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Maybe I should have separated my paragraphs. That last question was more rhetorical than directed at anyone. Unfortunately, I don't have all the information, only what was posted. Likely, the roaches always had a lot of food available to them, and if this were the case then it does show(although, this is an extreme case) that roaches can pose a threat to our Ts. How big of a threat they really are left alone in a T enclosure, we don't really know(although rarely have we ever heard of an uneaten, live roach attacking a T). However, it was an answer to the OP's original post; yes, they may very likely pose a threat if left to wander a T's enclosure, especially if they get hungry. But yes, you're absolutely right that it was an experiment for the sake of curiosity. It could count as animal cruelty, although not in the way we see dogs being treated poorly. The spider was, as far as I know, feeding well and doing well, and then it was eaten. It's more similar to keeping a dog fat and healthy, and then eating it(which is done in some countries, and it's what we do to domestic food animals all over the world). One could also argue that it is completely unnecessary to keep spiders at all, and countless deaths of these feeders is just as cruel.(Also, I'd never try a communal with most species, except the few that show true communal behavior, like M. balfouri. Hopefully I get to breed these some day.)
Maybe I should have separated my paragraphs. That last question was more rhetorical than directed at anyone.
Unfortunately, I don't have all the information, only what was posted. Likely, the roaches always had a lot of food available to them, and if this were the case then it does show(although, this is an extreme case) that roaches can pose a threat to our Ts. How big of a threat they really are left alone in a T enclosure, we don't really know(although rarely have we ever heard of an uneaten, live roach attacking a T). However, it was an answer to the OP's original post; yes, they may very likely pose a threat if left to wander a T's enclosure, especially if they get hungry. But yes, you're absolutely right that it was an experiment for the sake of curiosity. It could count as animal cruelty, although not in the way we see dogs being treated poorly. The spider was, as far as I know, feeding well and doing well, and then it was eaten. It's more similar to keeping a dog fat and healthy, and then eating it(which is done in some countries, and it's what we do to domestic food animals all over the world). One could also argue that it is completely unnecessary to keep spiders at all, and countless deaths of these feeders is just as cruel.
(Also, I'd never try a communal with most species, except the few that show true communal behavior, like M. balfouri. Hopefully I get to breed these some day.)