in SF Bay Area the temperature is around 71F. Too cold for them I suppose. Currently I have a ZooMed under tank heater under the tank but the temperature inside the tank barely rises at all. How do you keep the cage so warm?



12/03/08  04:18am

 #1908513


Manderzratz
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   Message To: Computerkid26   In reference to Message Id: 1908445


 Abandoned crickets. Considering roaches.

1. misting won’t if you remember one thing. keep their food dry. unless your house is really dry, doing the water and damp romaine should help and their is naturally high humidity at 90 or so degrees. otherwise, if the humidity range can not be reached misting once or twice (or as needed daily) might be an option. or maybe a habba mist or something similar? i have mine in a 38 gallon sterilite tub so the food is on one side and the water and misting on the other.

2. the temps you have are barely what they need to live. just remember to NEVER let it drop under 68-69 degrees. i use a che. the only thing is it makes the tank a lot drier. i live in a basement with high humidity so it doesn’t affect it too badly. i use a 60 watt 18" from the bottom and my tank stays at 83-87 degrees. you might be best with a blue/black night time bulb or something to throw out a good amount of heat. also get a digital thermometer/hygrometer like for herps. i place it on the floor facing up in the middle and check it once or twice daily. they don’t bother it and it’s convenient to just glance in and be like alright good temps.
12/03/08  10:33am


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