Feeder Breeding To Become!!

[ScalelessTime]

I have been thinking this through and have done lots of research on raising feeders. I will be raising the basics such as: Mealworms, Crickets, Mice and/or Rats.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[jpsteele80]

I know this much about rats, they have to be kept cooler if you want them to breed if it gets up above more then 76 or so you run the risk of them not breeding, I'd keep them around like 72 and they will be popping out left and right :D

[ScalelessTime]

Haha, thank you, JP, for the advice. :)

[jpsteele80]

No problem, I had to find that out the hard way when I started breed mine a few years ago, then I read up on it and found out why they were not breeding, I wont make that mistake this time around when my collection gets big enough :D

[None505]

I use to raise mealworms before I started raising roaches. I kept them in 2-3 inches of oatmeal and put a slice or two of potato on top for them to get water and they reproduced like crazy.

[mmarchl23]

I would recommend dubia roaches instead of crickets. dubs are really easy and dont come with the stench and constant cleaning of crickets.

ive currently got 2 colonies running and may soon expand to a third.

[ScalelessTime]

When it comes to roaches, have you had any infestations on them? My parents are saying "no" immediately because they don't want an infestation.

[Cmwells90]

if they're fed and cared for, why would they really want to leave. But as far as an infestation, they'd have to get out first. I've never bred any, but that's what comes to my mind.

[jpsteele80]

Dubai roaches can't climb smooth surfaces, as long as you keep them in a rubber made container with a bunch of egg crates you will be fine

[ScalelessTime]

Can I use a plastic storage bin?

[None505]

From what I have read they can not infest your house unless you get a pest species like the german or american roach. I use to wipe the top few inches of my lobster & discoid roach cages with oil and that kept them from climbing out when I opened the lid.

[ScalelessTime]

I am guessing you constantly rubbed the oil on the edge so it wouldn't get dry?

[mmarchl23]

i use rubbermaid (plastic) totes for mine, they cant climb smooth surfaces as JP said so they cant get out. also, they are a tropical species so they require higher temps to reproduce. i keep mine in a rack with heat tape and a stat set to 85 degrees

[None505]

I only had to apply oil once or twice a month and that was just for the lobster & discoid roaches since the dubia can't climb the plastic bins.

[smy_749]

I've never bred rats/mice or any worms. Breeding crickets sucks, and they smell. They make alot of noise too. But if your keeping geckos, a diet of only roaches can be hard on them, they are basically covered in body armour and crickets are a bit easier to digest.

Breeding crickets is easy though, but too much work IMO. They breed in my monitors cage wwithout trying, just some moist soil and decent humidity / heat and the pinheads are out all over the place in no time.

Dubia are very easy to breed. Keep them warm, somewhat humid, feed them fruits/veggies (do NOT feed them dogfood, unless you think dogfood is good for your lizards). I leave my top off the dubia bin for days at a time to dry it out, dubia dont smell but rotting veggies / left overs definitely do smell. I've never found any escapees. Also, they won't infest your home unless maybe you live in a tropical / humid area. Its far too cold most months in CT for dubia, and in the winter its far too dry. They need 80's and 90's to breed.

[ScalelessTime]

Hmmm, I need to find a way to convince my parents they can't climb bin surfaces. Haha. That will be a little hard. Here's a question: Are Dubia roaches healthy for beardies? I'm basically going to breed them for my box turtle's and skink's benefit.

[mmarchl23]

My beardies eat dubs regularly. i grab them some crickets when im at an expo to mix things up a little but dubs are my primary feeder

[ScalelessTime]

Some of you might not like this, but I give my beardie a diet of mealworms. I'm trying to change that though, obviously.