DawnsNova
Member
I got my shipment of roaches yesterday from Lance, only one small juvenile didn't make it, the rest were in perfect condition.
So, after doing my online reading I had their 27 gallon tote bin ready, 12 X 12 egg crates etc. I used a drill to make holes in the lid for ventilation, so that should have helped keep in the warmth more than if I had cut a big section of the lid out and replaced it with screen.
The probe of the thermometer is down in the middle of the vertically stacked crates, so about 4, maybe 5 inches off the floor. The undertank heater is the one that came with dreaded bearded dragon kit, so it was brand new and unused. It's the 6 X 8 inch size for up to 20 gallons. From everything I've read, I thought that uth should have been enough. I checked the temp as soon as I woke up, and it only got up to 78. Everyone seemed to make it throught the night, but I know I need to keep these roaches comfy in order to one day have the colony keep up with my bottomless pit dragon.
So, what should I get to raise the temp to the recommended 95? When peeking in on the new tenants, I was happy to see that one of the females already has an egg sack protruding, so I'm even more worried about the temps, I don't want to lose her or her babies. I could get a second undertank heater, cut away and screen more of the lid and use a ceramic heater above or what about a human heating pad? And, forgive me if this is a dumb question, but for those of you using the human heating pad, do you still put it under/outside the rubbermaid tote, or do you put it inside with the roaches?
Thanks in advance for the replies. As soon as I hear back I'll be going out to get whatever I need.
Dawn
So, after doing my online reading I had their 27 gallon tote bin ready, 12 X 12 egg crates etc. I used a drill to make holes in the lid for ventilation, so that should have helped keep in the warmth more than if I had cut a big section of the lid out and replaced it with screen.
The probe of the thermometer is down in the middle of the vertically stacked crates, so about 4, maybe 5 inches off the floor. The undertank heater is the one that came with dreaded bearded dragon kit, so it was brand new and unused. It's the 6 X 8 inch size for up to 20 gallons. From everything I've read, I thought that uth should have been enough. I checked the temp as soon as I woke up, and it only got up to 78. Everyone seemed to make it throught the night, but I know I need to keep these roaches comfy in order to one day have the colony keep up with my bottomless pit dragon.
So, what should I get to raise the temp to the recommended 95? When peeking in on the new tenants, I was happy to see that one of the females already has an egg sack protruding, so I'm even more worried about the temps, I don't want to lose her or her babies. I could get a second undertank heater, cut away and screen more of the lid and use a ceramic heater above or what about a human heating pad? And, forgive me if this is a dumb question, but for those of you using the human heating pad, do you still put it under/outside the rubbermaid tote, or do you put it inside with the roaches?
Thanks in advance for the replies. As soon as I hear back I'll be going out to get whatever I need.
Dawn