Size of starter colony

[psychofox]

I've slowly gone from feeding crickets to feeding roaches for my inverts.

I currently have three colonies, but I wonder if I have to buy even more before they become sustainable.

I have one colony of 2000+ (mixed size) N. cinerea, one with approx 1000 (mixed size) B. lateralis, and one dubia colony with 10-15 adults and an unknown number of nymphs

I feed off about 80- 100 roaches a week. I mostly feed dubia nymphs and about 10 cinerea weekly. With the cinerea, I only feed adult roaches, cause nymphs are able to climb out of the ventilation holes in the enclosures.

Does anyone know if my colonies (the cinerea and lateralis being most important) are large enough to become sustainable with the number of roaches I harvest every week, or do I have to go even bigger? The lateralis and cinerea colonies are recently aquired by the way, that's why I ask. I don't know yet how feeding will affect the colonies.

 

[Moltar]

I think you're there already. B lateralis breed pretty quickly, if you have 1000 in there now it's a safe bet they're producing more than 80 nymphs a week.

I have a smaller collection than you, feeding about 1/2-1/3 the amount you mentioned. I can't even begin to put a dent on my 1000+ B lateralis setup. They went from about 30 to current numbers in 3-4 months. In fact, I'd start feeding off mature females but i'm afraid one might escape and start trouble...

 

[psychofox]

Thank you for the answer. Not sure how many adult lateralis I have though, very few I think. But I have quite a few adult cinerea, and as these probably breeds just as fast, I think it will be the same.

Just good to make sure now before the winter, as it isn't that easy to "refill" my colonies during the winter here in Norway.

 

[ShellsandScales]

If you're really worried, skip a week or two of feedings and let them accumulate. Your T's and/or scorps will be fine without food for a bit.