Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering what you would need to start getting things set up for the cheapest way to start up Roach breeding . Including :

Housing?
Feeding?
Watering?
Hints on making it work and work well?

I am no expert in breeding roaches, but I have started trying to breed some. There are several species of roaches available if you check out the classifieds. Care on all is very similar if not exact.

First you need to decide if you want glass climbing roaches or prefer the non-climbing. Then you gotta pick the species you want. Not all breed the same or are the same size. Research is the key.

If you want to see the roaches I got recently, check out the link below. I really like my roaches and even went to the food store just to buy them an apple, a banana, and some carrots...lol
My Roaches

Here's what I'm doing, though I should indicate I haven't actually started yet--my roaches arrive in a few days.

I have a 30 gallon plastic garbage can, and I've used caulk to attack a screen to a wood frame with fits around the top of the can .

Around the inside of the can, about 3 inches down, I have placed a thick line of vaseline. This will prevent roaches from climbing up to the screen--even if they do somehow get past it, which is unlikely, the screen should keep them in.
In the bottom, I will put a layer of sand (I have it, and I can monitor the moisture content easily, as well as clean and replace it by scooping). A dish for food, and one for moisture (fruit, soaked paper towel, etc for water they can't drown in), and I'm all set. I can set a heat lamp on top of the screen if necessary, for extra warmth. The vaseline should be far enough away so that it won't melt. This setup will be for lobster roaches.

Hiding places will be the usual egg cartons and paper towel cores.

Oh, and you wanted budget--the can cost 15 bucks, the wood was about 4, and the screen cost 10 bucks for an entire roll which was all I could find. A used, retired window screen could be had for less, or nothing. The caulk and caulk gun together cost about 4 bucks. The vaseline was a buck. Sand costs about 2.50 for a 50 pound bag. Bowls I have around, but you could get new ones for probably 50 cents apiece, and never turn your nose up at a garage sale.

Total cost (considering I used only a small part of the screen in this project):

$27.50

The roaches themselves I purchased 50 for 30 bucks shipped.

$57.50 for a giant lobster roach colony.

4 orders of bulk crickets would cost more than that. I expect this colony will not require me to ever purchase feeder insects again.