Laterals?

[L30girl]

Forgive me, I'm fairly new to this, but where I'm from, Dubia roaches are either illegal or don't really exist, because they're impossible to find. I did however find someone who is willing to sell me lateral roaches. I don't know if laterals are the same thing, better, or worst than Dubias... Does anyone have any information on this little creepy crawlers? Are they safe to feed to my geckos, my beardie and even my pacman frog?

 

[T-ReXx]

Forgive me, I'm fairly new to this, but where I'm from, Dubia roaches are either illegal or don't really exist, because they're impossible to find. I did however find someone who is willing to sell me lateral roaches. I don't know if laterals are the same thing, better, or worst than Dubias... Does anyone have any information on this little creepy crawlers? Are they safe to feed to my geckos, my beardie and even my pacman frog?

Hey, I breed lats. And give them a big thumbs up. I've bred both, I have to say I actually consider lats to be easier to breed, and better producers than dubia. They're perfectly safe, I feed them to every insect eating species I have, and I think they're just about the perfect beardie feeder. Adults are bigger than crix, so they're a bit large for leos, except for giants, but juvies make great leo food. I'm pretty sure pacmans would eat them too, though I've never tried it, cause they eat just about anything that moves. Here are some considerations about the species:

Lateralis lay eggs Vs the live birth of dubia. All this means is that you want to have slightly higher humidity to insure a high hatch rate.

Lateralis breed FAST. I started with 2000, and about a month or so later had at least 10000. They mature a little faster than dubia, nypmh to adult takes about 4 weeks.

Lateralis are FAST. This is really my only issue with them. They move very quickly and can be hard to handle. To compensate I stick them in a container in the fridge for 10-20 mins and the cold slows them down. The also don't hide or burrow like dubia, so they're great for getting a feeding response.

They're non climbers, and eat just about anything. All you need is a container(I use 18 gal sterilite bins) cut a small, 6" X 3" hole in the top, put a piece of screen over that(metal, they might chew plastic if they reach it) put in a ton of egg crates, a dish or two of water crystals(wet paper towels work too) some dry dog/cat food and fresh veggies once a week. Stick it on a heat pad, keep them warm, 88-95F, for best breeding. Stick them someplace out of direct light and that's it. Before you know it there will be tons of tiny lateralis. No substrate, it'll just complicate things. A large colony can have a slight odor, similar to crickets, but not nearly as bad. Any other questions just let me know. Welcome to the freedom that is roaches!

 

[L30girl]

Thanks for the advice
How many roaches are needed to start a breeding colony?

 

[T-ReXx]

If your just planning on starting a colony and not feeding them off at the same time, I'd say at least 500. If you want to feed some off while your colony is still establishing itself, go with 1000+. Once all your roaches are sexually mature you can feed off extra males(they have wings, easy to recognize).

 

[L30girl]

Hm, I don't think she has that many to offer. and shes selling them for 0.50 a pop so, I was thinking maybe starting with 150 of them or so. Would this work? I imagine it would take a good deal longer to establish a decent number of them...

 

[spykerherps]

It would take longer but should be fine to start a colony with. I started my lat colony with 250. i have the same feelings as fair as draw backs. they are fast and can be hard to contain sometimes. I ALWAYS handle them over either their container or a feeding tub.

give them no chances to drop on the floor and get away because they will.

on the other hand I handle my dubia, discoides, fasca, and prosticus much more freely because they are much slower and just act different I can pick up a piece of egg crate with lots of them on it and hold it over the floor and they will cling to it and have to be shaken off ware as the lats will drop off and seem to try and escape.