Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone, its been a while since i posted on the board. Drayko and I have been doing wonderful! I thought i would update with a picture and ask a question. First the photo.

Now the question.

I'm SICK of feeding Drayko crickets. Silkworms aren't cutting it either. I have tried and tried to keep them and they just won't survive. I have no idea what it is. So i'm trying to move on. I've really been wanting to start a colony of something to cut back on cricket cost. I think i'm leaning towards lobster cockroaches. Does anyone have any experience with these? It seems easy to house them and breed. Any info is greatly appreciated. I'm looking for any and all info and possible a place to buy around 200. Thanks!

Nick
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Nick and Drayko

Thats odd. Silkworms should be fine with the right temperature and given Mulberry food.

I think I might look into roaches aswell.

Though silkworms are my favoutire. So interesting and safe to use. I might even consider eating one!
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
1.2 Maroantsetra Panther Chameleons
1.0 Long Tailed Grass Lizard
500 Escaped Crickets

mmmmmmmmm silkies haha

i have NO IDEA why i couldn't get mine to survive. A while ago we have our house bombed for fleas but i thought that would have been taken care of by now. Who knows. They are ok when shipped but give them a day and they are basically dead. I cleaned the containers, i purchased new. Tried everything.
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Nick and Drayko

I dont know how you are keeping your silkies. But Do you have florecent lighting on them? If you dont a lot of times they will stop eating.

peace,
nate

Thanks for the info Nate. I haven't been able to keep them past a day without them dying off. I'll get them after work, wake up in the morning and they are dying.
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Nick and Drayko

I think to many people jump at lobsters roaches because they are cheap. Lobsters are great feeders, but very tough to control. They like all tropical roaches will not infest, but they are good climbers and will escape only to die off like crickets. You are much better off investing in some good non-climbers like blaptica dubia. You going to have a lizard for 8-10 years at least so you might as well be patient a build a good colony of non-climbers.
James

Thanks James, I understand where you are coming from. I have been researching all night and pricing also. When i priced out the lobsters vs the others it amazed me the difference which is why i checked into the other species. I'm still not sure which one to go with exactly but I think i might rather go the non climber/ no flying route. Thanks a lot for the input.

Do you have any other recommendations and a price i should be paying? Would 250 be a good start for a colony? I'm thinking i can sell off extras to a local pet shop.
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Nick and Drayko