Roaches for a beardie

[StevetheDragon]

I've been doing some research on different feeders for Steve, and I am leaning towards roaches. I didn't mind the crickets at first but I've been having to get more and more and the smell is horrendous. I just have a few questions before I switch to roaches.

1) I've seen mostly Dubia roaches, are there different kinds or are dubia the best?

2) Do all bearded dragons like roaches? I'm worried I'm going to spend a lot of money getting a dubia colony going and my dragon wont eat them.

3) Why is it necessary to put egg crates in the tank?

4) Do you have to put calcium and vitamins on dubia's or are they sufficient in calcium?

Thanks for the help

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

Dubia are the most popular but people feed everything from Discoids, Lateralis, Lobsters and even hisser nymphs. Dubia and Discoids are the best because they are meaty, a little slower, and will fill your dragon up faster. They'll eat Lats and Lobsters like they would crix, in large amounts.

I can tell you this. In over 10 years of selling roaches I can count on 1 hand how many customers dragons turned them down. The problem w/ roaches and beardies is once you start them on roaches they sometimes refuse all other feeders so if you try them and your dragon likes them make sure to establish a colony before they become their main feeder or you might get stuck w/ a big feeder bill until your colony is established.

You need egg crates as roaches need someplace to hide. Light = death to a roach as they are on the bottom of the food chain and everything eats them.

Yes dust them like you would crickets.
Hope this helps!

 

[dmglakewood]

I've been doing some research on different feeders for Steve, and I am leaning towards roaches. I didn't mind the crickets at first but I've been having to get more and more and the smell is horrendous. I just have a few questions before I switch to roaches.

1) I've seen mostly Dubia roaches, are there different kinds or are dubia the best?
Each roach has it's pros and cons. While the dubia roach breeds slower and has slightly lower nutrients then other roaches they cannot climb smooth surfaces. If you buy a rubbermaid bin they will not be able to climb out. Other roaches can climb it with no issues at all. They also have wings but cannot fly. They don't smell and really have no side effects. That's why most people prefer dubia roaches.

2) Do all bearded dragons like roaches? I'm worried I'm going to spend a lot of money getting a dubia colony going and my dragon wont eat them.
Do all people like steak? Each bearded dragon is unique when it comes to food. Some love them while others hate them. From my experience though I've only seen a few beardies that wont eat the roaches. I would say 85% of beardies do love them.

3) Why is it necessary to put egg crates in the tank?
The roaches need a place to hide and feel safe. The might still live without the egg crates but they will defiantly not breed.

4) Do you have to put calcium and vitamins on dubia's or are they sufficient in calcium?
You must still powered the roaches the same way you have to powder crickets.

Thanks for the help

I hope that helps you out a little bit. I would never go back to crickets now that I have roaches. They are so much easier to take care of and my laundry room no longer smells. I find like 1 roach dead every couple of weeks. This is compared to like 30 crickets I used to find dead every day.

 

[StevetheDragon]

Thanks for your help guys. This helps make my decision much easier.