Considering starting a roach colony

[intrepidus6]

I am considering the possibility of starting a roach colony as feeders. Anyone got any info for me about what kind of roach to get, and how to care for them, etc.?

Also if you are interested in selling any or know of a website that sells them that will be helpful.

-Thanks!

_edit: meant to put this on "insects and other invertebrates" can a mod move it for me please?

 

[sweetmisery]

B. dubia. I got 12 of them(1 dying on arrival and died a few hours later) for free when I bought 5 Ts from a Tarantula seller. He sells them for $2 per sub-adult, or $10 for 30 babies.

After 2 months of feeding dog food and vegetables, they are doing fine. One just sprouted wings yesterday and officially becoming an adult male.

As of why they are good - they dont smell, they cant climb nor fly.

 

[Takumaku]

It depends on what you will be feeding since feeder roaches come in all shapes and sizes. Do want a climbing or non-climbing roach specie? Egg laying or live bearing, etc. Easy to sex (tell the difference between males/females).

Alot of people like dubias, but I'm not one of them. My scorps and tarantulas would ignore them. The frass also caused an allergic reaction to me.

I personally like fumigata (cuban burrowing roach) since they don't give me an allergic reaction, but everyone is different. Some people like discoid, while others like lobsters, orangeheads, hisser, etc.

My best advice is ask for a sample pack from James (blaberus.com) or Dave Grimms and see which roach you like best.

 

[intrepidus6]

I want a kind of roach that a red eared slider turtle, praying mantis, babycurus jacksoni scorpion, and (maybe) h. arizonensis scorpion will eat.

I would like a kind of roach that does not require a substrate. As far as climbing or non climbing, doesn't matter as I plan on useing a lid either way, and all my pets have a lid on their cages.

Don't know about egg baring vs. live birth, what are the advantages and disadvantages?

One that has wings or not depending on gender, or is easy to sex in some other way is definitely a plus, but not required.

-thanks

And also could someone please move this to insects and other invertebrates?

 

[REAL]

I am considering the possibility of starting a roach colony as feeders. Anyone got any info for me about what kind of roach to get, and how to care for them, etc.?

Also if you are interested in selling any or know of a website that sells them that will be helpful.

-Thanks!

_edit: meant to put this on "insects and other invertebrates" can a mod move it for me please?

Colin really hooked me up with a fantastic one time deal of 100 roaches (mixed sizes with over a dozen adults) of discoidis and dubias. I personally like the discoidis more cause they're more attractive, the males look WAYYYY better than the dubia males lol.

All for $15, if he's reading this thanks again Colin, I'm so glad I bought my roaches from you, 100 plus with NO deaths!

Anyway, first off, what are u feeding? If I were you I'd either get discoidis or dubias. Lobsters can climb and oh man did I have a bad memory with hissers raiding my house, everytime I move some stuff around its like the house is scolding me....hissers can climb too thats why.

You can find very awesome caresheets here...but honestly they're all sorta universal, once u read one you sorta read them all...

ROACH CARESHEETS

I'd say if you're buying it. Get a few adults too, it'll definately boost the colony exponentially. I good deal is about 50 nymphs mixed size for 10-15 bucks, at least thats in my opinion as I shop around a lot and I'm a cheapskate sometimes. Later man!

 

[intrepidus6]

I want a kind of roach that a red eared slider turtle, praying mantis, babycurus jacksoni scorpion, and (maybe) h. arizonensis scorpion will eat.

That's what I'm feeding. ^

I found somone who is selling 500 discoidis for only $50 including overnight shipping, I'm probably gonna do that.

 

[REAL]

That's what I'm feeding. ^

I found somone who is selling 500 discoidis for only $50 including overnight shipping, I'm probably gonna do that.

HA thats awesome then! Um....however, I think 500 discoidis is too much for the stuff you listed there. Sorta overkill unless you plan to get A LOT more roach eating inverts....

I have 8 centipedes and one tarantula that like to eat everyday, but even with 100 roaches I think I'm gonna have too many later in the future. So watch out! Your colonies might start off slow (well with 500 discoidis lmao!) but its gonna explode later so I'm pretty certain you're going to have to put quite an effort in depopulating your tank.

 

[vvx]

The easy way to slow down growth is to reduce temperature. So if you start getting too many and you're using a heat lamp or whatever just use it less. Or sell off extras, or freeze them.

 

[intrepidus6]

I'm sorry, I made a mistake I meant to say 500 blatta lateralis for $50, not discoidis. And I plan to sell off extras, get a little money in the process!

 

[REAL]

I'm sorry, I made a mistake I meant to say 500 blatta lateralis for $50, not discoidis. And I plan to sell off extras, get a little money in the process!

Lol wish u luck come back and tell us how it goes

Back to watching my show! YAY! Sure beats tv.

 

[intrepidus6]

So do you think blatta lateralis are a good roach for feeders? And do you think it will be easy to find people to buy them when I end up with a surplus?

 

[REAL]

So do you think blatta lateralis are a good roach for feeders? And do you think it will be easy to find people to buy them when I end up with a surplus?

They're sorta like a version of the lobster roach, except they can't climb. From what I read, they breed very fast and should be a pretty good feeder roach. However, also from what I read, they are pretty fast so you got to watch out. To me they sound like a better choice then lobster roaches.

I'll let you research the rest, about whether it be easy or hard to find ppl that'll buy them I don't know, I'm also very new to roaches as well so I'm leaving the rest to someone of more experience.

Here

Here's A PDF