Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a colony of Turkistan Roaches in a 33 gal trash can. There is about 1-2 inches of coconut bark in the bottom as it helps hold moisture here in dry Colorado. I have no idea how to clean it out now. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Russ

Easest way is to use more than one container and egg crate flats. Transfer the majority of the colony to another container by way of moving the egg flats. Place new flats to the old container and wait till the nymphs and eggs hatch and then move them in a few weeks. Once all have hatched you can just throw out the old substrate.

Its also easier without substrate...

Cheers
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis

Thanks for the info. I would like to get away from substrate, but I use it to hold moisture. I have found that the egg cases dry up if I don't use it.

Thanks
Russ

I here ya...its really dry here in ND during the winter...

Although I stopped breeding roaches years ago. I imagine spahgnum moss would do a fine job. Ground coconut would be good as well, and could be sifted, although after a given period of time would have to be replaced.

I always found blaberus.com to be a bounty of info.
-----
Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
0.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic

1.1 Morelia Clastolepis