My thanks and more questions on ABFs

[Roman]

Thanks Guys
I switched the moss for coconut and added a little dish for water. I will keep an eye out for the one I saw eat substrate...
I went to my local reptile store and asked for Dubia roaches. What they had were false deathheads and lobsters. Since my little ones are quarter size I opted for the Lobsters. Are these as good as the Dubias or, Should I think of starting a roach colony? Also, Roaches are not on my girlfriends list of things that are Awesome. What about alternatives? Also, should I dust the crickets with powder?
I will post pictures of Waaq and Stevie Biggins, my adults I have questions on later tonight.
Thanks in Advance,
Roman

[Jace]

As far as I am aware, Roman, any roaches are high in protein, so I think as long as they are the appropriate size, you are good to go. I can't get Dubia roaches at all in Canada, so I started my own colony of Hissing roaches and so far, all of my frogs/toads and reptiles have loved them. Gut-loaded crickets, earthworms (which are my African Giants main food source), roaches, locusts, and grasshoppers are all good staples for your frogs. Yes, I would definitely dust your crickets. For my young frogs, I have followed a dusting of two days in a row of calcium, followed by one day of vitamins. Once my frogs reach adulthood and require less feedings, I do one of each once a week, or once every two weeks, depending on if they want to eat when I offer food. If you switch to a different staple other than crickets, continue to dust your food. Do not use the calcium and vitamin supplements together, though, as your frogs will not be able to take full advantage of both supplements at the same time. Always alternate. Hope this helps and I can't wait to see those pictures!!

[Kevin1]

Nutritionally there's probably not much difference. But Dubias are a lot more pleasant to keep. No climbing, very little smell, easy to catch and feed, and seem more hardy to me. In my experience my pyxie preferred dubias to lobsters. False death heads are also known as discoid roaches and I have heard they're a good alternative to dubia.

[Jace]

Good point, Kevin. Hissers are great roaches and make for interesting pets in and off themselves. However, they are excellent climbers of any surface and seem to get out of anything. I have lost more babies to them escaping and drying out then anything. Their nutritional value and overall coolness as a species is worth the risk!

[Roman]

Thanks Jo Anna and Kevin. all this info is really helping me out. Im gonna take pics now...

[Kevin1]

Good point, Kevin. Hissers are great roaches and make for interesting pets in and off themselves. However, they are excellent climbers of any surface and seem to get out of anything. I have lost more babies to them escaping and drying out then anything. Their nutritional value and overall coolness as a species is worth the risk!

I gotta get me some hissers some day. I've been interested in them for awhile. Mostly to their size.

[Mordecai]

I gotta get me some hissers some day. I've been interested in them for awhile. Mostly to their size.

Some may call their size interesting! I like to call it slightly startling!
It took me a little bit to get over the sight and strength of the dubia, and now handling them is no problem. And they are such great feeders for all the babies, so I love them now.
I have a strong feeling it's gunna take a lot longer to get used to those hissers! Their size, strength, prickly legs and little horns send shivers down my back! Oh the things we do for our froggies!!

[Kevin1]

after hissers I was going to get a colony of blaberus hybrids. I think I have a roach fetish..lol If you guys haven't heard of them you should look into those. Their BIG and breed pretty quickly. i might even get them before hissers.

[Jace]

I really do love my hissers. The babies can be a bit spastic, but the adults are rather calm and easy to handle. I thought they would hide more, but mine are always in the open, even while molting. Geez, there are hybrid roaches too??? Hmmm, now I'm curious....