The water crystals are more of a useful tool for very large colonies and for species that fair better with more moisture in the diet. For example, the Eublaberus genus containing orange head roaches (Eublaberus posticus, an excellent feeder species) are roaches that need water crystals available at almost all times for their benefit. Without a constant supply of water crystals, this species often eats the wings of their fellow roaches and will resort to cannibalism very readily. I often suggest having water crystals available at all times for most roaches just to cover the bases and ensure success for keepers... it certainly does hurt to always have them available for any species. Plus, they are incredibly cheap online... about $1 per dry ounce that makes 1 gallon of water crystals. The pet stores rip you off with that "Cricket Quencher" and the Flukers gel products that are essentially the same thing at ridiculous prices in small jars ; )

Also - just want to make a note of this. I'm pretty passionate about keeping cockroaches because I culture a wide variety of species for pleasure. That being said, my recommendations are often sort of "high-end" for lack of a better term. These are cockroaches we are talking about, and true to what most people believe many species are incredibly hardy and forgiving of imperfection in their captive environment. In all honestly most roaches, particularly B. dubia just need some basic items: a bin (space), surface area (egg flats, TP rolls, drink carriers), heat (shoot for mid-80's for most species), food and hydration. The food and hydration part can go hand in hand with the veggie and salad items... and for cost effectiveness of feeding and for the benefits as a gutload I offer dry feed AND veggies as gutload and food. For smaller colonies, veggies can be the only hydration source and the roaches will fare just fine. So are you absolutely right from your experience in only using fruits and veggies for adequate hydration for smaller colonies.

For the benefit of out pets - we should shoot for offering as much variety as possible. Both in terms of the species of insect offered, and in terms of what we are feeding the roaches. As far as I'm concerned, having a dry gutload available to the roaches at all times in the form of chicken feed, dog/cat food, fish food, cereal etc gialong with a constant supply of water crystals will provide the roaches with 24/7 access to their food and hydration needs. Then the addition of various salad items a couple of times as week further increases their nutrional benefits to the frog and provides a supplemental but of food and moisture that the roaches thoroughly enjoy.

Bill! We'll catch up in a PM sometime most definitely! I apologize for going a bit off topic here Mr TinkyWinky in the previous postings - just love talking about my bugs ; )