new to B. dubia and B. lateralis

[skips]

I've cultured alot of bugs in my day, never roaches. I got about 20 dubias and 50 lateralis today. they're in 15 gallon tubs with wetted shaved coco bark as substrate (i know it's not necessary. was thinking of removing it), a few sheets of egg carton and we're feeding carrots, potatoes, and lettuce. They're both at mid 80's. So I have a few questions:

-should I put isopods or springtails in their to kill the smell?
-ive heard use %50 sand 50% sphagnum moss for the lateralis. no substrate for dubias
-Do they need dry cat food, or fish flakes? Which is better?

I would love any other insight people have on how to effectively culture these guys. If this is a completely redundant thread, please just direct me to where I can find info. I've already read alot, I just get rediculous when it comes to research and everybody seems like they have a different way of doing things. Thanks in advance!

 

[gvfarns]

Yeah. Choice is substrate is really not a big issue. Whatever is convenient. The purpose of the substrate is simply to help with the smell. And maybe keep the humidity up to help the egg cases hatch in the case of lateralis.

Most people use no substrate for roaches it seems, because it simplifies the cleaning process. Personally, I find that no substrate means big stink because all the waste they produce sits there and evaporates into the air. I use potting soil.

I have been talking about ways to cut the smell that does develop. Isopods have been suggested and I have heard people say they work well with the roaches. I haven't tried it personally. Though I may going forward because I really hate cleanup duty and roach frass.

Any of those foods are fine. Dog food, cat food, fish food. I prefer not to use fish food because it stinks. So do the others for that matter. I wish I had some chicken feed. If their food stinks, their frass stinks more. "roach food" that you buy online smells like fish guts, so I don't use it. Usually I put dry oatmeal in there for carbs and catfood for protein. Then the occasional fruit or veggie if I'm in the mood, which seldom happens.

Basically keep them warm, keep them hydrated. That's the big key. With lateralis there's a bit of an art to keeping it humid enough for the egg cases to do well without molding the place up. Perhaps peat is good because it's mold resistant.

So yeah, roaches aren't that complicated. They are not given to dying. Occasionally if you do stuff wrong they won't reproduce much. That's a downer, but then you fix things and they do. It's a good system.

BTW personally I prefer Blaberus roaches (I use bolivensis) to dubia since they are a bit more active in the tarantula cages (though their nymphs suck because they are always burrowing...deep), but you can make your own choice. Blatta lateralis are really my feeder of choice. The big roaches are more for fun and variety.

 

[CT9A]

I've found that a dish full of water crystals is better than substrate for humidity.

A few things that are bad about substrate as a source of humidity.

-Finding baby nymphs in substrate is a BIG pain, especially if you have a lot of hungry slings.

-Smell, if their frass (dry) combines with the humid substrate = a whole lot more stink.

-Mold, with the high humidity and with constant feeding, there is bound to be a few scraps of food left around somewhere, which will lead to mold and will require frequent clean ups.

-Cleaning, with more substrate and frass, it will become more than double the work required to clean out your colony.


I personally see no problem with keeping a colony dry, unless it is absolutely necessary(B. Lateralis), with each choice you pick, they come with pros and cons. The dry side comes with the most pros than cons (specifically to Blaptica, Blaberus spp).

As to Lateralis, I still find it to better to supply with a dish full of water crystals than substrate. Also if you use substrate, your lateralis will smell close or as much as crickets. If you do choose to use substrate, remember to provide ample ventilation, via holes or screened vents.

As to cat food or fish food, there isn't much to tell which is better for the roaches, so choose which fit best to your need, also try and experiment with your food choice to find the best way to fit to your roaches' specific needs.

 

[kupo969]

I wish I had some chicken feed.

Someone a while back posted that they used this and had GREAT success. I think it might had been Ryan (talkenlate) or someone else... I really don't remember. I assume it's low on calcium and high in protein?

 

[CT9A]

A lot of people use chicken feed, including me. I use it for the low smell and the great price. Around 10$ for a 50lb bag for me. If you do use chicken feed, get the unmedicated kind.

 

[skips]

A lot of people use chicken feed, including me. I use it for the low smell and the great price. Around 10$ for a 50lb bag for me. If you do use chicken feed, get the unmedicated kind.

I do plan on feeding these to reptiles too. Corn is pretty hard to digest for alot of them and thus ive heard it's not great to feed to roaches if you plan to feed to herps. Any thoughts? Thank you all for the help.

 

[CT9A]

I cannot help you with your question on that one, maybe someone experienced in feeding inverts to reptiles on this board may pop in. As far as I know, feeding roaches fed on chicken feed to other inverts (scorpions and tarantulas) have had no visible ill effects.

Best of luck on your question.

-It may also help if you post what kind of reptiles you plan to feed these roaches to.

 

[Matt K]

I would refer you to this site: www.roachforum.com

Much of that info is ready and waiting there. Also- don't use potatoes often, they increase the bad smells...

 

[JDHuskey]

My dubia don't like potatoes too much. they'll eat it all eventually but it takes them a lot longer than something they like.

 

[scottyk]

A couple of points from someone who keeps both....

I also prefer no substrate for both species, and do well this way. As the previous posts illustrate, both methods can work for Lats, and it comes down mostly to personal preference. On thing I've seen happen is those who live in really dry areas may need substrate to get a better hatch rate form thier lateralis egg cases.

If you are using a plastic tub, add some vaseline or bug stop to the lateralis container. They are technically "non climbers", but the small nymphs can climb plastic walls. I remember being shocked when I first got mine, and the little ones walked right up the wall of the 35g tub I put them in...

Gvfarms- Are you in an urban area whith no feed stores? PM me if you want a couple of pounds of the stuff. Send me $10 to cover Priority shipping and I'll just give it to you....

Scott

 

[elportoed]

If you are using a plastic tub, add some vaseline or bug stop to the lateralis container. They are technically "non climbers", but the small nymphs can climb plastic walls. I remember being shocked when I first got mine, and the little ones walked right up the wall of the 35g tub I put them in...

Gvfarms- Are you in an urban area whith no feed stores? PM me if you want a couple of pounds of the stuff. Send me $10 to cover Priority shipping and I'll just give it to you....

Scott

Yeah, I found out that lateralis can climb walls with relatively smooth surface. So I now use vaseline on the lip, and double container (put the one with the roaches in a larger container). Both tubs have screen tops. And once in a while I still see one or two in the outer tub.

The non medicated chicken mash works really well too, Ryan (talkenlate04) told me about it. Dubias really like it, not so much for the lateralis. The only problem that I see is the big corn kernels don't get consumed. In my area, 25 lbs bag goes for $10.

I use the site below to locate stoes and stuff in the neigborhood. Looks like there's a feed store in Chicago area. (Scott, I don't mean to cut you off)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/feed-store-the-summit-argo

 

[scottyk]

I use the site below to locate stoes and stuff in the neigborhood. Looks like there's a feed store in Chicago area. (Scott, I don't mean to cut you off)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/feed-store-the-summit-argo

No problem! It would be a no profit deal for me, just looking to help gvfarms out. If he can find something local, the $10 would be better spent on the food and not postage....

 

[gvfarns]

Dude, scottyk, thanks so much for being willing to help me out! Way to be a community.

I'm not sure exactly what I'll feed when I get my lateralis. Driving down to midway or ordering by mail, whether from a friend or another source, kind of defeats the purpose of feeding cheap bulk stuff. On the other hand, that's exactly the kind of thing I tend to do!

Actually I have been getting excited about lateralis for a little while now and I am all looking for it but aaron pauling is out of stock, and the bug pros are changing management and not shipping apparently, and Dave Grimm has every roach imagineable EXCEPT lateralis. I haven't had any luck on the for sale section either. I wonder if there's like a nationwide shortage on lateralis or something.

Anyway when I get my lateralis I'll find some better food than catfood and oatmeal and I'll let ya'll know what it is.

 

[Takumaku]

gvfarns,
Send James at blaberus.com an email. He stocks both dubia and lateralis.

 

[gvfarns]

You guys are really cool. I really like this forum.

 

[Galapoheros]

Everybody keeps them a little different. I keep mine dry too. I keep a plastic gal jug of rain water in the room and dump some in, splashing the sides now and then maybe once every week or two. Most of the time I don't smell anything in the containers. I don't know how long I've had them, over two years at least. I've never cleaned the containers out and everything seems fine. I keep them in tall tubs with no tops. I don't feed them real often but I feed them fish flakes, orange, apple and a little dried cat food now and then. Some people don't like the idea having no top but I haven't seen a male come close to making it to the top. I read on here though that some are stronger fliers than others. There has been a few times when I've heard a "thump, thumpthump,..thump, thumpthumpthump..." Something, maybe it's a weather/temp change, don't really know but all the males will do a kind of swarm behavior and try to fly.

 

[cjm1991]

Do you guys think I could house my discoids and dubia in the same enclosure, or is it a bad idea? Also I like your idea of putting strips of bark in there. Its low profile and works just as well, I might have to take your idea

 

[skips]

I would refer you to this site: www.roachforum.com

Much of that info is ready and waiting there. Also- don't use potatoes often, they increase the bad smells...

Hey, that looks like it would help.

 

[dfourer]

I've had really good luck with dubias, often selling off my extras. Here's how I do it. A tub with a reptile heat pad underneath (8 watt). Screen in the top for air. I use egg cartons and no substrate. They make their own substrate. Keep it dry. Humidity is very low in my house in winter. Apple slices every 2-3 days for moisture. Dry cat food for food. They need high-protein food to breed. I put the food in an open egg carton on top, so if it gets damp and moldy, I can quickly remove all of it. There is no smell. They actually re-eat their own droppings. If dry, they don't smell at all. It's in my bedroom on top of a bookcase, and if it smelled, I'd know it. I have extra now if anyone wants some.

 

[arachyd]

"Corn is pretty hard to digest for alot of them and thus ive heard it's not great to feed to roaches if you plan to feed to herps. Any thoughts?"
Corn fed to a roach is digested by the roach and is no longer corn. The roach is easily digested by a herp.