- Messages
- 1,079
- Location
- Mt Barker South Australia
In my experience this is a simple set up that works for breeding mealworms and roaches, and for keeping and growing crickets.
If you have other methods or tweeks on this method please add them to the thread.
Obtain a Critter Keeper or similar, or a tub with a lot of ventilation.
Pour in a packet of rolled oats, quick cooking or regular, or both. Use enough to make a layer 2.5 to 5cm (1 to 2").
Add the cut up bottoms of egg cartons covering the oats but leaving a gap at one end or a side.
Cover the egg carton pieces with pieces of cardboard. I like to put holes in the cardboard pieces.
Add more pieces of egg carton bottom.
Add more cardboard pieces on top of the new egg carton .
You can continue to stack until you run out of room, but two layers are adequate.
Add your insects .
Add food directly onto the oats where you left a gap. Carrot is a staple food for most feeders, but most vegetable scraps can be fed.
If you are housing roaches...
Cut the legs off of a clean pair of pantyhose and stretch it over the top of the container, gather the stumps of the cut off legs, twist together and put a rubber band on it. This is where you can add food etc without having roaches escape over the sides.
You can add a small water dish if you think you need one, although feeding fresh vegetables every few days is enough moisture for most insects. I have used a small lid with sphagnum moss in it, and I admit the roaches did seem attracted to it when freshened, but they breed fine without it too.
If you have other methods or tweeks on this method please add them to the thread.
Obtain a Critter Keeper or similar, or a tub with a lot of ventilation.
Pour in a packet of rolled oats, quick cooking or regular, or both. Use enough to make a layer 2.5 to 5cm (1 to 2").
Add the cut up bottoms of egg cartons covering the oats but leaving a gap at one end or a side.
Cover the egg carton pieces with pieces of cardboard. I like to put holes in the cardboard pieces.
Add more pieces of egg carton bottom.
Add more cardboard pieces on top of the new egg carton .
You can continue to stack until you run out of room, but two layers are adequate.
Add your insects .
Add food directly onto the oats where you left a gap. Carrot is a staple food for most feeders, but most vegetable scraps can be fed.
If you are housing roaches...
Cut the legs off of a clean pair of pantyhose and stretch it over the top of the container, gather the stumps of the cut off legs, twist together and put a rubber band on it. This is where you can add food etc without having roaches escape over the sides.
You can add a small water dish if you think you need one, although feeding fresh vegetables every few days is enough moisture for most insects. I have used a small lid with sphagnum moss in it, and I admit the roaches did seem attracted to it when freshened, but they breed fine without it too.
