Post you Roach Enclosures...Please

[RyanBRZ]

Enclosure is simple, get a plastic container like mine ($10 at home depot), hole saw drill bit, screen to cover the holes, hot glue gun to attach the screen, egg crates, heat pad w\ thermostat, water crystals and food.

 

[jedijon]

What are the water options besides crystals?

Can you just silicone sand to a dish and/or invert a water vessel like how chicken waterers do it? That way it’s a very shallow layer and textured to allow climbing out.

Or is water even needed beyond what’s in veggies?

 

[timw1]

What are the water options besides crystals?

Can you just silicone sand to a dish and/or invert a water vessel like how chicken waterers do it? That way it’s a very shallow layer and textured to allow climbing out.

Or is water even needed beyond what’s in veggies?

They will get moisture from the food.

 

[Longhorn1234]

They do get all the moisture they need from food. However, I still like to mist the sides of the enclosure and the roaches drink from the droplets

 

[Zevil]

Old picture of my red runner tub. Recently I have to cull 4000-6000 of them and left with about 1000? They are growing out of control.

Old picture of my dubia colony. Probably 2000-3000 of them.

 

[Rst_Cham]

Old picture of my red runner tub. Recently I have to cull 4000-6000 of them and left with about 1000? They are growing out of control.
View attachment 241791

Old picture of my dubia colony. Probably 2000-3000 of them.
View attachment 241792

How did you cull them? Freezer?

 

[jedijon]

How much time does it take to work with this colony and what tasks? Love to know your care routine! You’re clearly doing it right.

 

[JoXie411]

This is currently how I keep 1 of my 3 colonies of dubias going. They are on a 50/59 mix of sand and dirt, coco fibers, stagnant moss, cork flats and a stick lol I have more cork coming. I have spring tails and beetles as a CuC for the dubias


smaller colony

 

[The Wild One]

This is currently how I keep 1 of my 3 colonies of dubias going. They are on a 50/59 mix of sand and dirt, coco fibers, stagnant moss, cork flats and a stick lol I have more cork coming. I have spring tails and beetles as a CuC for the dubias


smaller colony
View attachment 241905View attachment 241906

Can you get them to breed without the egg cartons?

 

[JoXie411]

Can you get them to breed without the egg cartons?

Yea they have been

 

[Zevil]

How did you cull them? Freezer?

I can't put any non-food related stuff in the freezer because my family doesn't allow it. I drown them.

 

[FramsChams]

We currently have a colony of dubia which is thriving somewhat. Tons of shiny pregnant females. When I go into the colony I can actually see births in progress (tiny, white dubia all over the place). More nymphs than I can count but I think we are feeding faster than they can grow. There are no medium to large subadults, which is the size I want the most. In your experiences, how long does it take the nymphs to grow into that size? I know we need to not touch the colony....

 

[nightanole]

We currently have a colony of dubia which is thriving somewhat. Tons of shiny pregnant females. When I go into the colony I can actually see births in progress (tiny, white dubia all over the place). More nymphs than I can count but I think we are feeding faster than they can grow. There are no medium to large subadults, which is the size I want the most. In your experiences, how long does it take the nymphs to grow into that size? I know we need to not touch the colony....

FOREVER. Its like 6 months at 75-85f from hatch to adult. They grow at a rate of 1/8" every 3-4 weeks. This kinda works out better vs crickets which can outgrow baby chams pretty quick.

 

[The Wild One]

How can you tell/ if can you tell if a female is pregnant?

 

[nightanole]

How can you tell/ if can you tell if a female is pregnant?

Uhh not sure how to word this...

They get long. When they first molt and go shinny, they are not really "mature", they are kinda short and flat, like a shiny nymph. Then when they are mature they will get long and puffy.

Not preggers

Ready for preggin

 

[FramsChams]

Uhh not sure how to word this...

They get long. When they first molt and go shinny, they are not really "mature", they are kinda short and flat, like a shiny nymph. Then when they are mature they will get long and puffy.

Not preggers

Ready for preggin

How can you tell/ if can you tell if a female is pregnant?

I agree with nightanole. I was always told the pregnant ones are super shiny and fat.

 

[jedijon]

Wow! Thatz fat!

 

[The Wild One]

This inspired me so here is my new enclosure

 

[The Wild One]

What do the new hatched look like?? I found these guys in there when I got back this morning

 

[nightanole]

What do the new hatched look like?? I found these guys in there when I got back this morning View attachment 241999

Odds are its a cleaner crew. some of the skull cleaner version will even be a bit fuzzy.