first time, what to breed... roaches locusts??!?!?!?..

[Cybergimp]

hey ok i have recently moved my beardie into a 4x2 vivarium, i have his old tank empty now and am hoping to breed something as a feeder as i refuse to pay the 4 euro that pet shops around here charge for 4... yes 4 locusts.
so anyway what would you recommend me to breed for the beardie. he loves locusts and i once found a box of roaches in a pet shop and he loved them too think they were turkistan roaches.. are there any differences? whats more nutricious etc.
also what would create the least smell and sound as my gf wouldnt be pleased having any bugs in the house so wanna keep the hassle to a minimum

what would be the easiest to get working right and would this tank be alright?

can roaches climb glass like locust too just for escapes and stuff

 

[adamcollier11]

Roaches is probably the easiest thing to breed (dont know anything about locusts though) but I would get a rubbermaid bin instead of your tank... There are turks and dubia cannot climb slick surfaces. They have no smell that I have noticed and everyone says they have virtually no smell. They make no noise, now you might hear them scurrying around if you have them in your bedroom or something but its nothing major.. I havent had mine for long but I havent had any escapes and even if you do. I am guessing you live in the UK with the locusts, roaches shouldnt live long outside their enclosure because they are a tropical species..

 

[hartungs]

I would suggest roaches. Personally, I have a colony of B. Dubia growing and they are very easy to care for. They do not smell, make any noise, and are EASY! I wouldn't suggest using the tank that you pictured. It has the backing on it that will allow the roaches to climb to the top and possibly escape. Along with the glass openings on the front of the enclosure. I know that many people say that Dubia cannot climb, but the little ones can. I find them on the sides of my bin all the time. I had to put clear packing tape on the sides to keep them away from the top edge. I would suggest a dark color Rubbermaid container with aluminum screening on part of the top.

I hope this helps out. Just say no to crickets....

 

[Cybergimp]

the backing is gone as it started melting when i turned on the lights when i first got it so i took it out.... as it is its an empty glass tank and i was thinking i would just keep the front doors sealed and just take off the screen top to get in.. maybe put vaseline or oil around the rim as ive read is needed. if that still is a bad idea then yeh id get a plastic tub of some kind.. how do you heat them.. can you use lights? as it was a tank for my beardie it already has heating.. i have a ceramic heater bulb in there already aswell if light bothers them.. maybe cost more than a mat to run tho... if anyone could tell me which would be better.

i live in ireland so yeh should be even colder than the uk anyway at most times so thats good. how common is it that they escape?..

 

[hartungs]

I am not sure that I would that tank even with the backing gone. It's the little spaces between the glass doors that I worry about. Roaches can climb and they can fit into very tight places. I think you would just be better off just getting a plastic container.

For heating, I use an under tank heater (UTH) that is stuck to the bottom of my bin. It provides constant heat at the correct temperature. Many people use human heating pads and have success with this as well. If you go this route, just make sure that it doesn't have the auto shut-off feature. When you set up the bin, only heat one side of it. Roaches, like beardies, need to be able to thermoregulate their temperatures. Lights are not recommended at all as I think roaches thrive in darker areas.

I have not had any escapees yet (knock on wood). Like I said earlier, I have a 2 inch strip of clear packing tape around the top edge that seems to keep the babies away from the top edge. Prior to doing this, I would open the lid and see some babies right at the edge. I always open the lid slowly and peek in just to make sure that they are not there. I really don't think that they would want to escape with the luxury condominium that they are in now....

 

[adamcollier11]

The plastic tub is your best bet just as hartungs said cut a hole in it and use a metal screen(not fiberglass). I use one of those medical heating pads which I think is most commonly used. depending on your tub size you may need to but its unlikely.... Make sure you get one that does not have the auto shut off..

I wouldnt recommend the light as they thrive in the dark an for the ceramic heater I am not to sure someone else will have to help you there. I would still go with the human heating pad though..

As long as your somewhat careful you should have any escapes.



Adam

 

[reptilianboy831]

As everyone else has said, a rubbermaid bin and human heating pads. Works great.

 

[Cybergimp]

righteo so im sure the plastic tub would be better for low light aswell. cheers, is there any other name the human heat pads go by as ive never heard of them.. might just be an american/european thing how much should they cost and any risk of fire etc anything to look out for

 

[reptilianboy831]

You can probably find them in a local pharmacy, thats where i got mine. Mine were back and shoulder heating pads. Just make sure there not the automatic shutoff. Well, so far, my house hasnt burnt down, so they should be fine.

 

[adamcollier11]

Here is a site that will sell you colonies as well as nymphs or adults....

http://www.roachshop.co.uk/

 

[herpfreak]

I only have experiance breeding dubia roaches. I love them! Can't climb glass, don't smell, don't make any noise, super easy to breed.

As others have stated, it's best to keep them in a rubbermaid tub. It doesn't *need* a lid, as they can't climb, but as I have small children running around my house, I do use a lid to prevent escapees if it gets knocked over. (God forbid. :shock: )

Here's what I did; I cut the top out of a rubbermaid tub and replaced it with screen. That way, it latches on and still provides ventilation. (Although roaches don't need that much ventilation; I originally made this for crickets. Roaches would be better off with less than 1/2 that much ventilation.)