Best way to heat a roach colony?

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Damn they need to be kept really hot lol.

They don't need to be kept as hot as danimal does. But if you do keep them that hot, they will reproduce much faster (with smaller adult size generally, but still, much faster). You can keep them in the eighties as well, though the temps danimal said are better. They are a tropical species.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by smy_749

They don't need to be kept as hot as danimal does. But if you do keep them that hot, they will reproduce much faster (with smaller adult size generally, but still, much faster). You can keep them in the eighties as well, though the temps danimal said are better. They are a tropical species.

Okay and even for the largest beardie, is there a certain age group of roaches I want to keep them away from?(Like for example the oldest or youngest roaches). I could be mistaken since I haven't seen a dubia roach in person, but from pictures and videos the old ones look way too big for even a fully grown bearded.

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Okay and even for the largest beardie, is there a certain age group of roaches I want to keep them away from?(Like for example the oldest or youngest roaches). I could be mistaken since I haven't seen a dubia roach in person, but from pictures and videos the old ones look way too big for even a fully grown bearded.

The largest beardies can handle the largest dubia. Especially if you crank the heat and have smaller adults. You only want to feed the adult males (the ones with wings) to keep your colony strong. 1 male to every 3, 5, or even 10 for that matter, males.

They aren't as big as they are in pictures. Maybe 2 inches or so (guessing).

Also, metal bins ....not sure if they will be able to climb that. The reason glass works well is because it is so smooth and perfectly veritical. However they can climb the silicone seams as nymphs. You want to get a plastic tub with vertical edges (no slant on them, some of the nymphs can climb this and I made that mistake).

Get the clear plastic tubs with as close to 90 degree angles on the walls, or even a garbage pale works and you won't even need a top as they don't climb or fly or jump. If your still worried , you can put clear packing tape strip near the top, and if they reach it, they will slide back down and fall into the bin. Or a strip of vaseline will work as well, but its messy and they get stuck in it and can die. I don't advise it :P (and you won't need any of that anyways with the right bin)

Also, Jarich's idea is the best way to heat if you have the right spot to put it. Since its just ambient air heating the bottom of the enclosure, and no direct contact with any heating element, there is less worry about having something melt or need to be hooked up to a thermostat, and its cheaper since its reusing the wasted heat as it escapes through the lid.

Don't use dog food or cat food, keep it organic with veggies and dandelion greens etc. etc. , put them in a food dish so you can remove it and clean the left overs as they rot, and you won't have any smell whatsoever in your enclosure (I Had this problem and stephenbakir gave me those tips, worked great)

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by smy_749

The largest beardies can handle the largest dubia. Especially if you crank the heat and have smaller adults. You only want to feed the adult males (the ones with wings) to keep your colony strong. 1 male to every 3, 5, or even 10 for that matter, males.

They aren't as big as they are in pictures. Maybe 2 inches or so (guessing).

Also, metal bins ....not sure if they will be able to climb that. The reason glass works well is because it is so smooth and perfectly veritical. However they can climb the silicone seams as nymphs. You want to get a plastic tub with vertical edges (no slant on them, some of the nymphs can climb this and I made that mistake).

Get the clear plastic tubs with as close to 90 degree angles on the walls, or even a garbage pale works and you won't even need a top as they don't climb or fly or jump. If your still worried , you can put clear packing tape strip near the top, and if they reach it, they will slide back down and fall into the bin. Or a strip of vaseline will work as well, but its messy and they get stuck in it and can die. I don't advise it :P (and you won't need any of that anyways with the right bin)

Also, Jarich's idea is the best way to heat if you have the right spot to put it. Since its just ambient air heating the bottom of the enclosure, and no direct contact with any heating element, there is less worry about having something melt or need to be hooked up to a thermostat, and its cheaper since its reusing the wasted heat as it escapes through the lid.

Don't use dog food or cat food, keep it organic with veggies and dandelion greens etc. etc. , put them in a food dish so you can remove it and clean the left overs as they rot, and you won't have any smell whatsoever in your enclosure (I Had this problem and stephenbakir gave me those tips, worked great)

Can I feed them commercial Roach food? How about Oats and cereal?

Also, what size colony do you reccommend for only a few lizards? For example 2 beardies and 2 leopoard gecko juvie/adults?

^ obviously there are many variables and factors but if you had to make an estimate how many roaches should I start out with?