Frustrating some times.

[Tomoran]

I'm am very fortunate, as my wife has been incredibly understanding, even as my collection has continued to grow from one to 50+. She has taken a genuine interest in the hobby, often lingering in my T room and asking questions about the different species. She's even doing her best to learn the scientific names, which is awesome. She also takes care of the dubia roach colony, which has been very convenient.

She will give me a hard time when I order more (I've been telling her I'm "done" for months), or when a stray cricket turns up in the kitchen, but it's always in good fun.

 

[Denny Dee]

That's yet another reason to go with roaches: self-propagating food-source. Though they do sound like rain as they race around their enclosure...creepiest thing ever heard in my home.

Hopefully you are not hearing that in your "home"! That is her concern. I have too many crickets escape during feeding time. So, she thinks it would be the same with the Dubias. Totally different as we all know.

 

[2G33K4U]

Go you drink Coffee? I use a large red folgers can to house my crickets they can escape like this one Classic Roast Coffee or a Giant Red Vines tub

 

[Denny Dee]

Mine only escape when I am transferring them into the feeding tanks. I like to feed them alive. I use a bin/tub to transfer but I think it is a numbers game? Feeding day here is a BIG day. Lots of crickets and usually one maybe two escape (surprising how far a pinhead can leap!).

 

[2G33K4U]

True and they jump at anything. the adults not so much.

 

[Denny Dee]

Our dog has become the professional cricket catcher. She seems to find them within 24 hours. So, I think my wife just substitutes roaches being found in the house versus the crickets. And that has been defined as BAD.

 

[2G33K4U]

My daughter is my cricket retrieval system

 

[LauraMI]

Hopefully you are not hearing that in your "home"! That is her concern. I have too many crickets escape during feeding time. So, she thinks it would be the same with the Dubias. Totally different as we all know.

Well yes...we started with our colony in the closet and it was very loud. But the bin was too small and we needed more egg crate, then a heat pad for breeding, so into the basement they went. Tell her if she uses a paper towel tube to capture and shake the roaches in, they don't escape.
HATE crickets! You all will appreciate this: I had to tear apart a live-planted gecko viv sitting beside my son's crib to kill one banded cricket male. It had been chirping loudly for nearly three weeks, totally destroying the good sleeping habits I'm trying to establish! The Day Geckos will not have crickets ever again! Took over an hour!

So yes, roaches!
I also had two Bearded Dragons trained to pick crickets off the walls. They learned if I ran in and scooped them up w/o warning and ran off to point their nose in a corner to look for a quick snack.

 

[Denny Dee]

Love the vivarium!

 

[2G33K4U]

LOL, recently started my Dubia colony haven't started feeding them to the T's yet I want to wait until i see reproduction going on.

 

[MatthewM1]

B. latteralis are another great feeder roach. My roach of choice for slings and smaller juvies.

 

[LauraMI]

B. latteralis? Are those the Red Runners? Had a few of those escape. Our basement flooded on that torrential downpour last week (we're in metro-Detroit) and in the ensuing demo, we found a few live ones. Haven't had that colony for 6 months.

 

[MatthewM1]

Yupp red runners. They are definitely a little more escape prone than dubias and capable of becoming a pest in warmer regions. I've never had a problem with them getting out of the tub j keep them in but I've dropped a couple during feedings. Luckily my cat ends up taking care of them as soon as they venture out of the critter room.

 

[Denny Dee]

They do sell these (red runners) at the local reptile show. Lots of great benefits. They are a good looking roach (if there is such a thing?). One major drawback: They can breed at room temps and will prefer kitchens, etc. So, definitely a no go for me.

 

[2G33K4U]

B. latteralis are another great feeder roach. My roach of choice for slings and smaller juvies.

There is a particular species that does well in dry environment I cannot remember exact species of roach they are smaller I read about them. I am going to have to find a roach specialty shop and get some. Denny those sound like the German roach the roach most people think of when they hear roach.

 

[Denny Dee]

Nope. Red Runners. You need to be very cautious when you select a roach species to colonize for food. Especially if you live in the warmer climes like AZ or FL. I have done a ton of research on this (although I probably won't get to use it ). Runners are a great food source but can fly and can reproduce in the home. Stay clear unless you are a pro. Dubias are the best choice IMO other than the burrowing in the substrate issue which can be avoided by tong feeding (or the crushing of its head which I have yet to test).

 

[2G33K4U]

Hmm didn't think to crush head might have to give that a whirl. Oh my daughter found a Preying mantis for me today Local Variety

 

[MatthewM1]

They say male lats can fly but if they can they are very hesitant to do so. I've tried to harass them to the point of flying away and have never seen them do so. They can jump pretty well for roaches though. Crushing the dubias heads works really well, they continue to kick for a good 24 hours or so, heck I even pulled a bolus out of my P. regalis enclosure once before he matured that still had a leg moving in it lol

 

[Denny Dee]

Hmm didn't think to crush head might have to give that a whirl. Oh my daughter found a Preying mantis for me today Local Variety

That is awesome! I have always toyed with keeping them. Seems like a no brainer but interested in hearing a T collector's perspective on keeping a mantis. Keep us posted.

 

[2G33K4U]

I took a pic of the mantis.