Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was wanting to ask a few questions about roaches.
i found what i thought was a good price. 1,000 Blatta lateralis (Rusty Reds) for 17.99 on thebugpros.com. is this a good price?
i only have one bearded and hes around 5 months old. 1,000 roaches seems like alot for just one dragon.

i have also heard that roaches are pretty easy to keep and breed so i would think with 1,000 of them i would have a constant food source going.

any info would be greatly appreciated

thank you.

-DUCKTALES-

I don't like roaches so take my opinion with that in mind. But, anyway I'd start with a much smaller supply of any new feeder. You need to make sure that your dragons like them and will eat them firstoff. Also just because you hear that roaches are easy to keep doesn't mean that they are or will be for you. I bought 50 Dubia just to try them a couple months ago. Neither me or my 3 adults were thrilled with them. I still have 160 as of last weeks cleaning and find them more hastle to take care of then crickets.

As for the species you are considering I'll leave that to others here that are much more knowledgable about them.

Unfortunately I don't know much about this particular breed of roaches but the price sounds good to me. A 1000 roaches could go just as fast as a thousand crickets, if you have a dragon that is ravenously hungry and loves them. It really depends on the size. If they are all adults and a mix of males and females, they may be too big to feed your dragon (space between the dragons' eyes for size of feeder applies with roaches). Some roaches are very hard shelled when adults so are not a very good feeder for young dragons, even if small enough.

Some roaches climb and some roaches fly, some do both. Finding a non climbing flightless breed is usually the best way to go (much less chance to have them escape, other than dropping them). A 1000 certainly is a good size to start a large colony, but BDLvr is right in it being a better ideal to buy a smaller amount, to make sure your dragon likes them. It would be a real pain if you bought 1000 roaches and your dragon turns his nose at them. Unless you have other insect eating animals...it will mean you now have 1000 roaches to destroy or sell off. (don't release them..they could survive depending on your climate).

For more information about the rearing and care of these roaches, I suggest posting your question on the feeder forum. There are alot of roach experts there.

forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=9
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PHLdyPayne

thanks for the info guys.

i do have other animals that would more than likely eat them as well.

my buddy gave me his mealworms he had left over so i gave most of them to my turtles but some of worms were beetles and i gave one to my bearded just to see and he seem to really enjoy them.

any info on other great feeders and a cheap place to buy them would be very helpful.

thanks.

there are all kinds of alternative feeders to feed bearded dragons. Crickets, silkworms, butterworms, phoenix worms and for older dragons, you can also give them superworms as a treat.
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PHLdyPayne