Substrate for Rhino Roaches--Macropanestia Rhinoscerous

[IguanaMama]

For all of you that have been keeping Macropanestia Rhinoscerous successfully, what substrate do you use? I googled and read damp sand??? But that doesn't sound right to me. I was thinking about getting one of those craft cubes and drilling holes on the bottom so that when I water them, the water can drain through and not get stale or muddy on the bottom. I would very much appreciate any care tips!

 

[Atrax robustus]

For 4 adults, I've tried a mix of sand and peat, about 6" deep and they buried like crazy made some great tunnel systems, now I just use a pet pal with 2" of dry leaves and peat mix with a couple of coconut shells for hides, then just spray occasionally. The first set up worked ok but they bred in the second! Just remember in the wild they drink condensation so which ever set up you use let it dry out (with the first one at least the top third that will ensure they don't get water logged). A friend just uses a crystal tub with 1/2" of peat! and his breed really well, he only puts 2 adults per tub.
AR

 

[ftorres]

substrate for Rhino

HEllo,
I keep mine in a mixture of Potting soil,sand,leafmold, and peatmoss.
It is about 5 inches deep. I have dead eucalytus leaves on the surface, just in case they want to munch on them. I spray water when the top is completely dried.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a55/francisco1/P9120061-2.jpg
regards
FT

 

[IguanaMama]

Do you need to feed them anything other than the eucalyptus leaves?

 

[Randolph XX()]

sand mix with peat, and make it deep

 

[Takumaku]

Do you need to feed them anything other than the eucalyptus leaves?

eucalyptus leaves or sweet gum leaves, but nothing else.

 

[IguanaMama]

Do you use the repti-sand or calci-sand type stuff sold in bags at petco, or would I go to a garden store or home depot type place to get sand. I've never bought sand before.

 

[Takumaku]

Do you use the repti-sand or calci-sand type stuff sold in bags at petco, or would I go to a garden store or home depot type place to get sand. I've never bought sand before.

If using sand, just regular garden sand/play sand (found at your local gardent store, walmart, etc.). I just use basic top soil covered with sweet gum leaves with my rhinos and they are doing fine.

 

[IguanaMama]

I ordered eucalyptus leaves from doubleds, and I just researched and found out that there are sweet gum trees in a park across town. OK, here's the deal, I live smack in the middle of NYC. Do you think I can trust the leaves from trees growing in a small park next to a major highway which is next to a stinking polluted river in NYC or should I try to get sweet gum leaves from a more idyllic setting. Does any place actually sell sweet gum leaves? I'm also in need of rotting oak wood for my millis.

 

[Randolph XX()]

mine chew on dry ferret food i put in, maybe u should try to feed them some animal protein

 

[angus]

i do keep mine for 8" deep of pot soil mix sand...let one end
more moist...i do feed dry leaves, carrot, oat even dog food
for snack..feed more different kind of food always be a good idea.

 

[What]

kinda off topic, but what is the price point for these?

 

[Randolph XX()]

depends on ur locality
If u're from the states, it's 300 us each

 

[Aquanut]

i would avoid collecting foliage from public parks, Most do some of amount of tree spraying. I don't remember if Sweet gum get many bug problems but many urban forestry programs spray everything on a regular time table.

 

[Atrax robustus]

Mine love banana (but what roach dosen't )
As to price a friend of mine was selling young ones (2") at last years AES Show 2 for £25 (or something close to that) As far as I know he'll be there this year not sure if he's got any left though.
AR.

 

[What]

anyone know a way to ship 'em from the UK to the USA?

i really want some, but sure as heck cant afford $300.

 

[Takumaku]

anyone know a way to ship 'em from the UK to the USA?

i really want some, but sure as heck cant afford $300.

Yepper, it's quite easy to do..

1) Fill out the PPQ form 526 and submit it to the USDA. Be sure to include the terminology of educational uses, method of extermination -- raid, deep freezing, etc.

2) Second, wait between 6 months to a year to receive your permit.

3) With permit in hand, order the bugs, but you might have to tell the shipper to ship to the nearous USDA inspection terminal.

4) Pay the inspector in #3 to open your box and verify they are roaches.

See, it's quite very easy to get a few.

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

For all of you that have been keeping Macropanestia Rhinoscerous successfully, what substrate do you use? I googled and read damp sand??? But that doesn't sound right to me. I was thinking about getting one of those craft cubes and drilling holes on the bottom so that when I water them, the water can drain through and not get stale or muddy on the bottom. I would very much appreciate any care tips!

There's a lot of info out there primarily limited to people who've had them a few months. There's an excellent article on them including source info from Australian professors who've had them decades and hobbyist who've actually ran them through a cycle. The article is in Invertebrates-Magazine issue March 06.

 

[Digby Rigby]

Sweet gum and eucalyptus

Sweet gum is a euphamism for eucalytpus. There are several species of eucalyptus and some can be toxic and kill the rhino roaches. Here is another example of what people feed them. One person I have sold them to feeds his adult male blatta lateralis roaches on occasion. Adult males dont usually like company except for maybe a female and her nymphs. The rhino attacks kills and eats the blatta lateralis in the enclosure every time. Also we have them now here in the USA available, a five lot, and at our price lets just say you cant afford not to get them . Send me a PM with your name and phone number if interested.

DigbyRigby@exoticfeeders.com

http://exoticfeeders.com