Lobster Roaches... Hissers... Legality Issues...

[Linds]

OK. So I was informed at work that I it is now illegal to have/ship/keep or whatever the deal was (they weren't really clear) live roaches. I have was hoping to get into breeding lobster roaches for some of my kids, but apparently all we can get in now are frozen roaches :confused: No expert on roaches....lol.....but I don't think those will breed for me :rolleyes: Does anyone know what the deal is with this? I know that there have been legality issues with hissers, but I didn't think that all roaches were covered under this??? Any insight would be greatly appreciated :)

[Stockwell]

Hello Linds
Yes, all exotic/tropical roaches, and stick bugs are prohibited by Agriculture Canada, and have been for some time.
You can't import them, keep them, breed them or sell them. They're starting to crach down on this now too.
Presumably they are afraid they could over-winter, become established and end up damaging crops and causing havock on natural eco-systems

[Linds]

Thanks for the info Roy :)

[Kyle Barker]

With that said, there are TONS of people breeding them for feeders.

[Linds]

I know that much... lol... but unfortunately I don't know who those people are :rolleyes: I can't stand crickets - the smell, the escapees, the noise...drives me nuts! So thought I would give lobster roaches a try (if I can find any). I've only heard good things about breeding and keeping them :)

[alex_33]

If roaches are really that good, i would love to get me some, too bad about those laws. I'm with you Linds crickets are driving me ABSOLUTELY crazy. Everywhere i go in my hosue theres a cricket waiting for me lol. Ugh i need to find a cricket alternative badly.

[Kyle Barker]

PM me.

[Stalabros]

The roaches may have been illegal to keep before, but the reason that they are so strict on importing them now is because SARS has been linked to roaches in china.

[silkie]

I heard about hissers passing some sickness too, but it was in some other country.... I cant remember where I read it though, so I am not much help, but I did learn about it half a year ago!!

[stretch]

I heard sars was connected to some animal they eat over in asia. I didn't hear anything about it being the roaches. I may be wrong though. Thats just what I've been hearing on the news

[Linds]

That's what I heard as well, Stretch. I heard it was due to eating cats :eek:

[peregrinefalcon]

I don't know about other roaches, but if you want my opinion then don't waste your time with hissers. I tried breeding them for my plated lizards and leos, sure they liked em a bit but you couldn't leave them in their cage because they would get out and if they crawl under the substrate you have to dig up the entire substrate looking for them. Even with vaseline they can still get out and they'll be crawling up your walls and in your bed. I found baby roaches under things in my room months after I supposedly got rid of them. Contary to popular belief they do stink and they make more noise then crickets at night, always hissing and crawling over everything. This is just my opinion but hissing roaches are from hell.
Adam

[Lisa]

What about those big giant milipedes?

[Linds]

Adam,
Really? The hissers we used to have at work were by a long stretch better than crickets. Regardless though, I am not looking to get into breeding hissers for my animals, only lobster roaches. Their small size and higher meat to exoskeleton ratio appeals to me. I think they may also be amongst the percentage of non-glass climbing roaches?

Originally posted by Lisa
What about those big giant milipedes?

Not sure what you are asking here? If you meant breeding them as feeders, then that's an absolute out. Millipedes all secrete a noxious substance from their sides, some moreso than others, but nonetheless they are all poisonous to some degree.

[Kyle Barker]

Lobsters climb glass.

[V.hb]

Originally posted by peregrinefalcon
I don't know about other roaches, but if you want my opinion then don't waste your time with hissers. I tried breeding them for my plated lizards and leos, sure they liked em a bit but you couldn't leave them in their cage because they would get out and if they crawl under the substrate you have to dig up the entire substrate looking for them. Even with vaseline they can still get out and they'll be crawling up your walls and in your bed. I found baby roaches under things in my room months after I supposedly got rid of them. Contary to popular belief they do stink and they make more noise then crickets at night, always hissing and crawling over everything. This is just my opinion but hissing roaches are from hell.
Adam


Haha, that really turned me off.. Was about to begin a colony for feed.... Iam glad you went into detail, of course I could assume they are easy to contain..... Just like crickets!! I pretend as if i dont hear them all night....... Would hate to share a bed with a big roach.

[WingedWolf]

Lobsters climb glass AND have wings, though they purportedly rarely fly. You use a line of vaseline around the top rim of the tank to keep them in. They are said not to breed in houses. I have heard people say they can tolerate temps down to 40 F. However, I've heard others say that their breeding rate DRASTICALLY drops at 70 F (room temperature), and they really do best at 80 F. This may be why they are said not to establish in houses--most houses are too cool for them to breed enough to keep up their population (let alone expand it).