Buy a ton of the largest ones you can find and grow them yourself (1” will grow to adults within a few months) i have discoids (they’re similar a species) and have bought them from luna roaches, theres tons of websites for roaches, i cant particularly recommend any cause of the state i live in, but they’re very similar in care, you want to be feeding fresh veg , every day to every 3 days, they need roach chow, and water crystals (3 separate dishes, oh yea) a heating pad is Necessary if ur house is cool temped (recommend one with a temp gauge) and put it on the side at first, you dont want the whole bin to be hot. If you want substrate (I recommend, but not necessarily needed) it will help keep in humidity needed for breeding and molting, you need to maintain 3 things, heat humidity and diet, ive heard feeding oranges is like a Aphrodisiac for roaches (i can neither confirm nor deny this)
Thank you for the response! I am still a bit confused though, how do I start the breeding process and do roach kits help. How long did your colony take to start?
I set mine up three months ago & seeing a ton of babies. I purchased 20 adult females, 5 adult males & an assortment of various sizes because I read that they would breed faster if your bin had a various assortment to have it feel like an already established colony. I set mine up in a 200 quart bin with screen across both ends of the lid. I have it on heat tape keeping the temps at 83. I use water crystals misting the crystals every other day & changing that twice a week. I also spray the bin side every few days. I use cypress mulch which they like to eat the wood chunks & giving them places to hide. I have the tiny beetles added but can’t remember what they’re called but positive it’s not the Dermestid ones. I feed Roach chow, oranges, plain oatmeal, yams & sometimes frozen veggies or apples.
How do you get the smaller size out? I tried the other day but it is so creepy having the big ones not move away. Finally I said that I will sell my adults & keep purchasing. If I shake the flat to get the ones I need then those big creepy ones fall too. I’m thinking there has to be a way for those of us that are afraid of the larger ones. Do you have any secrets to tell? Hah
, (ive been picking up black widows since i was 4 so bugs arnt an issue for me) but for someone who’d rather distance themselves, all i can say is they dont want to touch you as much as you dont want to touch them lol, theres a couple females in my bin that i take out and look over, they dont even try to get away it’s weird..
Hi, thank you so much!! This was a great answer. I just have a quick question about what you mean by various sizes. How many? And where can you pruahcase this much?
Oh wow! I’m hopping to get this many and maybe sell some as my Beardie gets older. And thank you for the tip! I was wondering, if I start seeing babies around month 3, how many can I feed my Beardie without the population dying off. Right now he can eat one that’s are about 1/2 an inch.
It’ll take some experience on your part, or looking it up, once a roach gets to be 1” they only have 1-3more moltings before its an adult, once they get that big I wouldn’t feed it, feed the smaller roaches as those will take 3-5 months to grow to a larger size,… id pick up a bunch of mine to show you, but discoids grow differently than dubias (and i dont bother the bin)
Various sizes like twenty five of each of the other sizes starting with the 1/4”. I have ordered different places & have found most will take your money but then send a bigger size than what you ordered. Have been ordering from Dubideli.com for a few months & have had no issues. You should have the post office hold so they don’t sit on a truck which is what I do & all have arrived alive & well. Once you see babies, I would start by feeding only half of what you see (maybe a lil more) until you know for sure that breeding is actually going to continue.
I don’t bother my bins often either but that’s because the adults are large & scary. LOL I can pick up the 1/2” & smaller if they are stuck on their back bcuz I feel bad but if one climbs on me, my instinct is to fling it off. Flung one across the room one time then felt bad & tore the room apart looking for it so it could go back in with its friends.
I have a quick follow up question becuase right now I’m focusing on heating, what heating brown are you using? My biggest concern right now is the heat pad melting through the plastic tub. Right now I am looking at this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084ZKB1B1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6J6QPY7PKT53RJ00TK9J?psc=1
I’m not sure the link works so try searching this on Amazon 14W/20W110V Reptile Heating Pad with Temperature Adjustment, Under Tank Heat Pad, Safety Adjustable Reptile Heat Mat for Turtle, Tortoise, Snakes, Lizard, Gecko https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084ZKB1B1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6J6QPY7PKT53RJ00TK9J?psc=1
I’m not sure how to do links but I did try. Can’t figure it out but I went on Reptilebasics.com & after many frustrating weeks, I got the 12” heat tape had them do the connectors & a thermostat. I went with a 4’ so in the future other bins could be on it too. I was afraid of frying the roaches with a heating pad but I see where others use them & they are fine. Read the bad reviews before deciding because a lot of the good reviews are fake.
Do you thing if I put directly on the plastic, it woll melt? People have told me to use glass as a barrier but I feel like this is just an extra step.
I’ve seen a lot of pictures and videos of people using heat tape and mats on plastic without any problems. But it cancels any warranty on the product for misuse and isn’t 100% safe. I live where I work and don’t want to accidentally burn down the house.
