Turkistan roach (blatta lateralis)

[sandrachameleon]

I recently picked up some Turkistan roaches. Wondering what people think of them as feeders? Pros? Cons?

I understand their shells are thinner than my hissers, and thus easier for chams to digest. Is this true?

So far they dont seem inclined to fly or climb the plastic walls. My hissers dont have wings, so no issues there, and they dont usually climb either, but they can, so maybe the Turks can too and so far just choose not to. Anyone know?

The Turks are quite fast though, not like my big lumbering Hissers, so Im going to have to be very careful!

Thank you for your input
S

 

[THECHAMMAN]

turks are fast fast fast!!! but my cham tends to like them more when i dont cup the turks, because he likes the chase. when i feed him dubias i have to put them in a cup or the dubies will just go and burrow in a plant. though im probable gonna get rid of my turks, because they escape extremely quickly and they reproduce too fast for my veild cham and my baby beardie.

 

[lbesok]

Yeah, we just got some of these Turks to try as well. From what I understand they don't climb or fly. I have heard them frequently compared to Lobsters, except as already mentioned they don't climb. I would assume that their smaller size would feed a larger variety of animals.
I've also been afraid to let them loose in the cage, and the chams don't seem too interested in a cup full of them.
Two quick questions. What do you guys like to use as substrate for these guys? For the Dubia I use orchid bark, but I think these would hide too well in that...any suggestions.
Also these things have the same means of reproduction as the dubia, with the ootha and all, so they aren't going to lay eggs all over right?

 

[lbesok]

Hummm no comments? I suppose I'm going to try an oatmeal/baby meal mixed substrate with the turks.....

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

Two quick questions. What do you guys like to use as substrate for these guys? For the Dubia I use orchid bark, but I think these would hide too well in that...any suggestions.
Also these things have the same means of reproduction as the dubia, with the ootha and all, so they aren't going to lay eggs all over right?

Best substrate for blatta lateralis is no substrate. I used a large rubbermaid bin with a heat pad on the bottom of one side. Make sure to put a whole bunch of egg crate in there as they love piling underneath them. This way, it's easy to clean the bin without rooting through all the bark or substrate for little nymphs.

The ooths of the blatta lateralis are laid at the bottom of the bin and hatch out in a few weeks time. The dubia carry the ooths inside for the entire gestation and then give live birth to the nymphs.

 

[themonsheshe]

Sandra, I think I bought my cham from you last summer....I looked at your profile and was wondering which ones of those pics were the parents. I was actually going to message you soon about my dubia colony, I think it may be getting too large for one chameleon to handle.....of course if ive got the wrong person disregard!

Chris in vancouver.

 

[lbesok]

Best substrate for blatta lateralis is no substrate. I used a large rubbermaid bin with a heat pad on the bottom of one side. Make sure to put a whole bunch of egg crate in there as they love piling underneath them. This way, it's easy to clean the bin without rooting through all the bark or substrate for little nymphs.

The ooths of the blatta lateralis are laid at the bottom of the bin and hatch out in a few weeks time. The dubia carry the ooths inside for the entire gestation and then give live birth to the nymphs.

Thanks, so I'll put nothing. Is their any risk of the males trying to eat the ooths?

 

[darla]

I don't think the adults will bother the ooths at all. I never had a problem with them.

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

Thanks, so I'll put nothing. Is their any risk of the males trying to eat the ooths?

I've never had a problem with that. As long as they have roach coach and water crystals, they are good to go

 

[sandrachameleon]

Sandra, I think I bought my cham from you last summer....I looked at your profile and was wondering which ones of those pics were the parents. I was actually going to message you soon about my dubia colony, I think it may be getting too large for one chameleon to handle.....of course if ive got the wrong person disregard!

Chris in vancouver.

I've PMd you

S

 

[sandrachameleon]

Yeah, we just got some of these Turks to try as well. From what I understand they don't climb or fly. [...]I've also been afraid to let them loose in the cage, and the chams don't seem too interested in a cup full of them.

So far I've not had any attempt to climb or fly.
and my chams love to eat them!
I dont let the roaches free-roam though - too fast, too likely to get out. So I either put in a feeding cup or remove the roaches head (without their heads, they dont seem to run so far! but they stay alive and moving more than long enough to get eaten!)

Two quick questions. What do you guys like to use as substrate for these guys? For the Dubia I use orchid bark, but I think these would hide too well in that...any suggestions. Also these things have the same means of reproduction as the dubia, with the ootha and all, so they aren't going to lay eggs all over right?

I use no substrate. Yes they have obvious ootha egg cases.

 

[chamlover]

Sandra,

Why do you remove their heads? Is it just so they won't get loose? How big are these guys?

Debby

 

[lbesok]

IDK that I could handle ripping off the head

Sandra,
How big are these guys?
Debby

They are much smaller than dubia, the adults are about the size of a 1/2inch cricket, but maybe not quite as meaty.....
We actually found this crazy gecko in our turk bin today having a hay day!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Sandra,
Why do you remove their heads? Is it just so they won't get loose? How big are these guys?
Debby

I remove the heads when I'm not going to be sticking around to ensure the roaches get eaten. That way I know that the roach , if not eaten, will die within two weeks (from starvation). I know it seems mean. But Im so paranoid about roaches getting loose in the house that I feel it necessary. Its neat and creepy that the roaches seem to handle being headless quite well.
The Turkish are about 3cm (an inch) full grown. A perfect size. My hissers get much much bigger.

 

[tkilgour]

Sandra great thread. I just got 4,000 Turkish roaches for FREE!!!!!! All my chams love them. These roaches breed very quickly and are a great size. I still like B. dubia a lot however, these turkish roaches do not get as large. They work well for feeding babies, juvies, and adults. The only draw back to turkish roaches is their speed. They are very fast, so cup feeding or feeding by hand is ideal. You can also take off their heads or 2 front legs.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Yes I've found them to be one of the best feeders I have. Faster breeding, easier to gutload (they will eat ANYTHING) and better liked by my chameleons than the dubia or the hissers.

I do now provide a small amount of shaved wood as a substrate. Makes clean up much harder, but the roaches seem happier. They (and the dubia and hissers) also like dead (fall ) leaves and bark to nibble on, in addition to the normal gutload stuff.

 

[ijmccollum]

Must be the arid climate here -- my Turkish roaches seem slow in breeding. But yes, they are definate fast movers, don't climb or fly -- even though males have wings -- but can jump so be careful when handling because chances are you will not be quick enough to recapture. I always double bin when I open their box. They are housed in a modified (screened) plastic shoe box, no substrate, eggcrate or paper rolls, and fed oats/cricket meal and what ever fruits/veggies that the crickets get. I haven't been able to determine what they like best so I keep it variable as possible. As for egg laying -- mine seem to drop them where-ever.

 

[holmesese]

The turks will breed better for you if you keep them really hot and humidity! Once you update the humidity they will practically grow while you are watching them!

 

[Digby Rigby]

They also like carrots and banana. You can also use game bird layena or game bird chick starter mash. We prefer the game bird to the chicken mashes as higher concentration of nutrients. Make sure it is unmedicated. Lateralis do not burrow.

Digby Rigby _______________________

 

[ijmccollum]

The turks will breed better for you if you keep them really hot and humidity! Once you update the humidity they will practically grow while you are watching them!

thanks for the info. once summer hits, it will be hot enough. humidity is the problem. sheesh, cockroach husbandry as well -- where does it all end...

ideas on keeping them humid in an naturally arid invironment?