Roaches vs. Crickets

[Spiders&Snakes]

Which is better?

Does one provide better nutrition than the other?

And is there any benefit to alternating between crickets and roaches each feeding? Or does it make no difference?

 

[Konstantin]

Hi
roaches have higer meat to exoskeleton ratio and are usually more nutritional than crickets but it all depends on how you care for your feeders.
I use mainly crickets as my Ts are not very keen on Dubias and the girlfriend while putting up with loose crickets will go mental if I have red runners roaming around so don't keep them.
While it is nice to give your Ts some variety one feeder option will be enough for them.
Regards Konstantin

 

[PanzoN88]

Roaches are nutritionally better than crickets. They also don’t stink as much as crickets nor do they make a bunch of annoying noises. Personally I hate crickets, but that’s all my P. muticus would eat when smaller

while there may be a benefit, it isn’t necessary to feed tarantulas a variety. I primarily feed my collection superworms and mealworms and pieces of the aforementioned feeders for the slings.

 

[octanejunkie]

I keep a colony of B lateralis (red runners) but alternate feeders to keep things random.

Unless eaten right away roaches will often lay low and hide in an enclosure, they have a strong survival instinct. Crickets on the contrary are stupid and will only stay still when noticed, and then begin moving around, which usually stimulates a feeding response. Crickets can't stay still.

Occasionally I'll feed mealworms. These are best given to a hungry and attentive T or they will burrow, like dubia. Also like dubia some people crush their heads, I don't bother.

Variety is the spice of life.

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

Thanks guys, very informative.

I've fed both in the past, but I'm not a fan of crickets - they are annoying and noisy, plus they jump at you.

So, after your input, I think I'm gonna start breeding a small colony of dubia - and keep them in the spare room.

Anyone else keep their own roach colony?

I just get tired of getting my feeders from the pet shop every couple weeks. Might as well keep and breed your own.

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

Roaches are nutritionally better than crickets. They also don’t stink as much as crickets nor do they make a bunch of annoying noises. Personally I hate crickets, but that’s all my P. muticus would eat when smaller

while there may be a benefit, it isn’t necessary to feed tarantulas a variety. I primarily feed my collection superworms and mealworms and pieces of the aforementioned feeders for the slings.

Honestly, I hate crickets too. Locusts are almost as bad.

 

[ArachnoHorn]

Thanks guys, very informative.

I've fed both in the past, but I'm not a fan of crickets - they are annoying and noisy, plus they jump at you.

So, after your input, I think I'm gonna start breeding a small colony of dubia - and keep them in the spare room.

Anyone else keep their own roach colony?

I just get tired of getting my feeders from the pet shop every couple weeks. Might as well keep and breed your own.

Keep roaches in egg cartons.

 

[Oursapoil]

I have a large dubias colony, keep in mind that they are not the fastest to grow or reproduce but they are a lot more tolerant with dry conditions and won’t climb slick surfaces as most roaches do. They are also expert at no moving the second a T approaches so the trick is to crush the head (I had some dubias still being alive and moving 2 weeks after the whole head was mashed) and put them on their back (they’ll move their legs frenetically which often works to trigger the Ts).
Do a research on the forum as we had not too long ago a similar thread where we all posted pictures of our colonies and exchanged advices and tips.
Hope this helps, cheers.

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

I got 20+ dubias this week and have housed them in a clear sterilite tub with egg cartons, fruits and veggies and even some h20 balls.

Although I have only seen one or two come out to eat

They just hide away

Is this normal??

I thought they would be voracious eaters?

 

[Oursapoil]

I got 20+ dubias this week and have housed them in a clear sterilite tub with egg cartons, fruits and veggies and even some h20 balls.

Although I have only seen one or two come out to eat

They just hide away

Is this normal??

I thought they would be voracious eaters?

Totally normal, they come out to eat at night or in the dark. The minute they'll see light they'll hide.
Orange wages are great for them too, I was told it is the dubia's Viagra

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

Totally normal, they come out to eat at night or in the dark. The minute they'll see light they'll hide.
Orange wages are great for them too, I was told it is the dubia's Viagra

Woah, really. Ok, so they are more skittish than i thought. Pussies LOL

I imagined they'd be feeding constantly

I will get some oranges then

I've been giving them carrots and apples and oatmeal, and they seem to like to apples the most

But again.... not much movement during the day

they are actually a lot less bother than i expected. no trouble at all. and cleaner than i expected too

 

[octanejunkie]

For me, red runners breed more readily when fed oranges.

 

[Oursapoil]

Woah, really. Ok, so they are more skittish than i thought. Pussies LOL

I imagined they'd be feeding constantly

I will get some oranges then

I've been giving them carrots and apples and oatmeal, and they seem to like to apples the most

But again.... not much movement during the day

they are actually a lot less bother than i expected. no trouble at all. and cleaner than i expected too

Just keep in mind that dubias are not growing and reproducing as fast as many other roach species. Depending on how many Ts you have you might end up needing a lot more to maintain a colony.

 

[Gardez]

I feed my smaller spiders with smal mealwoorms

 

[Poppy2020]

I use a variety—- crickets, dubia and occasionally super worms. I like using crickets because as mentioned they don’t stay still for very long— I like to watch the hunt. If you keep them dry and pull any uneaten fruits/veggies every other day they’ll last for awhile. Dubias are great— very clean and easy to keep. My T’s love them. Superworms are good too— I just dislike crushing their heads.

 

[Poppy2020]

I got 20+ dubias this week and have housed them in a clear sterilite tub with egg cartons, fruits and veggies and even some h20 balls.

Although I have only seen one or two come out to eat

They just hide away

Is this normal??

I thought they would be voracious eaters?

I keep mine in a black Sterilite bin. The darker the better.

 

[timc]

Crickets are my main staple, mostly for convenience sake. They’re just available in every pet store. Plus, that’s what my frogs eat so I always have a dozen or so on hand. Roaches aren’t really “allowed” in my house, so I can only sneak some in once in a while. Not all my spiders take them, so it’s generally a once in a while treat. I get worms in the spring and summer when molts are more frequent. Good to fatten up the babies. However in the winter when everything is cooler and metabolisms are slower I don’t use worms to avoid fasting.

I don’t have a colony or farm of any feeders, don’t raise them myself and probably never will. It’s just not something I’m interested in doing.

 

[shaun]

I use brown crickets because they are so available. Don't often see roaches in the pet shops here.
I feed the crickets on fish food and occasionally veg. I water them by making gel from the stuff inside a baby's nappy ( the gel that soaks up liquid, not the stuff that the baby leaves there!!)

 

[Konstantin]

Haha.Never thought about that as a water source.
I get small bags of dry water cristals from Ebay for sth like £2 and it lasts for ages(Im yet to finish the first bag and been using it fir about an year)You just put a 1/5 of a tea spoon in small jar of cooled boiled tap water and is ready in 40 min, then you store it in the fridge.
Regards Konstantin

 

[Gizalba]

For me, red runners breed more readily when fed oranges.

Good to know! Part of me wonders if this is a joke coming from you But worth trying anyway haha as I like oranges.