Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's my understanding that water crystals shouldn't be used for reptiles do to the fact(?) that they give the animal a false sense of being full??? (they won't eat enough food). Did you notice a drop in food consumption since switching over to water crystals in your roach colony? Thanks again,

Lou~

I breed thousands of roaches with the use of water crystals and noticed no lack of production when I started using them. The roaches are more likely to drown in straight water if offered and switching to the water gel crystals will actually prevent drowning. The roaches will not actualy just drink the water off the outside of the crystals as they slowly release the water. Unless there is a lack of moisture surrounding the crystals and they start to dry out, then at that point they would start to consume the gel.

Myt 2 cents worth...

Dan Haas

Crunchy Critters Roach Farm (and pet supplies)

James,

I've noticed that the Six spot are all over the water crystals as soon as I put them in, where as the Orange heads hardly show an interest in them. Is this normal?

James and Dan,

How much water crystal do you guys go through. I've bought two pounds and was wondering how long it would it would last me. With my 100 Orange heads and 100 Six Spot.

Thanks,
Israel

I personaly use no gel at all or very little with the six spot or the orange heads. I primarily use it on the lobster roaches and even with the thousands or roaches that I breed (three 320 gallon tanks for the lobsters alone) I only use about 1 ounce of crystals a month. So anyone who is buying 2 pounds of the crystals will have plenty to last a long, long time since 1 ounce yields approximately 1 gallon of gel. I use a chick waterer that you can get at most feed or similar farm supply stores. It looks like a plastic jar turned upside down with a dish/tray at the bottom which I drill holes in the base and place in a large bowl, with the waterer filled full of water I turn it upside down in the bowl and file the entire bowl full of the water gel. As long as the gel stays nice and moist they do not eat most of it, they just drink off of it.

Dan Haas
Owner / Manager
Crunchy Critters Roach Farm (and pet supplies)

No they eat the same amount they always have. Water is just messy in every way. I don't give them tons of water crystal either. Maybe twice a week and I have barely put a dent in my 2 pounds and I've had them for months. I do feed a good supply of fruits which also provide water. I think the reptile issue more relate to an animal eating them and having them expand. I would never even consider usuing them in a reptile cage, but for roaches and crickets they are perfect.
James