SO I start with 100 roaches..how long..

[Starforce2]

How long before I should be able to see a visable increase in population? I know I got alot of roaches in there but I can't exactly say it's an explosion of them. Do they need better ventilation? I just have them in a tote with no air holes but it's not a sealed tote..meaning the cover doesn't seal it only snaps on by the handles. It feels humid in there. They're making apple cores dissapear right and left. I threw some old veggie greens starting to go bad (though I removed the bad parts so it doesn't start to stink) And there are a number of large male and females in there. I didn't notice any egg sacs but did see a small ammout of very small roaches. I've had them I think since late march.

 

[ILoveRoaches]

What kind of roach? What size are the 100 roaches? What temps do you keep them at?

I would put more ventilation in there. My bin's lid doesn't seal either but it has a screen mesh for ventilation.

 

[Starforce2]

What kind of roach? What size are the 100 roaches? What temps do you keep them at?

I would put more ventilation in there. My bin's lid doesn't seal either but it has a screen mesh for ventilation.

These are the dubia. I don't know the temp, though i just bought a gague, I am heating with a C7 christmas bulb atm. I have a mini UTH I just haven't gotten around to using it. hoping that wont heat them too much. I suppose I could get one of those rheostats..turn it down a little. Provided ofcourse that both products have amps written down somewhere so I can make sure they're compatable..

 

[ILoveRoaches]

I'm guessing maybe 4-6 months before you start seeing them explode, i could be wrong, just working from memory lol. It takes a while for nymphs to mature and then you have to wait for the adults to give birth, but my best guestimate is 4-6 months.

 

[Theroachguy]

I'm guessing maybe 4-6 months before you start seeing them explode, i could be wrong, just working from memory lol. It takes a while for nymphs to mature and then you have to wait for the adults to give birth, but my best guestimate is 4-6 months.

im with this poster lets say what you have now are adults to mid sized nymphs well once they hit adults hood they will have babies. so out of the 100 lets say 50 are females and that will give you lets say 22 for a good round number of babies times that by the 50 and that will give you 1,100 new babies and this will happen every month until you get more adult females and once those babies start having babies omg your going to be slammed.

the best way is to have a good amount of all ages this way you'll always have a fresh supply of babies and a fresh supply of adults at all times.

what i would do with that 100 is add to it here and there when you have some extra money. it doesn't have to be alot 100 here or there and that would be a huge boost.

if you have anymore help or questions ask me anytime

 

[Starforce2]

well I'll defenetly need to be slammed if I get more herps. I still want a pacman and emerald swifts. My african bullfrog loves roaches I gave him one and he turned on it the minute it hit the substrate..They sure have good eyes.

 

[murphyrules]

I ordered 190 from www.theroachguy.com and already both females gave birth to about 35 each. It shouldn't be long before I have a colony big enough to staple feed my beardie's.

 

[Starforce2]

I'll see if I can tally up my males and females tomarrow.

 

[Starforce2]

atleast a 10-12 of each. Plus alot of little ones. Some of the fruit and veggies has turned to a mushy mess and feces have started to mold. I guess I put too much food in so...this will be fun..gotta round up all the roaches and clean the cage.

 

[Theroachguy]

atleast a 10-12 of each. Plus alot of little ones. Some of the fruit and veggies has turned to a mushy mess and feces have started to mold. I guess I put too much food in so...this will be fun..gotta round up all the roaches and clean the cage.

if yo clean your cage check out my caresheet section, i have a great quick and easy way to do it listed up there along with picks.

 

[Starforce2]

I don't mind touching them so it's no big deal. Gives me an oppertunity to count. Is humidity good or bad though? This biggest issue will be what to do with the roaches..I gotta find a bucket or something..hopefully the big 5 gallon one I got over here wont let them climb the sides..

 

[murphyrules]

Humidity is definately good. If your'e roaches don't get enough humidity they can die during molts.

 

[moose9]

When starting out with a small colony, patience is the key. When I started with roaches, it was 100 mixed with 3 adult pairs. I added another 100 to the mix and within 4 months I was feeding my 2 adult bearded dragons regularly and never looked at another cricket again. Like Roach Guy says, add a few here and there and your good to go. Then you'll be wondering what to do with all the excess!

 

[murphyrules]

Make sure you don't have more than 1 male per every three females. They males just take up extra food and water and somtimes fight over females. Also I think they produce quicker with less of them.

 

[Starforce2]

I've still not had the time for the roach bin but if I get time tomarrow I'll give an acurate count of each mature sex, and hopefully a total number of roaches.