Feeder roaches smelling?

[skipeople]

Is it normal for a small colony of roaches to have a bad, almost moldy smell to them? The colony is new (ordered from dubideli.com) and there is no actual mold, but I am worried there may be an illness in the colony!! It smells nasty and is even seeping into my living room lol

 

[Taterbug]

Not really, they shouldn't have an overwhelming smell. A large colony might have an odor but shouldn't be terrible. I've only had bad smells when the colony gets too moist or food left in too long.

Check for decaying food, dead bodies or wet frass. Check that your egg crates are dry as well.

 

[skipeople]

Okay, thanks. I changed out the water crystals yesterday and there was a clump of frass stuck to the bottom, so there is definitely wet poop in there. I will deep clean the tub tomorrow and see if it helps. I jut bought the colony and some of the adults have died already! Haha

 

[icelore]

The only smell I ever have is when there are too many dead bodies. I have enough adult males and females that I get some die off, and after 4-6 months, they need to be removed and changed out.

If you just got yours, give them a couple of days to air out, and check that the egg flats they were shipped with are clean. Sometimes just changing out the flat will remove the smell.

 

[skipeople]

Okay, thanks. I noticed a dead adult male the other day, but my tub is cramped and I couldn't get my hand to him. I'm just gonna buy a longer tub. I think the problem is the cramped space and there is moisture building up from my water gels. The food is right next to it and so there is lots of spilled chow and poop right there. My dad drilled holes on the top, but there aren't enough either (he wouldn't let me use his tools for a screen top; thinks he knows everything haha). I also have no where to put my ceramic heater, so they are even breeding probably . . .

 

[icelore]

If you are worried about too much humidity, just take the top off (assuming that you have a bin or tank so they can't climb). That will vent the tub much better. If you're going to have water gel in there all the time, they need to have really good ventilation of else they're gonna smell, and too much humidity could kill them as well. :/ Also, if you take the top off, you can just use a clamp lamp to secure the ceramic heater over the bin. Kills two birds with one stone.

 

[FloraBelle]

Hello,
I, too, have noticed a smell with my colony. It isn't terribly strong, but smells a bit like "stinky feet"! LOL!
I have a large enough tub, and live in a very low humidity climate. It has gotten less strong since I first got the starter colony about six weeks ago, but... I think my expectation was that there would be "no" smell because most people say they don't smell at all... (as compared to crickets?) I have never kept a large number of crickets, so perhaps the problem is that I don't have a basis for comparison?? How bad do crickets smell, anyway? I get crickets for my baby beardie as a "treat"... I am afraid they will bite him if I miss any in his enclosure, so I don't use them as a staple.
How often do I have to clean out the "fras" from my colony? I get lots of different info on this..... I have been told that the small nymphs need it to burrow in.... I think not having any fras, molts or dead would improve the smell, but then the nymphs wouldn't have that resource....
Thank you!

 

[icelore]

Fras and shed skins don't really have a small, as long as they are dry. You should be able to have well over an inch of fras before you clean out a colony with no odor issue. They do need some amount of air flow, or they will smell musty, but it shouldn't be overly noticeable. I have all three of my roach bins open, but in a closet, and there is almost no odor when I open the door.

If there are no dead ones (check under your egg crates for dead too - because they are such large insects, even one will send off a really noticeable smell when it decomposes), and humidity isn't too high, try changing out the egg crates. Mine get stinky way before I need to clean out the tub!

You can also try putting a pan of baking soda near wherever you keep your roaches to neutralize any smell. I use a bread loaf pan with half a box of baking soda in it, and sometimes I'll even add in a few drops of lavender essential oil. I don't add the oil for the roaches, but just because I like it. That way my entire closet is an air freshener and makes the room smell nice. XD

 

[FloraBelle]

Thanks for the advice. Never thought to keep the bins open... how do you maintain the temperatures with the open bins?

 

[icelore]

The temperature they need to breed doesn't need to be consistent throughout the bin. For instance, the temp at the bottom of my bin, where the heating pad is, is almost 100* and at the top of my bin it's only 73* or so, which is room temperature. They just move to where they find it most comfortable within the gradation of temperatures.

As long as the heat is there somewhere, they will breed. It doesn't have to be 85* all over for them. Keep in mind they are roaches - they will get it on as long as there is something even close to optimal conditions. lol

 

[FloraBelle]

Thanks for the advice IceLore... funny post!! : :lol: