should i keep lobster roaches

[KyuZo]

I have a few lobster roaches in my Blatta lateralis colony. If i decide to keep and breed them, i am not sure how great they are as a feeder, because i had them before and they will burrow and hide once they hit the ground.

keeping and breeding them will also take up some space. so i am seriously considering the pros and cons of keeping this species.

so... let have a vote! what would you do?

 

[gvfarns]

I kept them for a while. I really like their size and they are less crunchy than almost any other roach out there.

On the other hand, between the occasional burrowing and the frequent climbing up enclosures to hang out on the roof I got real annoyed with them and got rid of them (also it was a pain to do things like clean out their enclosure because their climbing ability makes it harder to control them.

I'm going to have to vote no on this one.

If you want a larger roach or some variety, try a Blaberus species.

 

[KyuZo]

hey there, thank you for your response. I combined your vote and my vote together and I decided not to keep this species.

so whatever small number there is in my current B. lateralis colony, they will soon be feed off and eliminate from my collection.

...or, maybe i can give them off as a freebie to someone that buy stuff from me. that way, they don't go to waste.

 

[jmiller]

I personally like the lobster roaches for the arboreal species. The lobster roaches climb up the walls and such and are easy for arboreals to find. They make a nice variety. Just my opinion.

 

[burmish101]

I have lobsters lats and hissers, and only use lobsters to feed lol, i've discovered a little late that lats need adequate humidity to hatch oothecae's so i'm raising up a new batch of nymphs but all my adults are dead by now. I might be strange but i'm just so used to picking them out of the cage, and use a small piece of a drinking straw to grab little nymphs. A plus with lobsters are them being livebearers. They eat everything and can keep the cage bone dry and they crap out babies like $5 hookers.

 

[Endagr8]

They eat everything and can keep the cage bone dry and they crap out babies like $5 hookers.

Thanks for the laugh! :clap:

 

[KyuZo]

I have lobsters lats and hissers, and only use lobsters to feed lol, i've discovered a little late that lats need adequate humidity to hatch oothecae's so i'm raising up a new batch of nymphs but all my adults are dead by now. I might be strange but i'm just so used to picking them out of the cage, and use a small piece of a drinking straw to grab little nymphs. A plus with lobsters are them being livebearers. They eat everything and can keep the cage bone dry and they crap out babies like $5 hookers.

I guess you're right about the oothecae and humidity thing. I keep the B. lateralis cage dry and I would go thru the cage every 3-4 days to pick up their oothecae to place them in a deli cup that have some moister in them to hatch them out.

maybe i will keep the lobster until i get tire of them. they are really fun to watch when you starve the colony for a few days and then drop in a few pieces of food. they would swarm it like there's no tomorrow.

 

[gvfarns]

I guess you're right about the oothecae and humidity thing. I keep the B. lateralis cage dry and I would go thru the cage every 3-4 days to pick up their oothecae to place them in a deli cup that have some moister in them to hatch them out.

maybe i will keep the lobster until i get tire of them. they are really fun to watch when you starve the colony for a few days and then drop in a few pieces of food. they would swarm it like there's no tomorrow.

Yeah lateralis are actually really tough. You can keep them dry, wet, cold, hot and they are fine. But they need to be warm to breed and the egg cases dessicate easily.

There are some good videos on youtube of lobster roaches going to town.

Like... this one.

 

[KyuZo]

yup, that's what i miss about not having lobster roaches. they will swarm over a few kibbles. plus the males will usually fight off the other males for a position on a rock or a piece of wood.

 

[dtknow]

On a gorier note they will eagerly devour even a slightly wounded comrade. Mine would chase any that were injured by moving a hide and literally devour them as they ran for their lives(and progressively grew smaller and smaller).

 

[KyuZo]

that's kinda remind me of piranahs