roach questions

[stephnt619]

Okay, I have 2 adult dragons to feed. I would like to feed them roaches and start a colony of them. But I have a few questions.

Does anyone have a good site that explains how to start a colony?
How many adults/pairs should I start with if I wanna start feeding the dragons 1 or 2 each a day while trying to build a colony?
Can different types of roaches be kept together, such as Lobsters and Dubia together/will they inter breed or only breed with their own?
What is the best/cheapest place to buy a starter kit and adults?
Can they be fed the Orange Cubes that I also feed my crickets, along with other roach appropriate foods?

Thanks everybody!

 

[Grumbles]

Okay, I have 2 adult dragons to feed. I would like to feed them roaches and start a colony of them. But I have a few questions.

Does anyone have a good site that explains how to start a colony? http://www.thefeederstore.com provides great Dubia care information as well as http://theroachguy.com/caresheet.htm.

How many adults/pairs should I start with if I wanna start feeding the dragons 1 or 2 each a day while trying to build a colony? You want at least 50 breeding females to have a sustainable colony, probably more. You also want your colony to be fully established before heavily feeding out of it for your two beardies. The normal gender ratio should be anywhere from
1 male : 3 females to 1:5.

Can different types of roaches be kept together, such as Lobsters and Dubia together/will they inter breed or only breed with their own? Different types of roaches can be kept together, they won't interbreed as they are different species.

What is the best/cheapest place to buy a starter kit and adults? I actually just purchased a Breeder Kit from http://www.thefeederstore.com/products/Dubia-Kit.html, you get so much for the price, it is probably the best deal for a breeder kit in my opinion considering the sheer number of females and mixed dubias he gives you. Not to mention the fact that you get started off with a heaping bag of roach chow (3 lbs).

Can they be fed the Orange Cubes that I also feed my crickets, along with other roach appropriate foods? I've heard of people feeding them the Orange Cubes but a basic roach chow can be made with high-protein cat food and different plain cereal - just look around and you'll be sure to find a recipe. This topic has some recipes: viewtopic.php?f=76&t=109654.

You can also find my review of http://www.thefeederstore.com's breeder kit @ viewtopic.php?f=76&t=109864.

best of luck!
-John

Thanks everybody!

 

[clear]

What else can anyone add? lol John covered everything.

 

[Grumbles]

What else can anyone add? lol John covered everything.

Chris I've been reading so much stuff these past several days getting ready, it's insane haha.
But now it's just a waiting game, I'm having trouble getting this tub to break 80°F.
-John

 

[clear]

Whats the temps and what are you using to raise temps?

 

[Grumbles]

30 gal Sterilite tub.
11'5'' 15 watt Repti heat Cable.
Basic "S" pattern underneath one half.
Getting around 79°F in the egg crate area.
Currently have the screen hole covered, trying to keep some heat in, and a blanket around the edge on the heated half.
Yes, I'm getting desperate, haha.
EDIT: I'm thinking about grabbing a couple ceramic tiles out of the garage and setting them under the tank and cable vs. just the tank and cable sitting on top of a plastic rolling chair mat.

 

[Grumbles]

So I moved the tub on to 1 & 1/2 ceramic tiles, let's see if these retain a little bit more heat than a plastic mat.

 

[Navan94]

Just curious, John. Where are you taking the temps at? It should be around 90-95 degrees at the base of the tub, so just set your temp gauge on the bottom. The heat will be gradient through the egg crates. You may have hit your mark already down low if you're hitting 80 deg in the middle of the crates. If you're already shooting the bottom of the tub, then disregard. I use a human heatpad and it gets pretty toasty so I wrap a towel around the pad. I know the heat cables are more popular, but I haven't used them yet.

Another trick for possibly trapping heat is to cut some egg crates in half and lay them across the top of your standing crates to provide a makeshift roof to help hold the heat in.

 

[Grumbles]

Funny thing you said that Navan, I actually just moved the probe further down and it is heading up now.
So I do believe my heat should be fine, I'll post back with a stabilized temp in a little bit.
Thanks for the help, I think tomorrow I'll cut up some of the egg crate Chris sent me.
Another great thing, besides the crate he provided, the box that the roaches came in was already stuffed with nice-sized crate.
Once again, AMAZING kit clear!
-John
P.S. Thanks again Nav.

 

[clear]

Thanks John, Glad you got everything sorted out!

 

[Grumbles]

Already up at 81.5°F about 3-4 inches above the floor of the tub in the egg crates.
Also threw an orange slice, bow chicka wow wow anybody?

 

[MarkCheck]

bow chicka wow wow

 

[Navan94]

Funny thing you said that Navan, I actually just moved the probe further down and it is heading up now.
So I do believe my heat should be fine, I'll post back with a stabilized temp in a little bit.
Thanks for the help, I think tomorrow I'll cut up some of the egg crate Chris sent me.

Excellent!

I personally stand about 5 full crates vertical and hot glue 2 together (a dab on each corner) and then the other 3 together. I cut 1 or 2 in half and lay them cross ways on the top. I hot glued them together for a couple of reasons. 1) If for some reason the tub got shifted (kids, cat, etc....) their little home would be nice and secure. 2) I wouldn't bother them and check on progress before I should have been, haha.

Now that my colony is established I don't bother with attaching the crates because I'll always be in the tub rounding up feeders when needed.

You don't need much advice as you've done your homework. You'll be a good roach Dad. Congrats on the colony!

Sadly you're at the part where you have to wait, but it sounds like the kit you got is great. A lot of adult females, you'll be up and running in no time.

 

[Grumbles]

You guys are all so helpful.
I'm just psyched to get this colony roaring and then get my beardie sometime before November.
(In between leases, blargh.)