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Now if they give birth to a egg sac, does that mean that I could damage and kill the babies in the egg sac when I am trying to pick lobsters out to feed to my dragons? How big is the egg sac, what color etc? These guys give me a run for my money trying to catch them to feed to my bds!LOL It takes me a minute or two just to catch one! I think when I have 2 or 3 thousand in that bin it will be a little easier. Right now they have way too much room and hiding places. Lindsay
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You will see them laying the egg sacks. They are white and about a 1/2". I would not worry about damaging them. I would use standard egg crates. I just picked them up (egg flats) and knocked some lobsters into a cup. They best way to slow them down was with calcium powder. If you stick that in the cup, knock some in and give them a little swirl the powder slows them a little. Then I would pick out the ones I wanted. Oh by the way, next time you should use a darker container. Roaches like to hide and I found they do better in the darker containers.
James

I was doing some cleaning this week and finally realized that I am not using anything but the red bran. The bran is very easy to sift and get out all those babies when your cleaning. Other subtrates like rabbit pellets, shavings, and cypress mulch make it very hard.
James

I figured the calcium thing out already!LOL It does work and they dont even really try to climb out of the cup? Dont know why.

However I have a question. What the heck is that smell when I pick them up? YUCK! It isnt a constant smell, but sometimes when I pick up a single lobster and hold it by its abdomen for my dragons to pick out of my hand, it poo/pees on me or something and it smells horrible. Is that some sort of defensive smell/liquid they put off? Or is it doing its business on me? Yuck. Also is it toxic or harmful to the dragons? They dont seem to mind it at all!

About the dark bin. The bin is a blue color, but you can kind of see into it. They dont seem to mind really. They just hide under and in their egg flat condos. I have seen them come out to eat though and they sit at the top at times too. I could put dark construction paper on the outsides taped to the side to block out any light? Think that would be better?

They are multiplying! The last couple times I ran my hands through the pine shavings I saw a bunch of tiny babies scampering quickly away from me. Some babies obviously came with the mixed 1000 order, but not this many. Someone had babies since being in that bin. The babies are little and I worry I am going to accidently throw them in the garbage when I take out the old paper plates with old food. I look through it carefully but you never know. That would be a problem! Yikes....

About the red bran. Where can I get it and how much does it cost? I have noticed that it is going to be a royal PAIN trying to pick out those tiny babies from the shavings. My spouse and I just looked at each other and said ughhh thats not going to be a fun job!LOL

Also with the bran, does it mold quickly from pee/poo and or a little moisture or does it hold up pretty well. And cant grain mites be introduced to your colony through grains, brans etc? Do you freeze the bran first or anything like that? Plus what do you use to sift the bran? Being as lobsters are climbers wont I lose them up the sides of the sifter? Just curious.

Thanks for all the help with the roaches James! Its great to have someone to help with all my questions. I hope your not getting irritated w/ all my ?'s by now! *smiles* Take care, Lindsay

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As sad as it sounds this is kind of fun for me. I have raised reptiles for almost 20 years and the roaches are a change of pace. I buy the bran from a local feed store ($5.00 for 50 pounds) and I do not freeze it, although that might not be a bad ideal. After much research I try and keep the substrate pretty low. (1 inch). I do not even bother putting in a food dish. Just mix ground foods and they eat whatever and the rest blends with the bran. I do put the fruits and veggies and water on a dish or on a 2x4. I use the 2x4 to separate a small section of the cage where I put some moss. This is usually where I spray a little water every other day. When I clean I can just use the moss over again. Another helpful hint: when cleaning a roach cage there is a very good chance you will not get all the babies. Clean on a garbage day so and babies left in the substrate will be delivered to the dumps. Don't feel bad for the dumps. These roaches are tropical and will not last long outside. Plus it is way to cold for them to breed. With the non-climbers I have an old cricket sifter which works very well, but the lobsters are a major pain. Usually I move there eggs crates which hold most of them then add another egg crate. It takes a few days but everyday go in and knock them off that crate into the new cage. Also spraying some water on the egg crate will sometimes get them on it and then you can move them. Last but not least get out all the adult and let the babies grow till they are easier to remove then clean out the cage. So you can see the differance between the two. Non-climbers about an hour to clean, lobsters several days to weeks. you may want to ask the person you bought them from to see what they do. They might have a better method.
James