tartara colony problem...

[Cirith Ungol]

...or whatever those roaches are called now :?

Most of my roaches are losing their front pair of legs, some lose more legs. It doesn't really look like they are ripped off, or as if they are chewed off, but more like the roaches had leprocy.

Any idea?

I'm just curious but won't do much about it. I'm thinking of throwing out that colony anyhow. Against all rumours they are nearly impossible to get to breed and multiply.

 

[Galapoheros]

Do you have immature ones losing their legs too? If it's only the adults, maybe they are just getting old. But if something's wrong and if you're thinking about ditching them anyway, might as well go to a natural area and get a cup full of topsoil and dump it in with the roaches. Your roaches may have some kind of microscopic parasites or something like that. You might pick up some natural predators or something in the topsoil that might help take care of the problem and balance things out. I know it's a long shot. I've tended to get more problems trying to keep things "too" sterile.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Do you have immature ones losing their legs too? If it's only the adults, maybe they are just getting old. But if something's wrong and if you're thinking about ditching them anyway, might as well go to a natural area and get a cup full of topsoil and dump it in with the roaches. Your roaches may have some kind of microscopic parasites or something like that. You might pick up some natural predators or something in the topsoil that might help take care of the problem and balance things out. I know it's a long shot. I've tended to get more problems trying to keep things "too" sterile.

Yeah all ages lose legs. I have predatory mites in the colony.

 

[Matt K]

Hmmm. There are two reasons that come to mind. If they are not getting enough to eat or improper diet sometimes they can attack each other in order to cannibalize, and bite each others legs off.

Second, there is a bacteria that can cause them to be sluggish, and infect the extremeties causing antennae to break off and legs to rot. I think its easily cured with warmth, moisture, plenty of food.

The bacteria thing I am testing out and do not know this to be a fact (yet) or not. Though it did seem to apply with some Panchlora sp. 'giant'....

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Hmmm. There are two reasons that come to mind. If they are not getting enough to eat or improper diet sometimes they can attack each other in order to cannibalize, and bite each others legs off.

Second, there is a bacteria that can cause them to be sluggish, and infect the extremeties causing antennae to break off and legs to rot. I think its easily cured with warmth, moisture, plenty of food.

The bacteria thing I am testing out and do not know this to be a fact (yet) or not. Though it did seem to apply with some Panchlora sp. 'giant'....

Yeah, I've noticed antannae breaking too. I won't go into warmth and moisture though, otherwise I'll have a mould colony in no time at all. Been there enough times with that particular batch. I'll freeze the rest and feed my fish with them.

 

[Matt K]

...Roaches make great fish food.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Oh and I just remember - roaches of various sizes (any really) just up and die.

I'm giving them as much food as they can eat, had those guys for 2 years so I know how to keep them alive.

Yeah, good fish food for sure!

 

[Snake_Eyes]

...Roaches make great fish food.

Lateralis yes, dubia not so much.