Quality feeder food ?'s

[JeffreH]

However i have read that to little moisture will cause cannibalism but I haven't seen it.

This^

I'm convinced the whole roach need for protein is a fallacy; they are decomposers and most have symbiotic protozoans in the hindgut to aid in cellulose digestion. Their primary diet in nature is going to be detritus and leaf litter. Most species also munch on some wood from time to time, and I've found some species actually fare best when offered moist decaying wood and oak leaves (Archimandrita tesselata, for example).

B. dubia aren't nearly as aggressive with one another as say, Orange Heads. The latter will chew up each others wings and even cannibalize newborn nymphs... this is entirely based on moisture in the diet. When mine are given water crystals available at all times, I have adults with near perfect wings. Provide dry feed (more protein rich, mind you) only for a couple of days and they begin to munch on one another. I've talked this over with Kyle at roachcrossing who first led me on to the idea that moisture in the diet is so important. Keep in mind, many of the species we keep, B. dubia included, hail from the tropics. Its wet there, there is moisture everywhere to be ingested.

Put in their perspective, the difference in moisture between a piece of dog kibble and some chick feed is very significant. It just so happens that most dog food has both higher protein and moisture than most chick feeds.

That being said, you don't have to offer moisture in the dry base gutload... just make sure water crystals or salad items are available from time to time and they will thrive. Orin McMonigle (author of AllPet Roaches) has noted that most species can thrive for decades on just some dog food and apples.

For the QUALITY of the food to benefit your reptiles, you'll want to throw some variety in the mix. This has been pretty well covered thus far = )

[fish4all]

Water crystals will always be in my roach colonies. Moisture, IMHO is definitely a major regulator of normal behavior in most creatures.

[demon amphibians]

I concur with the water crystals. I have found many people post that they are not necessary if you feed lots of fruits and veggies. Yeah they have moisture but i don't believe it is enough alone to provide moisture throughout your bin. I have a large amount of breeders that will specifically give birth in or very near the crystal dish which makes it evident sufficient moisture is important to reproduction. Of course it is impossible to drown in water crystals i might add.