Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place to purchace about 50 Discoid Roaches (Blaberus discoidales). I am planning on starting a colony. The current price I am looking at is about $40-$60 american.

Also I was looking at cricketfood.com and saw the roach food and was wondering what was so special about it? I am planning on feeding them Cricket food or Chicken Feed, possibly a mix of the two. Will this be good for source of nutrients and whatnot?

Another thing I noticed while looking for sellers on the internet was that in the many care sheets I have looked at none have said anything about using the them blue gel like blobs that are made for a crickets water source, will roaches not use these as a water source or are they just a poor source??

Can't help you with the roaches but as for the rest of your post I can.
There is nothing special about roachfood. Just a way to make money which is not a bad thing.
I use dog food and fruits and never a problem.
The water gel is another money making idea. I don't know what's in it but not worth buying (my opinion). Just get a round container for your water dish with some paper towels in it and fill with water. When it drys out refill and change the paper when it's dirty.

I got my discoids from a dealer at a reptile show - the 50 adults but a handful of immatures was only $10. I know I got them for a steal but you may be able to get similar prices at a local reptile show near you.

I feed mine cat food (we have several cats), rodent block, veggies, and what-not. As for water, I use a variant of the chick-water concept made of a couple of water bottles w/ a sponge cut to fit in the bottom. It has the advantage of having a reservoir of water w/o anywhere that the roaches can drown themselves.

Actually the roach food is not just some money maker. The food is specifically designed to bring out the best characteristics in your feeders. You are feeding your roaches to some type of insectivore and you don’t want them to just eat a roach that was raised on a "cheap diet". Insectivores need a special diet and what you feed your roaches is THERE DIET. It is also more convenient to use a pre-made diet. You don’t have to worry about all the required nutrition because someone else has done the guessing and researching already and has come up with the perfect blend for both your roaches and insectivores. You’re paying for a knowledge and a convenience when buying roach food. I would highly recommend that you do invest in a good diet.

As for those gel crystals. Those are just a convenient way to deliver water to your roaches. In fact there is no other method that is easier or cleaner. Sometimes they can be costly to use but that is only if you buy it pre-made off these cricket websites. I ran across a website that sells the actual crystals that make that gelatin water and it is extremely cheap compared to the pre-made stuff that is packaged real nice for crickets. I'll throw in a handle link for it so you can read more about these crystals.

Water Source Crystals

Fruits, veggies, and dog food are what many have used for years and have stunning, healthy, reptiles for years and funny thing is they didn't need a scientific mind to do it. Like I said nothing bad about making money just don't act like if you use it your herps will be healthier or have brghter colors (no proof). Your not paying for knowledge (come on do better than that) and convenience (how hard is it to slice food up?).

As for water crystals heck if you want them buy them. I couldn't think of a better way to spend money (sarcasm) than some crystals.

No need to get angry. It's fine to not agree with me. Some people just dont belive in it. Rather save a couple bucks. It's a hobby your sopposed to have fun with and spend a little money to make it more enjoyable.

OK, you seem to think that the water crystals are just a money maker. However, i have found that for me, using the crystals for hydrating crickets, roaches, and superworms NOTHING is easier. Just my personal opinion. I got some for $2 a gallon a while ago and am still going strong.
The crystals are also a whole lot cheaper than buying the premade "cricket quencher" stuff at stores or whatever.

I agree with you.

www.angelfire.com/wy/roaches/
for info
www.hissingcockroach.com/t1.htm

I have to admit this was very entertaining reading going over the responses to this subject. In any case I thought I'd put my 2 bits in.

1. On the topic of the feed. The Cricket food and Chicken Feed mix should do fine in my personal opinion. Although I would boost it a bit with a multi vitamin supplement or baby cereal.

2. On the topic of the "Blue blobs". Those water gel crystals that are blue are the same thing that the "HisserGuy" shamelessly tried to promote or sell here but with a blue dye added to it. Quote from the HisserGuys post "In fact there is no other method that is easier or cleaner." Ummm yeah right! How about water? I breed 7 diferent varieties of roach and only use the gel crystals on 2 of them. The primary one being lobster roaches. I breed Blaberus discoidales (common name leaf roach) and Eublaberus prosticus (common name orange head)and use straight water in a bowl for both. You just need to make sure you use a bowl that has textured sides on it so if they do slip in they can crawl out. Lobster roach and cricket babies can drown in a few drops of water. Number one rule of being an honest business man; don't sell them something they don't need or will regret buying later. Quote number 2 from same post "Sometimes they can be costly to use but that is only if you buy it pre-made off these cricket websites." This is yet again false... At the website this person provided a link to they are selling "1 Ounce of R&C Oasis for $8.95" which makes 1 U.S. Gallon. including shipping (I hope so)- That's a funny thing www.petsmart.com is selling Fluker Farms "Cricket Quencher water gel" for $2.49 for 16. ounces. My math isn't too good but it seems to me that the "buying it pre-made off these cricket websites" is expensive thing doesn't hold water. (forgive the pun)
Warning: My shameless plug and honest to goodness tell it like it is link and info below.
By the way: for anyone interested, I sell the same gel for less than both of the websites mentioned here.

Thanks for your time and I hope this helped someone.
Dan H.
Crunchy Critters Roach Farm

Actually why buy them at all from any invert dealer at all? Even $2.95 is making over a 200% profit on the stuff

http://www.watersorb.com/mainstore.html

Follow the link, and buy it dry, add your own water. The 2lb can is the smallest amount they sell, and IT WILL save you mege $$$$$ if you are using polymers to water your crickets and roaches

**note this doesn't work for arachnids, as they 'suck' water into the stomach and don't actually chew even their food. they must have real water

2 lbs would yield 32 gallons of gel. That would take the average user a very long time to use. So in answer to your question "why would anyone buy it from a dealer like me in the first place?" Maybe $2.95 (or less since I do offer price breaks) is a good deal for something that is going to last a number of months anyway. Before you go shooting off your mouth about what the markup up is; why don't you take into account the fact that I am a real business with a licence and employees to pay, taxes and real world expenses. I tell people all the time they can get it cheaper if they order larger amount of it from places like you provided a link to but after you figure in the shipping it's often more than people want to spend on something they are going to feed to there pet anyway. I do sell it for as low as $1.20 with the purchase of the lobster roaches I sell. This is not a 200% markup by any means and since I already offer the lowest price on feeder lobster roaches on the net, adding another $1.20 to the order isn't a big deal to most people.

Have you tried looking here

http://www.roachdomain.com/serv-all-main.html

They had them on speciala few months ago for 3doz for $15 when I got mine and they are already making lots of little babies. I boubt they are still on sale but they have specials every month. Cheapest prices on I've seen on the net that sells roaches all the time