Tired of Crickets....Roach Question

[Sapphire]

So about the flies....if I could avoid them getting into the viv where I keep them (and the food they like is located), I might be able to avoid having a problem with them?

That would be the case if you had a new batch of crickets, but it might not be that easy if you don't because I think it would be too hard to separate the crickets from the fly eggs/larvae. The only time I had a phorid fly problem was when the bin was too humid and overdue for a cleaning. It sounds like you keep it clean, so maybe try to reduce the humidity.

The flies can be kept reasonably under control by 1) frequently cleaning your cricket bin, 2) keeping humidity down in bin by only supplying as much water gels as crickets can consume in a day, 3) creating "fly traps" with apple cider vinegar and putting them in your cricket bin and around the general area of the bin/beardie cage, 4) killing any flies you see, if you can.

I've had phorid flies for months now... At one point I had a severe increase of flies, and during that time I was cleaning my roach bin I found phorid fly larva in their water gels. So now I clean their water gel dish every couple days in case the flies have laid any more eggs in it. I have noticed a decrease since then.

 

[pamelacoe]

Only needs to be cleaned once every 3-4 months, so I feel like for the money you'd save that would be plenty worth it. Even then, all you really need to do is move the bulk of your population via egg crates, then put some empty egg crate back into your now near-empty roach bin for a few hours. Majority of bugs will climb back onto the new egg crates. That way you have much fewer bugs to find.

Let me get this straight --- a roach colony only needs to be cleaned every 3-4 months? Wow, don't they poop like the crickets? Even my cat doesn't poop as much as the dang crickets...it seems like their life purpose, LOL. So if I had them, is it just a matter of keeping them warm and fed with fruit and veges?

EDIT: I know I saw a good thread on here once about starting a colony, I just have to find it again. I am hesitant still about starting one, at least right now with the cold months coming up, as my dragon is eating less and sleeping more right now, even though he is still young.

 

[Paradon]

There's something about the veggies and fruits.... They thrive on them as part of the diet.

 

[StlGreaser]

EDIT: I know I saw a good thread on here once about starting a colony, I just have to find it again. I am hesitant still about starting one, at least right now with the cold months coming up, as my dragon is eating less and sleeping more right now, even though he is still young.

Now is the time to start one then. It will be fully established and self sustained by time your dragon comes back out of brumation and starts to eat again. It takes up to 4 to 6 months!

 

[pamelacoe]

Good to know....I'll have to find that thread I was speaking of. So clean only every 3-4 months? Thanks.

 

[Sapphire]

Good to know....I'll have to find that thread I was speaking of. So clean only every 3-4 months? Thanks.

I've had my roaches since July and haven't cleaned the bin once yet. I'm actually thinking I'll do that today though, since they are starting to smell a bit, and I want to see how many babies I have.

 

[Trogdorpheus]

It's not that they don't poop like crickets or anything, they do. But the babies eat the frass and such, so it's actually not good to clean it often. Not to mention it doesn't smell or bother the bugs, so why let it bother you.

 

[Sapphire]

Good to know....I'll have to find that thread I was speaking of. So clean only every 3-4 months? Thanks.

I've had my roaches since July and haven't cleaned the bin once yet. I'm actually thinking I'll do that today though, since they are starting to smell a bit, and I want to see how many babies I have.

I was about to start cleaning out my roach bin, I lifted up an egg crate, and there were a bunch of tiny white roaches underneath! YAY BABIES! Now I know for 100% sure that my roaches are reproducing. This is exciting!

It's not that they don't poop like crickets or anything, they do. But the babies eat the frass and such, so it's actually not good to clean it often. Not to mention it doesn't smell or bother the bugs, so why let it bother you.

The babies tend to hide in the poo and leftovers that are on the bottom of the bin, too.

 

[StlGreaser]

Good to know....I'll have to find that thread I was speaking of. So clean only every 3-4 months? Thanks.

I actually clean mine every 6 to 8 months. Just remove orange peels after the fruit is gone and pull out the dead ones and larger molts when I feed them or get some out to feed the herps! Not much work at all. They do all the hard work for you.

 

[kimmie]

I think I've had my colony maybe a couple of months and have yet to clean it and it certainly doesn't smell. I DO however check and remove orange pieces after a few days as I do NOT want those freakin' flies around! Bad enough they are all around the rest of the house.

When I was keeping crix, I found those in with them and larvae too - I dumped the whole shootin' match outside into my garden! Figured any loose crix the outdoor kitties could get them if they wanted!

Usually though, my fruit/water gels don't last that long - my colony is going thru them fast!