Best Roaches for Panthers

[freakythechameleon]

Hello everyone! Please help me figure out what roach would be great to start a colony with to feed my 3 month old panther. I am sick of not feeling like the crickets are fully gutloaded and want to offer something "more" or "better" (actually instead) of crickets. I am also feeding silkworms, which I have a colony of.

So any ideas on a panthers favorite/healthiest roach?

 

[Kate]

Hello everyone! Please help me figure out what roach would be great to start a colony with to feed my 3 month old panther. I am sick of not feeling like the crickets are fully gutloaded and want to offer something "more" or "better" (actually instead) of crickets. I am also feeding silkworms, which I have a colony of.

So any ideas on a panthers favorite/healthiest roach?

I have started with Dubais but it takes ages. I would check with a small quantity first as your Cham might not take them. My guy will only eat one per feeding, but I'm working on it.

 

[d3s5]

My panther LOVES green banana roaches! He won't eat Dubias. He will eat some Turkistan roaches occasionally. But he will always eat green bananas. They are easy to keep, also, IMO.

Deb

 

[GabeCastro]

My panther LOVES green banana roaches! He won't eat Dubias. He will eat some Turkistan roaches occasionally. But he will always eat green bananas. They are easy to keep, also, IMO.

Deb

I think green banana roaches would be a huge plus if you can breed them...I always wanted to use them but they're a bit pricey. But they can fly around with chams go crazy for. Oh, and they're green

Dubias are fine though. My cham didn't eat dubias so i've always wanted to try the banana roaches like D3s5

 

[d3s5]

I think green banana roaches would be a huge plus if you can breed them...I always wanted to use them but they're a bit pricey. But they can fly around with chams go crazy for. Oh, and they're green

Dubias are fine though. My cham didn't eat dubias so i've always wanted to try the banana roaches like D3s5

Definitely give them a try! I think they are easier to keep then Dubias - no cleaning if kept properly! I started off with 100 (mixed sizes - $30) and now, about 7 months later, I've got well over a thousand. And they are SO cute!

 

[freakythechameleon]

Definitely give them a try! I think they are easier to keep then Dubias - no cleaning if kept properly! I started off with 100 (mixed sizes - $30) and now, about 7 months later, I've got well over a thousand. And they are SO cute!

Awesome info everyone! Thanks so much. I finally got my little GUY today! (first was a female) Follow my thread on Leon if you want pics day to day.

I am going to try start a colony. Better off with the amount i have read they can eat.

 

[freakythechameleon]

Definitely give them a try! I think they are easier to keep then Dubias - no cleaning if kept properly! I started off with 100 (mixed sizes - $30) and now, about 7 months later, I've got well over a thousand. And they are SO cute!

Hey Deb,

Thanks for the help so far. Where did you get the green banana roaches from? Thanks!

 

[d3s5]

Hey Deb,

Thanks for the help so far. Where did you get the green banana roaches from? Thanks!

The Roach Crossing - Kyle's a great guy to deal with. He has everything you need to start off on the right foot and will answer any questions. I think his prices are reasonable too.

Deb

 

[SMCNARY]

My panther LOVES green banana roaches! He won't eat Dubias. He will eat some Turkistan roaches occasionally. But he will always eat green bananas. They are easy to keep, also, IMO.

Deb

I have not seen these yet,could provide info on where to get them etc ? In case you hvent seen some of my posts on the subject I have gone BUGGY!!!

 

[freakythechameleon]

The Roach Crossing - Kyle's a great guy to deal with. He has everything you need to start off on the right foot and will answer any questions. I think his prices are reasonable too.

Deb

Thanks I sent Kyle an email this morning to see how much shipping would be.
After a little research I found a place that sells them about an hr from me as well so we will see how much shipping he will charge.

Thanks again, these roaches seem perfect as my wife has been so perfect as not caring about crickets and silkworms so far, but BIG, BROWN, BLACK, SCARY roaches might have drawn the line lol. So needless to say these much prettier green "grasshoppers" we will call them, will work much better in this situation!!!!!!

Any tips on breeding/storing them as your 100 has grown 10x lol?

 

[d3s5]

Any tips on breeding/storing them as your 100 has grown 10x lol?

I put about 6-8 inches of substrate in my container. I used very wet coco fiber mixed with lots of water crystals (already hydrated). Then I put in cork bark and other pieces of wood I had laying around on top. I ordered springtails and isopods along with my green bananas. They are a BIG help in keeping the tank clean! I feed apples, squash, and dandelion leaves once a week and add water as needs to keep the container very moist/wet. The whole container sits on a heating pad, set to low. I orinally didn't need Vaseline around the top, but after my colony exploded, I now have Vaseline around the top rim to stop them from crawling out when I am feeding them.

Deb

 

[d3s5]

Here is a pic:

 

[freakythechameleon]

Kyle is on conference for atleast a week

Hey deb wanna ship some to Florida? just kidding, but seriously

anyway thanks for the info it really has helped

 

[freakythechameleon]

Here is a pic:
View attachment 73878

awesome, pics are the best. i will make same setup!

 

[d3s5]

 

[freakythechameleon]

wow very cool. so they stay relatively small then correct? It would take around 15 to fill a grown cham?

 

[d3s5]

Feeding:

If you look close, you can see hundreds of nymphs hollowing out this apple!

My cham is an adult, so he doesn't eat as much as when he was a baby. But he can easily eat 10 of these at one sitting, if he's hungry. They get to about an inch long.

As for shipping you some, it's way too cold here! I don't think they would survive even with a heat pack!

 

[freakythechameleon]

Deb,

Thanks for the pics, they are awesome and a great help! Yes I can see NJ being very cold. I am from RI originally and just came from there a few days ago so I know how cold it is .

Saw your albums and your cham is so cool. Love the colors on him and his free range!

 

[freakythechameleon]

One question on the water crystals. what do you use for this. I currently am buying the flukers water crystals to hydrate crickets but saw the people at petco using some clear version of regular gelatin ( much cheaper!!) ...is this what you use as well? how can I get a usable easy water gelatin crystal for roaches/crickets/insects to hydrate?

 

[d3s5]

I ordered my water crystals in bulk at watergelcrystals online. I use them for lots of things! Others here have found them at Lowe's and Home Depot for a good price in the garden section, but I have never found them around my way.

BTW I don't use them for my other bugs. I think they get too dirty. The fresh fruit and veggies every week seems to be just fine for their hydration needs.

Good Luck! I had lots of fun getting mine and setting them up! They are a neat little bug!

Thanks for the nice comments about my cham and his FR. I appreciate that!

Deb