Thinking of starting a roach colony ...

[maximus30576]

Just wandering if any one here has dubia roaches for there dragons and if it was better than crickets . They seem easier to breed and care for and are better nutrition.. Just looking for some opinions . Thanks ..Matt

[Dehlida]

Yes and Yes. Dubia are cheaper, cleaner, and better than crickets.

[Valvaren]

I've had my colony for a little over a year, they are amazing to care for and much much healthier. I keep mine high protein dog food and lots of fruits and veggies, they breed like crazy, don't smell, don't make noise and I've never had one fly, though males can.

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/Deemac6/DSCN2058.jpg
http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/Deemac6/DSCN2059.jpg
http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/Deemac6/DSCN2060.jpg
http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac267/Deemac6/DSCN2056.jpg

I have a video up of my colony, i'll post it if you want.

[NennaMeerkat]

Roaches creep me the fudge out! -shudders- BUT they are better for your critters. Interestingly enough my old man dragon KyJinn turned his nose up at roaches (bought about 10 at the last expo I went to). It was heck fishing them out of the tank.

[stephanbakir]

I'm planning on starting up a colony aswel.

[Valvaren]

They really are simple to keep, I have mine in a large tub from walmart with some egg crates and a sunbeam heating pad. They take a little bit to get going depending on what you start with and what you plan on feeding, think the min till you can feed is a month or two to make sure you have a sustainable colony but again depends on what you start with. I had 300 mix nymphs, 30 females and 10 males, took about two months but then again I only have one mouth to feed.

[totheend]

Canadians....Roaches are illegal.

[Valvaren]

I know many people up here who have them, and i'm aware they are.

[Onyx Cross]

Roaches are disgusting, lol...But good luck with that roach colony if you go for it!

[maximus30576]

Thanks guys , i think i will go for it .. Probably have to order some ,dont think the pet stores close to me have them . I only have one dragon so i will start out with 100 mixed i guess and wait a month or so before i start feeding ..

[infernalis]

Roaches are disgusting, lol...But good luck with that roach colony if you go for it!


It's all in the frame of mind..

It took me a little while, but my roaches are my babies... My Sav & Leo both love them.

[stephanbakir]

Canadians....Roaches are illegal.
I'm well aware of this, however as a few of you know, I recently rescued a severely underweight and mistreated Asian Water monitor, and I'm willing to take the risk and feed him roaches/fuzzies till hes back on track then swap over to a less legally risky diet.

[infernalis]

Just remember this.. raw unpeeled shrimp IS a great source of big bulky insect meat.

Just go to the grocery store and buy a big bag of frozen jumbo raw unpeeled shrimp.. Monitors love them.

[stephanbakir]

I'll have to try that.

[totheend]

I was just sayin'....

I think that our hobby already gets a bad rep without us advertising illegal activity...

[Valvaren]

I don't advertise it around where I live and I don't expect any of you to call the cops on me. I know many people who keep them and lots of people who sell them without a problem, I have that feeling that its illegal but not something they will really smack down on you for. But again i'm not sure, I'm extremely careful with them and that they don't escape because I would never run that risk of what they might do if they ended up outside and survived (which is terribly unlikely in my environment). But again like I said I know many people around where I live who 'flash' them around selling wise and just showing off/bragging and i've never heard of anyone who has had a problem.

[stephanbakir]

I was just sayin'....

I think that our hobby already gets a bad rep without us advertising illegal activity...

Thats a fair point, I'll be more careful.

[Aaron_S]

I don't advertise it around where I live and I don't expect any of you to call the cops on me. I know many people who keep them and lots of people who sell them without a problem, I have that feeling that its illegal but not something they will really smack down on you for. But again i'm not sure, I'm extremely careful with them and that they don't escape because I would never run that risk of what they might do if they ended up outside and survived (which is terribly unlikely in my environment). But again like I said I know many people around where I live who 'flash' them around selling wise and just showing off/bragging and i've never heard of anyone who has had a problem.

Just because everyone does it doesn't make it really ok. This is the same kind of thinking that happens around the by-laws and then one day BAM! you're caught and I have to take on some extra animals. happened when I was working in a pet store.

[totheend]

I don't advertise it around where I live and I don't expect any of you to call the cops on me. I know many people who keep them and lots of people who sell them without a problem, I have that feeling that its illegal but not something they will really smack down on you for. But again i'm not sure, I'm extremely careful with them and that they don't escape because I would never run that risk of what they might do if they ended up outside and survived (which is terribly unlikely in my environment). But again like I said I know many people around where I live who 'flash' them around selling wise and just showing off/bragging and i've never heard of anyone who has had a problem.

See but you did just advertise on an OPEN forum! You have no idea who lurks....

It is very much so something that they will smack down on you for! CFIA is very serious about it.

I am not trying to be a jerk...I am just letting you know that maybe it is something you should keep to yourself.

[Valvaren]

I'm not saying that because everyone does it that it is okay, what I mean is that I know so many people who have them, that sell them an advertise them that it isn't some ominous thing. When I first thought about getting them and heard they were illegal I knew I wouldn't be able to get them, mention on a canadian forum I wanted them and there are hundreds of people up here who breed and advertise them. I haven't heard of anyone up here getting 'caught' or fined or anything about it so I don't feel particularly scared of nervous. I don't sell them or export/import them. But anyway whatever I understand why you guys worry about the rep and I wont mention it anymore.

[ladyjustice33]

Man....that was a lot of roaches in the pic, lol, **shudder**!! Glad I only have snakes and not anything that eats bugs!!! Here's hoping my daughter doesn't ask for a lizard at the expo!! Although.....my least favorite sister in law is completely terrified of roaches, like phobia terrified...hmmmm.....food for thought, lol !!!

[Freebody]

thier is no reason canada has banned the dubia roach, i think its one of the biggest BS laws, they are a non avasive species to all of canada, they would thrive during the summer and be all dead by winter. just another law, not properly investigated and writen from the high paid govt. with that said, get yourself a colony, its great healthy, easy to breed, non stinky, never ever need to clean the cage< babies eat the poop, cant climb, cant fly< males for a few inch bursts. just keep the heat up. crickets die at the drop of a hat