Feeder options. Red runners?

[Phases]

I had read that dubia roaches were super nutricious feeders, didn't stink climb fly or die easy, so I grabbed a bag if 100 medium and started a colony which has grown and is doing great. But, as we know, it turns out they are a real pain to feed with regularly.

Ok so, what's next? I don't want to use crickets regularly. Red runners? Are these pretty similar in care and non-stink, etc, and colonizable?

And, can you recommend a good place to buy?

Other feeder options, rate to feed etc, discussion would be appreciated I was under impression one good size dubia was about 5 crickets worth, for example. Just going off what I have read people here feed. ("10 crickets or 2 roaches a week" for example.) I do realize it is different per size and specimen that you are feeding and feeding TO, of course..

 

[Randomjoe]

I don't have red runners (S. lateralis) but have been considering them for some time. From everything I've seen and read they can be very prolific and do have a smell, but its supposed to be much less than crickets. I've seen them kept similar to dubia but higher humidity for the Ooths can help. Also if not feed enough protein in their diet they may cannibalize. Size is similar to crickets so it sould be a 1 for 1 replacement. As for other choices are you just wanting non climbers or are climbing species ok 2?

 

[Jones0911]

I had read that dubia roaches were super nutricious feeders, didn't stink climb fly or die easy, so I grabbed a bag if 100 medium and started a colony which has grown and is doing great. But, as we know, it turns out they are a real pain to feed with regularly.

Ok so, what's next? I don't want to use crickets regularly. Red runners? Are these pretty similar in care and non-stink, etc, and colonizable?

And, can you recommend a good place to buy?

Other feeder options, rate to feed etc, discussion would be appreciated I was under impression one good size dubia was about 5 crickets worth, for example. Just going off what I have read people here feed. ("10 crickets or 2 roaches a week" for example.) I do realize it is different per size and specimen that you are feeding and feeding TO, of course..

This guy has great red runners, I've brought a thousand and they're doing fine.


https://www.aaronpauling.com/collections/non-climbing-roaches/products/1000-large-rusty-reds

 

[Phases]

Climbing is good, fine with me. Just looking for options that are less of a pita to feed, and would prefer something that doesn't stink too bad. I've got a couple arboreals so I pity the fool that heads upward..

 

[ErinM31]

Red runners are great! Mine went through a period of dormancy over the winter, but outside of that they eat, grow and breed with gusto! I started my colony with a group I purchased from BugsInCyberspace last October. I do not think the roaches have an odor. Their enclosure has a bit of one just from the substrate being a bit damp and I put some greens in there -- nothing bad and I have springtails with them to keep any mold in check. They are easy to care for and propagate and all my T's love them!

 

[Phases]

1000, wow! Do u keep them similiar to dubias?

 

[Phases]

substrate huh? hmm. Can you post a picture or two of your setup to house them, @ErinM31 ?

 

[Phases]

aaronpauling is out, and bugsincyberspace - are they called 'red runners' on there?

 

[Jones0911]

1000, wow! Do u keep them similiar to dubias?

I just feed em(cricket quencher and high calcium cricket diet food), a few places to hide and they do just fine....no real difference from dubias just a different Roach breed.

 

[Randomjoe]

Should be listed under 1 of these names
Red Runner
Turkestan
Rusty Red
Shelfordella lateralis ( Blatta lateralis)
lats
they go by all these names and probly a few more lol

 

[Phases]

wow lol ok, will check. Thanks!

 

[Phases]

Found:

http://shop.bugsincyberspace.com/Turkistan-Roaches-25-count-bic257.htm

Three problems - 1. Wow those are pricey!! 2. Out of stock, and 3. I'm in Tennessee

I will dig around the internets to see what I can find.

 

[Randomjoe]

could hit up roachforum.com and put a looking for add up in classifieds or on here. could also try capecodroaches.com or roachcrossing.com. I think roachcrossing.com is clossed till july 10th thogh

 

[Randomjoe]

MWAInverts used to sell them here and has a facebook page but not sure if he still does, but he used to have pretty good prices if he's still doing it

 

[jaycied]

Jamie's Ts sells red runners in small quantities, not quite enough to start a colony. As far as feeders red runners are my favorites, as dubia tend to play dead. However, I think I'll stick with breeding dubia as they are more nutritious at least for my reptiles I feed them to, and they get larger.

 

[Phases]

I have sent a message to http://capecodroaches.com/ - will let you know how it goes!

 

[Trenor]

What feeding problems are you having with the dubias?

I use the crumble laying mash as a base. Add in 1 gallon of the cheapest protein powder I can find on amazon and a bag of the cheap no name brand frosted flakes blinded down to powder. Makes a little over 25-27 lbs of food I store up in 5 gallon buckets to use as I need. It lasts a pretty long time even with my big colony.

From there I just have plastic food bowel (I scuff them up inside and out with rough sandpaper so they can climb it easily) and I fill it up and they eat. Once a week I put in a orange cut into 4ths and let them eat that down. They breed like crazy and eat great.

 

[Phases]

Well, it's feeding them to the Ts I find a PITA

 

[Trenor]

Well, it's feeding them to the Ts I find a PITA

Ahhh, I thought you meant feeding them.

I haven't had trouble on that front either. Crush the heads and throw them in somewhere. All my Ts get them and eat great.

Good luck with the runners. At their adult size they could climb out the air holes on several of my big T enclosures not to mention the potential they have for escape from the breeding box. I personally wouldn't keep them as I like my home pest free and they can breed without help in our temp zone pretty easily.

 

[Phases]

Every time I've tried the crush head technique they seem to keel over in five!