American Cockroach as feeder?

[bananaman]

I was wondering if it would be possible to use the typical american cockroach (Periplaneta amedcana) as a feeder for Ts and scorps...

Im tired of the damn dying crickets and its impossible for me to get starter colonies of any roach in this country... so i thought it would be possible to catch some of these, breed them, and feed the second generation and on to my Ts and scorps (being that the first generation could be infected with insecticides or something)

Would that work? Bad idea? Let me know what you think... thanks...

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Well if you can get them to breed and all, then I don't see any problem as those roaches are bugs just like any other feeder bugs, I imagine.

I don't know that specific type of roach but if you can get it to breed then I guess you have your supply of T food ready. I once caught a tiny variety of roach that I tried to breed but they all died. I think for some reason they didn't like the food I was offering them, with other words they didn't go for the usual roach food for some reason.

 

[IguanaMama]

If you are talking about the ones found in apartements, it's just that the babies are really tiny and these are survivors, and do you really want to risk turning your beautiful Mexican home into a typical NYC apartment? BLEECH. It's hard to get rid of these things if they escape, is what I'm saying. AND, THEY SMELL WORSE THAN CRICKETS.

Note my location....

 

[bananaman]

If you are talking about the ones found in apartements, it's just that the babies are really tiny and these are survivors, and do you really want to risk turning your beautiful Mexican home into a typical NYC apartment? BLEECH. It's hard to get rid of these things if they escape, is what I'm saying. AND, THEY SMELL WORSE THAN CRICKETS.

Note my location....

You've got an excellent point there... thanks...

 

[Ronj]

If you are talking about the ones found in apartments, it's just that the babies are really tiny and these are survivors, and do you really want to risk turning your beautiful Mexican home into a typical NYC apartment? BLEECH. It's hard to get rid of these things if they escape, is what I'm saying. AND, THEY SMELL WORSE THAN CRICKETS.

Note my location....

I believe you are talking about 2 different roaches. The American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is about 1 1/2" long, and not commonly found in homes or apartments. The German Cockroach (Blattella germanica) is about 3/4" long, and is the roach that infests homes and apartments. The German Cockroach is a horrible little creature that gives all other roaches a bad name.

If you can breed the American Roach (by the way, I am so happy that we have a roach named after our country), I would think they would be just fine for your T's. As adults, the females live for about a year and can produce about 150 little roaches during that time. Once they reach maturity, they can fly.

 

[tmanjim]

actually, the ones mainly found in apartments are german cockroaches. they breed like crazy and could get out of control very fast. the american cockroach is a slower breeder with a hefty size although very wingy. if you are going in this direction, one of the more common large roaches would be the oriental roach. good size, smaller breeding numbers and kind of hefty. hope this helps.

 

[bananaman]

I am talking about this roach

And this is one the one that infests supermarkets, restaurants and homes, it is also the only one I've access to...

 

[Ronj]

German Cockroach

A single female lays 1 oothecae, and this will produce around 40 eggs.
In about 8 weeks, nymphal development is completed and 50% of these nymphs turn out to be females. Thats 20 for the mathematically challenged.
These females then lay 1 oothecae each.
This will give us 20 times 40 eggs which is 800.
Nymphal development is again in 8 weeks and again 50% are females.
These females lay 1 oothecae each.
This gives us 400 times 40 which is 16,000.
So after 9 months you have sixteen thousand cockroaches!

OK, please don't point out mortality rate and other assumptions. Regardless, this is a lot of roaches!

 

[Ronj]

I am talking about this roach

And this is one the one that infests supermarkets, restaurants and homes, it is also the only one I've access to...

I never thought I would say this, but that looks like the good roach!

 

[tmanjim]

yes the picture is the american roach. they breed in warm, damp dark places like sewers and sump pumps. they tend to gravitate into structures when there is a break in the line, or after a heavy rain when the area they live fills with water and they are forced out. generally they like the underground and have plenty of sustenance down there.

 

[IguanaMama]

OK, yes, now I remember, that is correct. The ones in my apartment are german roaches. I'd stay away from them, bleech. I have no opinion on the american ones, however, I might go down three or four generations to make sure they are parasite free as well as pesticide free if you are collecting them from restuarants. They do live in sewers, pipes, etc. We call them water bugs here because they come up from the pipes.

 

[ErikH]

The ones they call water bugs in Chicago are actually a different roach than the german one. I think they are also called asian cockroaches. They get bigger than german roaches, like 1.5" or thereabouts.

 

[james]

roaches

The three main pest species are #1 Blatella germanica, #2 Blatta orientalis, and #3 Periplaneta americana. These roaches can survive and reproduce in much harsher conditions that other roach species. Although many other species can survive colder temps for a while, none of them reproduce at these temps. With that said any roach could survive and breed if the country your in meets their requirements year round. Most tropical species cannot survive year round in North America and therefor are not considered pests. But you always have exceptions like Florida where many species can and will thrive because conditions favor them. I never suggest feeding wild caught insect, but roaches tend to be much cleaner than people think. There has never been any proof that they transmit disease and many entomologist think their feet contain antibacterial substances. Regardless there are many other species people like to use (dubia, discoids, lobsters) that will not give you the problems of the above mentioned pest species.
James
www.blaberus.com

 

[Code Monkey]

Americans (which, btw, are actually African in origin, go figure ) are not, generally, a true pest roach from the p.o.v. of urban entomology. They require a good water source to actually breed. If you have an actual infestation you A) live in Florida or B) have a water leak. Fix the water leak (or get out of FL) and any actual infestation comes to a halt. They are, however, common pests in steam tunnels, drainage sewer systems, old industrial basements, etc., and this makes them common *invaders* of homes (and since they're 1" -2" in length, people do tend to notice them).

They will breed readily in any sort of "large cockroach" setup but do not make that good of feeder:

1) The only roach with a stronger defensive odor imo is Orientals ime. I've reared 1000s of these guys in the lab, they stink plain and simple.

2) Their odor is manifested as a secreted oil that also, evidently, is repulsive to many predators.

 

[Beth-Tex]

Every once in a while I find one of those in my bathroom & I can smell it wayyyyyy before seeing it........when I walk in & smell it......I start looking & then, sure enough.....there it is......the biggest old cockroach....fast as all get out & yuckyyyyy.....those guys stink!!!

I found one not too long ago that was even bigger than my dubias.

Beth

 

[finman31]

heh heh heh I have them by the thousands in spring at my house.They are outside,but its creepy.They fly EVERYWHERE and there are so many on the ground that you cant help step on them.They come out of the sewers by my house and fill up our neighborhood for about 2 weeks every year,and only at night.Its creepy.There are for real thousands running on driveways,sidewalks,the road,trees,everywhere.People stay in till they leave!

 

[bananaman]

wow... thanks everyone, this has been helpful, informative and funny...

BUT... only a couple of people answered my real question... would they be good to feed to my Ts and scorps? i wouldnt see why not besides the pesticide/parasite issues that i could get rid of... then again, i prefer to ask and be sure before jeopardizing my pet's lives...

Any info on that would be real helpful...thanks again...

 

[Nlneff]

Ignoring pestacides, I would imagine they are pretty good feeders (well, as least as good as crickets anyway), IF

1. Your herps will eat them.
2. Your herps can catch them.

They are fast, tricky to catch, and as noted, they are true fliers. Not flutterers like some roaches, they fly very well.

 

[bananaman]

thank you... ill see how it goes... i really dont have much of a choice... its either this breeding option... or buying nasty loud short-lived crickets from the petstore... so i guess its worth a try...

 

[ROACHMAN]

American Cockroach !!!!!!!!

I been breeding these guys now for 49 years never met anything that did not eat them with relish !!! go for it they are very good feeders !! this one my biggest sellers to the hollywood movie world ,, shit even NASA sent then into space!!! what can I say expect oh yea baby :} :} :}