Best Small Feeder Roaches (Besides Red Runners)

[ReignofInvertebrates]

As someone who has used crickets for most of their invert keeping career, I’ve grown tired of dealing with the many flaws they have as feeders. I’m looking for a small species of roach that can form a self-sustaining colony to replace them. I was going to start a colony of red runners, but it seems they have a lot of extra requirements (heat sources) and are not the most reliable when it comes to random die-offs. Are there any other small species of roach that would be a better option?

 

[DomGom TheFather]

There are other options.
But runners are the best in my opinion.
You could try Surinam roaches but they burrow.
Lobsters but they climb.
Dubias are good but the adults are too large for most smaller spiders and slings. Plus they burrow and play dead.
There Is a whole world out there but the Turkistan work very well for most applications.

 

[Introvertebrate]

Never heard of lats having any special requirements.

 

[mechchic84]

I recently picked up a small package of red runners at a reptile expo and I really like them. I haven't had them very long, but i feel like they are a lot better than dubias because dubias aren't very active. Most of the creatures I keep tend to ignore the dubias unless I poke at them to make them move and even then, they tend to dig pretty quickly so I find myself trying to dig them up because once they dig down, you won't see them again. My A. seemanni enclosure has one in the bottom center of the enclosure and I'm not about to go in there poking around to get it out.

Both of my roach enclosures have buffalo beetle clean up crews. Those guys are pretty amazing at cleaning up after roaches. I love seeing them cleaning up all of the junk in there that roaches tend to make.

One warning though, red runners cannot climb glass, but they can climb the strip of sealant at the corners of most aquariums, so keep an eye on them once you put them in the enclosure for feeding.

As far as I'm aware, I don't think they need any special care, but I don't have enough animals large enough to eat up my whole colony at this point anyways.

 

[ReignofInvertebrates]

I recently picked up a small package of red runners at a reptile expo and I really like them. I haven't had them very long, but i feel like they are a lot better than dubias because dubias aren't very active. Most of the creatures I keep tend to ignore the dubias unless I poke at them to make them move and even then, they tend to dig pretty quickly so I find myself trying to dig them up because once they dig down, you won't see them again. My A. seemanni enclosure has one in the bottom center of the enclosure and I'm not about to go in there poking around to get it out.

Both of my roach enclosures have buffalo beetle clean up crews. Those guys are pretty amazing at cleaning up after roaches. I love seeing them cleaning up all of the junk in there that roaches tend to make.

One warning though, red runners cannot climb glass, but they can climb the strip of sealant at the corners of most aquariums, so keep an eye on them once you put them in the enclosure for feeding.

As far as I'm aware, I don't think they need any special care, but I don't have enough animals large enough to eat up my whole colony at this point anyways.

The main reason I avoided red runners is because I've read that they won't readily reproduce unless the ambient temperature is 80 degrees or more. Also a lot of people have reported having trouble keeping the moisture levels right. I might give them a try anyways, they're just the right size for what I need them for.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

They are very easy to keep.
So much so that you should be concerned if any get loose. Lol

 

[Arthroverts]

The main reason I avoided red runners is because I've read that they won't readily reproduce unless the ambient temperature is 80 degrees or more. Also a lot of people have reported having trouble keeping the moisture levels right. I might give them a try anyways, they're just the right size for what I need them for.

Those may just be flukes (locality of said specimens may come into play), as Red Runners can absolutely explode in numbers at lower temperatures. Moisture isn't too much of an issue so long as you keep a handle on it. I would say there are far more success stories that you don't hear about than failures that you do; just ask @octanejunkie.

I have heard of Pycnoscelus sp. being used, but they burrow. I would recommend looking through this page (for info not to buy) to find feeder species and then researching the ones you like further.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[lazarus]

The main reason I avoided red runners is because I've read that they won't readily reproduce unless the ambient temperature is 80 degrees or more. Also a lot of people have reported having trouble keeping the moisture levels right. I might give them a try anyways, they're just the right size for what I need them for.

They reproduce at room temperature but at a much slower rate. You can place the roach bin somewhere with direct sunlight exposure to get some extra heat inside but the easiest way is to just stick a small heat mat (I use 5W, no thermostat is needed for that since it won't get hot enough to melt plastic) the ones sold for seed germination work well.
Lobster roaches (Nauphoeta cinerea) breed probably a bit better at room temperature but they climb so you'll need to apply a barrier at the top of the container that you'll need to reapply periodically (petroleum jelly is the most used but I've heard liquid teflon also works and lasts longer). Also you'll need to make sure the lid fits securely on the container in case they get past the barrier the small nymphs can escape through any small gaps between the lid and the container.

 

[wizentrop]

A *small* feeder species? Loboptera decipiens. Easiest cockroach I've ever kept in my life.

 

[pannaking22]

Little Kenyans would work. I don't offer mine any supplemental heating (and there's none in general in my bug room, temps in the low 70s I think) and they reproduce like crazy. So much so that I split composting duties between them and my Eublaberus. As long as they have things to hide under/in and a little bit of substrate at the bottom to help hold humidity they do really well.

 

[octanejunkie]

Managing humidity and heat are key and relatively easy. B lateralis will optimally breed, and grow, at 80-85° F and with about an 1 of sub you can mist once daily to keep them rolling and keep mold in check. Just don't let food go fetid in the bin.

I use a regular heating pad for humans on a timer for 6 hours a day and use a lamp dimmer to trim to optimal temp. It's easy.

 

[Bob Lee]

Surinam