I've tried raising several kinds of feeders. Roaches without a doubt are the easiest feeders to raise. With as many beardies as I have I needed a feeder that wasn't expensive to start my colony an ones that reproduced quickly. I'm sorry but 80 cents
a peice for dubias which was the price I'd found them for at that time was way out
of range for me...as I also needed something I could feed my beardies from as well.
So out of the 1k I bought I also fed out of but roaches were not the only feeder I
use so it didn't deplete them. By the time everyone started brumating and not
eating I still had enough for them to reproduce so I'd have plenty when my beardies woke up. I actually produced way more than I needed so I also supply some of my friends with them and have sold a few thousand as well.
I live in California so it's never really really cold warmer than many states.
The heat pad that I use is one of those under the tank kind...sense I had spares
laying around from before I learned not to use them. I only turn mine on during
the coldest months. During the Summer I don't have it on. I've also known people
to use the heat pads that we as humans would use on the lowest setting. With the temperature you can control how fast your roaches breed. The cooler temps cause them to slow down on reproduction. I last year actually had so many while my
beardies were brumating that I had to lower my temps to slow them down some. Normally they breed well at temps of about 85* lowering it dials down reproduction
an I really don't think you can actually kill them with the cold unless they're super
cold like froze. Now they do need humidity but if you place the water crystal daily
that is enough to create the humidity you want...if you notice that the wings
(which they don't fly)on the males don't look right then the humidity is not quite
high enough then I suggest placing the water crystals over the heat pad.
I give mine water crystals and shredded leftover veggies from beardie salads.
Like the ends of the squash...carrots...not always everday on the veggies though.
I also feed mine a high protein diet. The mixture of chow often varies...but I try
to choose the grains cereals and other items with high protein content. If you have
a supermarket that has a bulk food section you can get the items for your chow
much cheaper. I shop at WinCo.
..here are a few of the items I put in the chow.
Dry cat and dog food
Soy protein powder
Scottish oats (higher in protein than regular oats)
Raw multi grain hot cereals
The water crystals are cheapest online though I've yet to purchase any online.
I bought a jar at Orchard Supply Hardware in the garden department for like
$12 over a year ago an I still have a 1/2 of a jar. Now keep in mind I use these
crystals for my supers as well an I did send some to Jscott (Jason) so they last a
long time it takes very little to make up a jug.
Now substrate I use both the egg crates which I just collect from the eggs I
purchase for the family and paper towel rolls. The paper towel rolls work great
for picking them up as you already know with crickets. I'd imagine that you
could just use the paper towel rolls if you make sure to use lots of them as they
do need lots of hidding spaces.
I house mine in a 30gal tall tank wrap in paper for darkness and with a tight
fitting screen. That works good for me. Whatever you go with using whether
tank or plastic tubs just make sure that...
if plastic tub that it is clean and free of scratches or the nymphs could possibly
climb by grabbing the scratched areas...also if you use a tank like I did make
sure that it isn't one with alot of silicone at the corners.
Here are a few pic's to end this PM with as I have babbed long enough already.
NOTE: These are old pic's that I already had uploaded to photo bucket I have
more egg crates now and many more roaches but they should give you the idea.
Roach enclosure #1
Dirty enclosure just before cleaning
Roach enclosure #2
Clean enclosure after cleaning
More recent pic's of inside the enclosures just before seperating and cleaning
Collecting roaches to feed beardies
Basically to put it short all you need to do is provide a dark, warm environment with some humidity which you'll create with the water crystals you give them for moisture, high protein diet, and hidding places they will do the rest. :wink:
Okay that was my long post of the day. :lol:
I like em' though :roll: I have an update!
I couldn't have been more wrong about them!
Nhà Cái Cá Cược Trực Tuyến Đáng Chơi Nhất 2024
