Any Tips on "getting over" Handling Roaches?... ewwy

[ButterflyGirl89]

I am sooo fine with crickets. Have been feeding em to reptiles for the past 5 years, and I even work at a pet store where I'm shoulder deep in cricket bins all the time. Not a problem.

But roaches freak/gross me out!!! :bleick: :bleick: :bleick:

I really want to feed roaches because I know they're so much better.
More meat, more protein, less skeleton, no jumping, longer life spans... etc. Everything makes them sound amazing and I wanna do what's best for my beardie...
But as soon as I see them, it all goes out the window!

Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to "get over it" and be ok with these stupid bugs?!?

 

[Shaw300]

I have some of these and to be honest they creeped me out too. Never thought I would ever breed ROACHES ! Anyway here is what I did and keep in mind they can't hurt u or bite u , just pick one small one up and let it crawl on ur hand , when ur good with it go to the next size up and so forth ..... Keep reminding yourself its like a cricket and can't hurt u !

 

[ButterflyGirl89]

That doesn't sound too bad... :?
Thanks for the good suggestion. lol.

Any more suggestions are welcome... heheh

 

[Cath1068]

I have a huge bug phobia and last night one of my lobster roaches got loose in Jax's viv so I was forced to pick it up. I must admit it wasnt too bad. I think I can actually handle them now..... LOL !

 

[warnisha]

I use the tongs!!!!!! and still freak out if one crawls on me! I don't know why but I can't stand anything crawling on my skin regardless of what it is! I don't even like it if the lizards walk on my skin so I know nothing I do will work getting over that one! Ick! They still gross me out...but I didn't care for crickets either would react the same if they crawled on me! bleck! I just stick to the tongs that way it works!

 

[hammerhead]

Put a few hundred roaches in a bucket, then place your bare feet in it for about 5 minutes. Works every time.

 

[warnisha]

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no way no how not happening I would keel over dead!




Can you tell I have a hard time with that!!!! Ewww...I can just feel them crawling on my feet!!!! ewww gross nasty ewww.... Gives me the cold chills!

 

[kjinxx2]

HAHAHA @ hammerhead

I just took the baby roach and let it crawl on me then kept working my way up, once you pick them up your fear will be gone.

 

[Lauram63110]

my phobia with them is what if one gets loose in the house? Like if I drop it or something?! YUK!!!

 

[warnisha]

They won't make it far in the house....they need warm temps to breed and they kind of just go still when they get colder!!!! I had one get out and found it dead in the hallway! Course my kitties may have helped that along but still they can't do much since they are tropical roaches!

 

[omahadragon]

Sometimes you just have to face your fears head on. I was a little creeped out by roaches when I first got them, I wasn't touching them. After a while, I had one accidentally stick to my hand and started crawling up. I wanted to flail my arm away but it kind of tickled. I just let it walk around, and it was cool. It may sound strange but from that point on I felt kind of "bonded" with my roaches. I treat them almost like pets now.
Just take a deep breath and DO IT. don't think about it, procrastinate, freak out, just do it

 

[rdoyle]

Ok I hear ppl all the time saying that they will not make in a house. at what temps does the house need to be for them not to make it. I live in south Louisiana it does not get that cold here. my house is about 70 to 75.

 

[omahadragon]

They would live but wouldn't be able to to reproduce in those temps. Without food or water it would be a challenge for them to live