Using Water Beads For Feeder Water Source

[Dev1lZ]

I have some feeder roaches that I try to feed veggies to to keep hydrated along with cat food for protein. I have noticed that when placing them in my slings enclosures, they make a mad dash straight for the water dish and begin drinking. My daughter has recently gotten these plastic water beads that you leave in water and they soak it up and expand. Since I don’t have any water crystals on hand, I dropped a few in with the feeder roaches to see if they may take to them for their drinking needs-since they slowly leak the water back out. What do you guys think?

 

[Vanessa]

Would they leak the water out fast enough? Crickets can drink a lot.

 

[chanda]

I have some feeder roaches...

Would they leak the water out fast enough? Crickets can drink a lot.

So can roaches...

As for the water beads, I suppose it would depend on whether they contained anything that might be toxic to the roaches. I know they come in a bunch of bright colors, but I don't know what all they're made of. They are considered non-toxic to children, but that doesn't always carry over to inverts. I guess you can experiment with them to see how quickly the release they water - if the roaches are able to drink from them, or if they chew them, or if the water is released slowly enough that it just evaporates off before the roaches can drink it.

 

[Trevors]

Orbeez are used by some people in their isopod bins. So perfectly safe to use.

 

[Dev1lZ]

They seem to be doing well. No issues with mold or thirst.