roach colonies

[V.hb]

Hey, iam planning on starting up my own roach colony.. Just wondering if anyone has any pics or expierience with madagascar giant roaches they can offer..... Setup pics would be great also. Thanks.

[betsyjean79]

Here is a really good article with pictures that should be helpful.

http://www.chameleonnews.com/year2003/may2003/roaches/roaches.html

[Kyle Barker]

warm and TONS of food...they are slow breeders in my opinion.

[V.hb]

thanks for the responses..... do you recommend any other species, like discoids?

[Kyle Barker]

yup :D

im guessing you want something largish? lobsters and surinams are VERY good, but are small (like a cricket). discoids are good, you may want to check out balberus gigantius (spelling?), they be BIG!

[reptiguy123]

Who would've thought that some people pay money to breed ROACHES!!??? Herpers are surely one-of-a-kind!:D

[jadegrasse]

Get the lobsters. Breed like nuts and grow like crazy.

[reptilesalonica]

You should try Blaptica dubia. They have many advantages and the make the best cockroach colony.

- They are medium sized (comparing to Madag. hissers)
- They cannot climb glass or (smooth) plastic
- They are not fast like other roaches, only quick when got scarred.
- They are prolific breeders
- They don't require substrate
- They don't smell at all
- They procuce nymphs (you don't mess with eggs and sprayings)

I had started with 100 semi-adults but wanted quick results in the minimum of time (and paid a lot money too)...
50 roaches for a start is fine.
If you can find WC Blaptica dubia, each female will produce about 40-50 nymphs, while most inbred from roach breeders (James Tuttle-the best) will produce 20-30 nymphs each-maximum.
Again, that is a good number and in some months you will be full of nymphs.
In the photo below are some B. dubia from one of my 10 colonies.

[reptile boi]

Hey V.hb,

I myself breed my own hissers and i would trade them for just about any other roaches out there! These guys eat alot, smell pretty funky after just 3 weeks of cleaning their cages (stinkyness depends on the substrate you use, i use pine shavings) and take almost an eternity to give birth! All of my females take their sweet *** time incubating their ootecas in them and normally give birth about 2-3 months after breeding!!! 2-3 MONTHS!!!! The most babies i have ever gotten was about 40, but i normally get 20-30 nymphs everytime the females drop. Also, these guys can climb up smooth surfaces and have hard throny legs. If i were you i would go for some other roach species like discoids or lobsters like jadegrasse and kyle barker mentioned.


Thanks,
Ben

[pythonmdk]

ya hisser suck I just keep them as pets now, I love my lobsters but they can climb glass. Another thing about hissers are they are very thick shelled, dicsoids are easier for your lizards to eat, mine haven't really breed that fast but I like them none the less.