Roach molting problems

[Texas Blonde]

One of my fuscas has been molting for about 24 hours. I checked on them when I got back from vacation, and found it molting. I could just see the wings and was really excited as it would be my first adult. I checked again today, cause I just couldnt resist seeing it as an adult, but it was still in the same place as before, and not very far along. I could see it wiggling a little bit, so I think its still alive. This doesnt seem normal to me, but I have never seen one molt into an adult, just nymphs molting. Is there anything I should do? Or is the poor thing doomed?

 

[OldHag]

thats not normal. I would say its doomed and you should throw it in with your isopods

 

[Texas Blonde]

I havent checked on it in a while, I didnt want to disturb it. Could this have resulted from it being so dry here? I have been wondering if I should give them some substrate, and keep it damp. The humidity in the area rarely reaches over 15%, and its probably even dryer in my apt from the AC being on all the time.

 

[Texas Blonde]

Well, I checked on the roaches before I went to bed, and decided on a whim to put the poor thing in an ICU. I just got up to check on it, and amazingly it got out of the old skin. I still dont think its going to make it though, its really oddly shaped, and cant really move. I think Ill give it to morning, then put it in the freezer.

 

[OldHag]

I would think it must be a humidity issue. Ive had one species have problems until I upped the humidity. I keep a bowl of water crystals in the tanks now and that seems to have fixed the problem. They molt on the crystals

 

[jbrd]

where do you get your water crystals?

 

[billopelma]

My B. dubias were having some problems, molting almost completely, but getting a rear leg or two stuck and walking around dragging the exuvia behind. I fixed one with warm water though another ended up losing a leg. I know when you're starting a colony none are expendable, but quicker fix would be to feed it to something, don't want those defectives breeding anyway
I have distanti's and hisser's in similar living conditions and havn't seen any problems there.
I upped the humidity a bit on the dubia's and so far so good. Once winter is over then I'll be fighting to keep things dry...:wall:

where do you get your water crystals?

try http://www.watersorb.com/prices.htm

Bill

 

[fantasticp]

Well, I checked on the roaches before I went to bed, and decided on a whim to put the poor thing in an ICU. I just got up to check on it, and amazingly it got out of the old skin. I still dont think its going to make it though, its really oddly shaped, and cant really move. I think Ill give it to morning, then put it in the freezer.

Even oddly shaped, if it could get around after hardening I wouldn't freeze it. It's only a physical deformity. They happen from time to time, and it doesn't seem to bother them that I've noticed. They can't all be supermodels, LOL.

 

[Texas Blonde]

Turns out I didnt have to freeze it, it was dead by morning.

At least I know for the future what to do, I just wish I had noticed earlier that this guy was stuck.

 

[OldHag]

where do you get your water crystals?

I have gotten them from the wormman.com. I dont buy the "cricket crystals" I get the worm crystals, the ones they add to the worms dirt to keep it moist longer. Its cheaper but the same thing. Only difference I see is that the actual crystals are smaller.
Oh my, and its on sale! http://wormman.com/pd_worm_bin_crystals.cfm
a little of that stuff goes a LONG ways!

 

[Jimmy James]

Can't you just mist the cage with a squirt bottle?

Another way to keep humidity up is to put a heater in a dish of water, so the water will evaporate and raise humidity. You can also place a towel over half of the lid, if you're using a screen lid.

 

[OldHag]

Misting just causes all kinds of mold problems.. which leads to more mites, which infest your other things... ugh... seems easier to just have the crystals One spot moist... where they can go if they need. No overall moiststinkiemessybleckypoopoomess

 

[Texas Blonde]

I keep my small colonies in shoeboxes with coconut coir. I keep one corner damp, and give them a dish of water crystals. They seem to be doing well, and are growing fast. I am going to start doing this with my small discoid nymphs, because it seems to be working so well with everything else.

Plus, the shoeboxes fit nicely in the drawers of my dresser, so its nice and dark. I think I am the only person who keeps their clothes in the same place as their pet roaches, lol.

 

[canadianscorp]

ah theyre just roaches, feed em to a scorp!