Behold!

[Persnickety Parson's]

Well, the red runners collapsed, it was simply too dry up here for a minimalist setup. I've corrected issues for future RR colonies, no several inches of moist substrate.(I've severely over estimated the red runners hardiness, and underestimated the harshness of the MN climate) That has been corrected.

On a happy note I decided to do a roach rescue from my local petsmart and bought all the roaches on display, sone which had been there for weeks with nothing but a small egg crate, and a white puffy cheeto looking thing that was bone dry.

I'm sure this species can be easily guessed lol.

Anyways they are also now in an enclosure with several inches of moist substrate. Many also took a liking to the new food option moments after being released... Before even the substrate was added.

Ironically as usual, the ivories are doing splendidly.

 

[TayloredExotics]

Well, the red runners collapsed, it was simply too dry up here for a minimalist setup. I've corrected issues for future RR colonies, no several inches of moist substrate.(I've severely over estimated the red runners hardiness, and underestimated the harshness of the MN climate) That has been corrected.

Weird, I've had red runners survive with no water for 3 months... I set up tiny cups with soil/feeders for baby mantis to grow out, then moved them to bigger enclosures once they reached adulthood. Completely forgot about the cups; came back to find them bone dry, with the red runners and buffalo beetles doing fine, and everything else dead Notably, ootheca won't hatch without humidity/moisture. I'm also pretty sure the adults survived by eating the ootheca after all the other food ran out...

 

[jamest0o0]

I had about 100 red runners get out in my house when my 17 lb cat destroyed a cup I was shipping out...2 cats ate most of them, but I found a lot dead over the next couple weeks. Imo they're not as hardy as people think(myself included), but also not difficult. Originally I thought they were an insane pest species that could thrive through anything.

 

[jamest0o0]

Lobster roaches freak me out a little, but they make good feeders. They will actively attack other insects given the chance. They're also probably the hardiest roach you can keep, pretty hard to mess them up.

 

[TayloredExotics]

Lobster roaches freak me out a little, but they make good feeders. They will actively attack other insects given the chance. They're also probably the hardiest roach you can keep, pretty hard to mess them up.

I've also heard they're so easy to keep, you can just let them loose in your house and have an unlimited supply...

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I've also heard they're so easy to keep, you can just let them loose in your house and have an unlimited supply...

Weren't they also found to be "most likely to mutate into kaiju" following a nuclear accident ?

I just read the Wiki page; couldn't help but notice some similarities to Alien.
For the time being—at least—I think I'll be sticking to dubias.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

I don't think RRs are difficult either. I think like most roaches are hardy as long as you get enough things semi correct. Obviously the severe lack of humidity up here coupled with barely any substrate was enough to end all but the three largest ones. (Even with a water dish and fresh greens)

Granted I think if your in a more humid state id be willing to bet you could keep them differently I have no doubt in the more humid states red runners could thrive on the absolute bare minimum. But not all states climates are so tolerant.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

I've gotten some roachy reinforcements from @jamest0o0 they've all arrived safe and sound.

The remaining red runners now have friends, and the ivories now have decent numbers around 70 or so.

The RRs

The enclosure now has deeper moist substrate so I shouldn't lose any due to climate related difficulties.

The ivories

There were a lot of small babies that I didn't feel comfortable handling for a photo shoot.

He even gave me an albino
(Not really)

Definitely order from him if you want some roaches.

 

[jamest0o0]

Hey glad they made it! Hope they do well for you. I love the ivories

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Well I did another roach rescue from a different pet store, bringing my dubia colony up to 90 or so.

These dudes had been on display as is for over two months, from 2/17 to 3/25 (with an egg crate)

Here's the rest, surprisingly few casualties considering the neglected state they endured.

So my dubia colony now has a good genetic base of "Spartans" to build off if, and I did a good deed for 90 or so dubia that were doomed to a slow death.

 

[TayloredExotics]

I hope they at least have you a discount!

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

The red runners seem to be doing well with the new setup.

As proof the little baby ones are very active and healthy, and they are the most sensitive.

These are the only ones I could photograph, the rest lived up to their name and bolted.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

WTH is this thread....

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

WTH is this thread....

The chronicles of my roach (mis)adventures.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Well added 200 new RRs to the colony, so they should be completely set. The previous ones are grown up and egg laying now, so it's a waiting game to see how well my improved set up is.

All the other roaches are doing well.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Updates, everyone is doing well

The red runners are beginning to reproduce.

Several newly hatched nymphs.

The ivory heads are starting to mature

I have 2 or three adults.

And the dubias are doing well, but slow growing.

The bin is very large, so they have scattered.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Something roachy this way comes....

In 12ish hours or so.

 

[ERKleRose]

Any hints?

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Any hints?

There is one, in this forum section actually, but your gonna have to find it.

 

[ERKleRose]

It’s not hissers or dubias because they’ve been listed on multiple threads through my 8 page scan in Chameleon Food. Is it peppered or horseshoe crab roaches?