Reptile & Amphibian Forums

np
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

I would say that they are analagous to crickets in nutritional value. Again, there are variables, depending on the diet provided to the roaches. The internet may provide some sites with info.

It's possible, but I would think not as they seem to be digested differently. When I feed crix, on occation, I have found undigested body parts in my dragons stools. I know that they can also cause impactions due to being somewhat hard to digest. That is why proper size is critical. I have not had this problem with roaches. They seem to always get completely digested and the dragons eat larger roaches than they would crix without any problems. I feed all my feeder bugs the same diet as I do the animals they are fed to as a general rule. The bugs get the leftovers. They may occationally get a higher oxylate diet but then they are not used as feeders for several days following.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

There are some variables & crickets may have a higher chitin to soft tissue ratio than some roaches; however, adult Madagascan Hissing roaches have very hard chitinous exoskeletons which precludes them from being feeder insects in some cases, although many monitor lizards can consume Hissers. One of the least chitinous roaches is the Lobster roach which has a low shell to soft tissue ratio & is fairly easy for most reptiles/amphibians to consume.

Hi there, this is a very interesting topic, and to add a little diversity to it how about the nutritional value and chitinous waste of locusts. These are often fed to reptiles including bearded dragons, and the size of the prey is often much larger than that of the equivelent crickect fed to a particular animal. Obviously the ratio of chitin to soft tissue is much less in locusts but you have to wonder, what are the risk of what is there, causeing impaction?
All the best,
Lee.