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Roaches....gas?

phantompoo Nov 19, 2007 11:50 AM

As someone with zero experience breeding roaches, I have been researching the subject. Seems easy enough, and experienced keepers all swear by them. I particularly want to try lobster roaches (for ackies). However, I consistently come into this warning about the roaches producing toxic gases when kept in crowded colonies. What is that about? The words "toxic" and "gas" should not go with anything that is gonna be kept in my house, hehe.

The only thing i know of that builds up during over-crowding is nitrogen from the build up of waste. Do not quote me on that.

Anyways...Toxic Gas...what gives?

Replies (16)

MikesMonitors Nov 19, 2007 12:18 PM

Poo
I breed THOUSANDS of Roaches!
Lobsters being one of the most prolific, never heard of such a thing.
Hisser and Lobster.
Mike

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Mike's Monitors!

robyn@ProExotics Nov 19, 2007 01:09 PM

Mike and i are in concurration.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

phantompoo Nov 19, 2007 02:46 PM

ha i am adding that word to my repitwa (i no itz speltt wong)

anyway, thats good to hear. In all seriousness the "how to's" on breeding roaches mention it. nyworms had a pretty extensive site.

On reading them again though, i think it may have been taken out of context. Toxic as in toxic to the colony from something like C02 buildup and such.

Anyways....robyn when are your lobster roaches gonna be up and read y again? hehe

robyn@ProExotics Nov 19, 2007 04:02 PM

it has been an adventure, breeding roaches : )

they are back avaiable right now though!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

MikesMonitors Nov 19, 2007 08:11 PM

Robyn
Yes, Roaches are fun to keep and breed!
Everybody should have some...FUN!
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

chonjoepython Nov 19, 2007 11:43 PM

mike, what is the proper method for smoking roaches. can a lobster roach be smoked in the same fashion as a hisser? does nunz smoke roaches?
joe

MadAxeMan Nov 20, 2007 07:21 AM

I tried smoking roaches once. It was in England when I was young,but I didn't like it and I didn't inhale.

chonjoepython Nov 20, 2007 11:59 AM

yeah, ive heard that before. but i meant smoke as in smoked salmon,sausage,venison,quail,pheasant ect.
joe

MadAxeMan Nov 21, 2007 06:25 AM

Sorry... i spent 9yrs living in the western adirondacks (old forge area) before moving to Fla. Let me tell ya they ain't smoking no ham or salmon there.

chonjoepython Nov 21, 2007 12:25 PM

you mean to tell me those arent ham and salmon plants growin out there?

MikesMonitors Nov 20, 2007 12:02 PM

Joe
Gusto looks a bit "gusty" if you know what I mean
I tried to smoke a salmon one time...but couldn't get it lit!

Mike

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Mike's Monitors!

chonjoepython Nov 20, 2007 12:15 PM

hey mike try feeding to your roaches the crust that develops under nunzios stop (big wrinkle between nose and eyes) i once caught a roach eating gustos stop scum, and now that roach is 6' 5" 260lbs.
joe

MikesMonitors Nov 20, 2007 03:36 PM

Joe
I'm stingy I don't even share that crusty stuff with my Wife! LOL
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

SHvar Nov 21, 2007 11:34 PM

Pulling your leg, way out.
Ive kept lobster roaches for years, I bounght 10 from a local petstore once, I fed 2 off to my ackie (first one) and kept the other 8, I set them up in a plastic container with a teflon based coating around the top, I added food, and water gel, in a few weeks I had hundreds (no exageration), in a few months I had well over 1500 live and hundreds dead that I cleaned out of the colony.
I split the colony and had around 1200 plus in another in about a month.
At this time I started giving away half of what I had every 2 weeks to a friend who bred them and sold them at reptile shows. He sold my half, and 3/4 of his, sometimes in the first 5-20 minutes of the show.
At sometime I became allergic to the shedded shells (very bad in fact), I reduced the population, fed as many off as possible, and found out how durable they are. I placed the one colony in my garage during the winter (just above freezing temps) for a few days. I brought them in and they were up and going in minutes. I starved the colony for 2 months (no food or water), with more than half still left. I ended up reducing down to a few to feed off then spraying the last of the colony with black knight roach spray (I wish it was still available).
Ive been using crickets and pieces of chicken peeps with my ackies since.
Never had a problem with overpopulation causing them to gas each other, at one time I think I had around 3000 in the one colony, it was a few inches deep in live roaches. All they need is enough food to support them, and they eat almost anything, including bone.
Once they made a turtle shell disappear in a monitor cage, in a few hours.

phantompoo Nov 24, 2007 07:46 PM

i think i was just reading way too much into it. it has to be C02 or nitrogen buildup that causes problems just like when i kept crickets in over-crowded conditions(we lost a lot of good crickets)

Geezle Nov 25, 2007 11:16 AM

I believe that the American cockroach (palmetto bug) gives off a noxious defensive odor. I don't think it's toxic but I've heard that it will turn most lizards off eating them, which is why they're not out in the feeder market.

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