Lets see those roach setups!!

[Riyo]

Okay I have to ask.....

What are you feeding roaches too? The leopard geckos? Im a newbie when it comes to different things to feed them. So someone please tell me! Thanks!

Roaches are great feeders for leopard geckos and other reptiles as well.

 

[T-AL]

Quick question about feeding the roaches to the leos... first what size (is it the same concept as crickets?) Also how much would they be at the pet stores? How many do you feed them at a time?

 

[LeapinLizards]

I have fed the adult males to my 8 month-adult geckos on many occasions, depending on the size of the gecko. They eat them NO problem, I have MANY videos of this They will eat one, sometimes two, as the nutritional value of the roaches and how much it fills them up is that much better than other feeders.

Honestly, roaches are not something to just get and feed, they are rather expensive to just get and feed off. It is much more "pocket friendly" to breed your own!!

 

[727geckokid]

Honestly, roaches are not something to just get and feed, they are rather expensive to just get and feed off. It is much more "pocket friendly" to breed your own!!

Lol I bet the Roach Breeders are loving you right now Heather, Lol. But I too agree it is very "Smart" to Breed your own roaches... I Had a Nice size colony of Dubias But i started feeding them off and now the Guy i was getting them from moved out of state.... (Most feeder roaches are "Illegal" to ship to Fl :main_evilgrin::main_lipsrsealed

 

[shadowx362]

I just got some more roaches from Chris( clear) and they are doing great!! Here are some pics of the dubias and Turks I got the other day and today. Most are hiding...

 

[Yamori]

Im actually considering breeding meal worms and wood roaches(speckled feeder roaches)

How do you get some out to feed your geckos? just grab some with your hand?

wont they escape the moment the lid comes off?

 

[shadowx362]

^ These type of roaches dont climb and so leaving the lid off is not a big worry.
As for feeding....I haven't really fed them off yet, but I usually just grab them with my hands if I touch them LOL.

 

[Yamori]

ok, thanks Edgar

 

[brothaT]

Nice pickups Edgar:main_thumbsup: You keep those lateralis warm and they will grow like weeds. I got mine in mid-December as quarter inch nymphs and by mid-January they were all adults. Every time I open their container there are always at least 5 females with egg cases sticking out and those are only the ones out in the open. How are you planning on incubating the egg cases?

 

[shadowx362]

I have the egg cases in a 6Q tub with moist paper towels at the bottom. I place the cases in a 4 Oz cup on top of the paper towels and close the tubs lid. The 6q tub is in the second compartment of the whole setup with heat cable from the back.
Hopefully that way they hatch.

 

[brothaT]

That's very similar to how I do it. I started out with moist substrate in the bin but the smell became unbearable.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Oh wow I had no idea other roaches you had to incubate the egg sacks...glad my dubia don't need that lol.

 

[brothaT]

Oh wow I had no idea other roaches you had to incubate the egg sacks...glad my dubia don't need that lol.

It really isn't that bad. My colony produces about 200 egg cases each week, and each case has around 20 babies enclosed. Even with a 50% hatch rate that's still around 2000 new roaches every week for me. I usually let the cases desiccate within the colony and only collect a bunch when I'm running low.

 

[shadowx362]

I don't think you have to separate them to incubate you could just leave them in there, but its a great way to sort them out.

 

[brothaT]

I don't think you have to separate them to incubate you could just leave them in there, but its a great way to sort them out.

Granted I live in a drier part of the country, but I have never had one egg case hatch inside the colony bin. Well, I've never had any hatch without a moist substrate inside which is a huge pain and definitely not recommended. Even if you live in an area with more humidity the hatch success is still very low if left in dry bin or with a dry substrate. In areas with very high humidity you may be just fine leaving them in there, I've never really heard either way. Separating them is definitely the way to go, both for hatching and sorting as you said.