Hi guys, questions about feeder roaches

[Kevin Levites]

I am getting 4 new tarantulas tomorrow.

I live in Florida, and I have access to wild roaches collected in a rural area.

I've heard divided opinions.

I imagine that roaches from a house or garden may have been exposed to toxins and/or pesticides, so could be dangerous for a pet tarantula.

But what about roaches and beetles collected from the boondocks?

I want to experiment with some dietary diversity as opposed to always using crickets, meal worms, and silkworm moths.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

 

[tarantulas118]

It’s really a 50/50 chance. You might be successful with this plan or you might not but me personally would not try that because they could also carry parasites

 

[Kevin Levites]

It’s really a 50/50 chance. You might be successful with this plan or you might not but me personally would not try that because they could also carry parasites

That actually does makes sense.

I imagine that a tarantula from, say, South America might be more vulnerable to parasites from Florida for the same reason why Native Americans were vulnerable to European diseases that they hadn't been exposed to.

I'll stick to domestic sources of feeder insects like dubia roaches, crickets, mealworm beetles, and silkworm moths.

Thank you again.

 

[mrsoul1974]

That actually does makes sense.

I imagine that a tarantula from, say, South America might be more vulnerable to parasites from Florida for the same reason why Native Americans were vulnerable to European diseases that they hadn't been exposed to.

I'll stick to domestic sources of feeder insects like dubia roaches, crickets, mealworm beetles, and silkworm moths.

Thank you again.

Yeah, man... I think you are asking for trouble if you are looking to use wild-caught feeders for your T's. You may save a few dollars , but I don't think it's worth risking the health/lives of your T's.

 

[Tarántulabro1]

Yall cant have redrunners in Florida, correct?

 

[Kevin Levites]

I'm not sure. I don't know what redrunners are. A species of roach?

 

[Tarántulabro1]

I'm not sure. I don't know what redrunners are. A species of roach?

Turkestan Cockroach, Rusty Red Roach
( Blatta lateralis, or Shelfordella lateralis )

Google TC insects.

 

[Kevin Levites]

I looked up the red runner, and it seems that is is already established in Florida.

It does say that it now occurs in South Carolina . . . so I'm betting it's in Florida.

 

[Kevin Levites]

I might consider raising and cultivating them from wild stock.

 

[I just need all the T's]

I was taught way way early into my keeping to not feed wild caught feeders because of the possibility of parasites. So I've never tried it wouldn't even think about it unless I'm feeding a few of the wc wolf spider's I have.
If you can keep Dubais I'd try getting a starter colony. Get the biggest you can and about six months later you may be able to actually have enough to split them up into two.

That's eventually what I have done now I have three tubs going. I still buy crickets but not by the load, for me they are really hard to keep a huge bunch alive for very long.

 

[Kevin Levites]

I was taught way way early into my keeping to not feed wild caught feeders because of the possibility of parasites. So I've never tried it wouldn't even think about it unless I'm feeding a few of the wc wolf spider's I have.
If you can keep Dubais I'd try getting a starter colony. Get the biggest you can and about six months later you may be able to actually have enough to split them up into two.

That's eventually what I have done now I have three tubs going. I still buy crickets but not by the load, for me they are really hard to keep a huge bunch alive for very long.

Thank you.