nymphs

[Baloo]

A friend of mine in Wyoming Michigan is getting some roaches from someone but they are 50 nymphs. Do they require any special care without the presence of adults to care for them? I told her I'd check with you guys for resource material. Do you guys usually keep them in glass aquariums or plastic type bins? I've read sterilite tubs work well with ventilation holes. Walmart maybe? thanks :-)

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Robbie,
I got my first dubias as nymphs and just put them in a 6 quart plastic bin with a lid with a bunch of holes in it.

I put in some paper egg crate in there and some empty paper towel tubes.
they will need a water source you can use a few cotton balls soaked in bottled water.
and use a small dish for food, I use uncooked oatmeal and crushed cherrioes

you can also put in fresh veg and citrus like oranges and carrots but don't leave in too long.
mold is a bad thing.

keep them warm they like temps from 80F to 90F and dark
if the plastic container is clear then put them in a dark area.

Now I have a couple hundred adults and they are in a 20 gallon plastic bin with paper AC filters
for the roaches to hide in.

[badkelpie]

They don't need adults in the enclosure. If they are for breeding, you'll want a heat source. For a small community, I used a 5 gallon plastic tote for a long time. Recently, I have switched to a 10 gallon aquarium. I use a reptile heat pad.

If they are being kept for feeding only, you can keep them in a jar or tub, even something like a sour cream container with air holes. They don't need much room. Room temp is fine if you aren't breeding them.

[Baloo]

Thanks guys. She said she wants them as feeders and minimum breeding to keep her going. So the 5 gallon would probably be best for her? They will llimit breeding in that size?

[badkelpie]

5 gallon is fine, but whatever she has, really, will work. The size of their enclosure will not limit their breeding, they are roaches, they breed. You can slow down breeding by reducing temps, or just let them go crazy and sell the extras. Or get more frogs! That's the best option .

[demon amphibians]

over crowding will effect breeding significantly but with that amount, 5 gal as other members have stated will be fine. The secret is to create as much surface space as possible with egg crates. between 300-500 will be the max i would recommend keeping in 5 gal.

[Baloo]

Thank you guys. So should I use a steritile tub or what? My room mate is nervous about this and I want to make sure they are 'secure'.

[JeffreH]

Sterilite brand is usually fine - avoid the 'rugged' style bins that have texture to them. The smallest of nymphs can grip even fine texture on a bin, so feel the inside-surface before purchasing to make sure its completely smooth.

[Baloo]

how are they kept heated in a tub? Do you need to cut the top and place a metal grid across?

[MatthewM1]

I keep mine in tubs on the bottom shelf of my invert rack with a 8.5 inch dome with a red heat bulb, clamped to the frame of the shelves pointed at the tubs.



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[badkelpie]

A reptile heating pad works too. Don't worry, they don't get hot enough to melt the plastic. I just drill holes in the lid, no metal screen or glue to deal with.

[Ash]

Roaches can be kept in limited space without much worry as noted in previous posts. We notice with Our Roaches that breeding seems to take place more effectively in close quarters, with as many eggflats as can fit comfortably. Just be sure to keep the ratio of female to male favorable as excess males can prevent females from feeling comfortable in breeding as well as use up resources. Feed off older males first and I suggest a bit more than 50 as this will be a slow start. If you want to breed and feed I suggest ordering mixed variety where you will get a mix of all sexes and ages.