I saw some grain mites in my domino roach enclosure last night and was wondering if anyone has used predatory mites in roach colonies. There hasn't been a bloom but I want to avoid one if I can. My concern is with the predatory mites attacking roach eggs or nymphs. I'm just getting this colony started and every individual is important. Any experience with such would be appreciated.
mites in the dominos
- Thread starter tjmi2000
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I've got pred mites in my Hisser and dubia tubs and grain mites don't have a chance in there. I even put a bunch of grain mites in there to see what would happen and they all got eaten. I don't know how they got in there but generations have sustained in there for 2 years. I could send you some if you want to try them. Just PM me if you want to try it.
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First I want to ask how you're keeping the T.petivariana?
Are you keeping them on dry substrate? These are a desert sp..
Second...I want some predatory mites, too!!!!
I would love to add some of these to our moist tanks....
Are you keeping them on dry substrate? These are a desert sp..
Second...I want some predatory mites, too!!!!
I would love to add some of these to our moist tanks....
I keep them on coconut bedding with dead leaves and rotten wood but I mist them regularly. If this is incorrect I will stop. Information is rather difficult to find on this species and I have looked. I always use a food dish and I only feed small amounts but sometimes the roaches drag food down into the substrate. I have a lot of inverts on coco bedding and really want to avoid the horror stories of billions of mites that I have read on here. Do you think the predatory mites would be helpful?
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First, make sure what you are seeing are grain mites which will stick in bundles to roaches and food. Many people think they have them but are really seeing cellulose mites which are harmless- these wander around everywhere without clinging to roaches and only in small numbers on the food.
Second- stop overfeeding your roaches. If they are grain mites then you are feeding too much. Therea sp. will feed on oak leaves quite a bit and do not necessarily need to be fed as often as B.dubia, Blaberus sp., G. portentosa, lobsters, etc.
Last- I have kept them moist and dry, with similar results as far as them being productive. If the substrate is lightly moist or dry and you mist them regularly, then you should be fine.
Second- stop overfeeding your roaches. If they are grain mites then you are feeding too much. Therea sp. will feed on oak leaves quite a bit and do not necessarily need to be fed as often as B.dubia, Blaberus sp., G. portentosa, lobsters, etc.
Last- I have kept them moist and dry, with similar results as far as them being productive. If the substrate is lightly moist or dry and you mist them regularly, then you should be fine.
Matt,
Your description of cellulose mites more closely describes what I saw in my roach colony. I think a lot of times people (including myself) see mites and freak out. I'm going to follow yours and Rochelle's advice and see what happens.
Thanx,
ted.
Your description of cellulose mites more closely describes what I saw in my roach colony. I think a lot of times people (including myself) see mites and freak out. I'm going to follow yours and Rochelle's advice and see what happens.
Thanx,
ted.
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Can you lead me to a site with info about cellulose mites? I only got two other hits with Goog and no info. I want to see what these look like.
I have been lucky with mites so far, and have always kept feedings spread out enough as to not allow a glut of food to develop in my roach bins. Since I breed for production, I do not use any substrate in my colonies.
Matt K is offering great advice about feedings....too often, people over feed, which leaves to much food in the roach bin. Add enough food for a days feeding, then give them 2-3 days without anything else (except water of course). This ensures that all the food is gone, and nothing gets built up. My colonies are massive, so my feeding interval is shorter than what Matt recommends. I do this, as I want to make sure every roach gets his lunch.
As a side note, just one of my dubia totes can eat over 1 pound of feed in a few hours. Needless to say, I clean their crap out frequently.
Matt K is offering great advice about feedings....too often, people over feed, which leaves to much food in the roach bin. Add enough food for a days feeding, then give them 2-3 days without anything else (except water of course). This ensures that all the food is gone, and nothing gets built up. My colonies are massive, so my feeding interval is shorter than what Matt recommends. I do this, as I want to make sure every roach gets his lunch.
As a side note, just one of my dubia totes can eat over 1 pound of feed in a few hours. Needless to say, I clean their crap out frequently.