16 replies to this topic

[ArmyAntz]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm looking for a breeding colony of roaches as a long-term supply of feeders for my ants. I've seen a few on eBay and whatnot, but I'm not sure if there's higher-quality or trusted sites to buy from, or if it even matters?

 

Edit: On this note, which feeder insect species would you recommend investing in? 

Edited by ArmyAntz, May 31 2020 - 5:34 AM.

[FSTP]

So far for the last 3ish months I've been breeding and feeding "litle Kenyan" roaches (Blaberidae sp. Kenya) I can't recomend them enough. They've become my favorite feeder. As far as keeping a colony goes they meet all my requirements for a feeder insect. They don't smell in the slightest, they don't breed overly fast, their potential to become a pest is nearly non exsistant, they can't climb smooth surfaces, they don't fly, and they give live birth. Also the size range is perfect. They max out at about .5 for the males and about .75 inches for the females. The young are also small enough that they are a good fruit fly substitute, so perfect for founding queens. I got mine from a seller on ebay called "the good bug" . I've ordered from Her several times and I have never had a problem. 

Edited by FSTP, May 31 2020 - 5:51 AM.

[Broncos]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a breeding colony of roaches as a long-term supply of feeders for my ants. I've seen a few on eBay and whatnot, but I'm not sure if there's higher-quality or trusted sites to buy from, or if it even matters?

Edit: On this note, which feeder insect species would you recommend investing in?

I have pretty much every feeder insect but the one my ants love the most are crickets. The ones with the most protein I believe are Dubia roaches are the healthiest. Are you located near Los Angeles?

[ArmyAntz]

So far for the last 3ish months I've been breeding and feeding "litle Kenyan" roaches (Blaberidae sp. Kenya) I can't recomend them enough. They've become my favorite feeder. As far as keeping a colony goes they meet all my requirements for a feeder insect. They don't smell in the slightest, they don't breed overly fast, their potential to become a pest is nearly non exsistant, they can't climb smooth surfaces, they don't fly, and they give live birth. Also the size range is perfect. They max out at about .5 for the males and about .75 inches for the females. The young are also small enough that they are a good fruit fly substitute, so perfect for founding queens. I got mine from a seller on ebay called "the good bug" . I've ordered from Her several times and I have never had a problem. 

Thank you for the input! I will check those out.

[ArmyAntz]

 

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a breeding colony of roaches as a long-term supply of feeders for my ants. I've seen a few on eBay and whatnot, but I'm not sure if there's higher-quality or trusted sites to buy from, or if it even matters?

Edit: On this note, which feeder insect species would you recommend investing in?

I have pretty much every feeder insect but the one my ants love the most are crickets. The ones with the most protein I believe are Dubia roaches are the healthiest. Are you located near Los Angeles?

 

I'm not in California, but yes I've really only considered crickets and roaches so far.

[AntsDakota]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for a breeding colony of roaches as a long-term supply of feeders for my ants. I've seen a few on eBay and whatnot, but I'm not sure if there's higher-quality or trusted sites to buy from, or if it even matters?
Edit: On this note, which feeder insect species would you recommend investing in?

I have pretty much every feeder insect but the one my ants love the most are crickets. The ones with the most protein I believe are Dubia roaches are the healthiest. Are you located near Los Angeles?

I'm not in California, but yes I've really only considered crickets and roaches so far.

What about mealworms?

[Broncos]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for a breeding colony of roaches as a long-term supply of feeders for my ants. I've seen a few on eBay and whatnot, but I'm not sure if there's higher-quality or trusted sites to buy from, or if it even matters?
Edit: On this note, which feeder insect species would you recommend investing in?

I have pretty much every feeder insect but the one my ants love the most are crickets. The ones with the most protein I believe are Dubia roaches are the healthiest. Are you located near Los Angeles?

I'm not in California, but yes I've really only considered crickets and roaches so far.

What about mealworms?

Mealworms are good too. But not as nutritious as crickets or roaches. I am breeding mealworms right now. They are a great alternative.

[ArmyAntz]

 

 

 

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for a breeding colony of roaches as a long-term supply of feeders for my ants. I've seen a few on eBay and whatnot, but I'm not sure if there's higher-quality or trusted sites to buy from, or if it even matters?
Edit: On this note, which feeder insect species would you recommend investing in?

I have pretty much every feeder insect but the one my ants love the most are crickets. The ones with the most protein I believe are Dubia roaches are the healthiest. Are you located near Los Angeles?

I'm not in California, but yes I've really only considered crickets and roaches so far.

What about mealworms?

 

Are mealworms a good option? They seem easy to breed.

[Broncos]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for a breeding colony of roaches as a long-term supply of feeders for my ants. I've seen a few on eBay and whatnot, but I'm not sure if there's higher-quality or trusted sites to buy from, or if it even matters?
Edit: On this note, which feeder insect species would you recommend investing in?

I have pretty much every feeder insect but the one my ants love the most are crickets. The ones with the most protein I believe are Dubia roaches are the healthiest. Are you located near Los Angeles?

I'm not in California, but yes I've really only considered crickets and roaches so far.

What about mealworms?

Are mealworms a good option? They seem easy to breed.

yes but aren’t as healthy as crickets or roaches.

[ArmyAntz]

Okay thanks. Not sure if its worth getting all three feeder types, I'll just have to see.

[Broncos]

Okay thanks. Not sure if its worth getting all three feeder types, I'll just have to see.

Definitely not all three. I have all four, the fourth being fruit flies. I am not feeding my ants mealworms and dubia roaches because I am letting them breed. Only fruit flies every once in a while and crickets.
I was a little too cautious when the quarantine started.

Edited by Broncos, May 31 2020 - 7:35 AM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

So far for the last 3ish months I've been breeding and feeding "litle Kenyan" roaches (Blaberidae sp. Kenya) I can't recomend them enough. They've become my favorite feeder. As far as keeping a colony goes they meet all my requirements for a feeder insect. They don't smell in the slightest, they don't breed overly fast, their potential to become a pest is nearly non exsistant, they can't climb smooth surfaces, they don't fly, and they give live birth. Also the size range is perfect. They max out at about .5 for the males and about .75 inches for the females. The young are also small enough that they are a good fruit fly substitute, so perfect for founding queens. I got mine from a seller on ebay called "the good bug" . I've ordered from Her several times and I have never had a problem. 

 

I got some Kenyan littles from (I think) Cape Cod Roaches, along with some dubias.

I am keeping them like I do isopods (in substrate), which means unfortunately I have no idea if they are breeding or not. OTOH I don't really clean their container and let the springtails do it....

They do seem like a great size. My problem is the roaches are so cute I'm really having trouble harvesting them, and they aren't breeding very fast that I've seen (??) and I'm paranoid of roach allergies. ASIDE from that... seems like a good idea.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, June 1 2020 - 12:48 PM.

[rcbuggy88]

I’m also planning to buy feeder insects and I found that people seem to like Joshs Frogs and RainbowMealworms for vendors. They both have multipacks to see what your ants/pets like which I think is pretty cool.

[FSTP]

 

So far for the last 3ish months I've been breeding and feeding "litle Kenyan" roaches (Blaberidae sp. Kenya) I can't recomend them enough. They've become my favorite feeder. As far as keeping a colony goes they meet all my requirements for a feeder insect. They don't smell in the slightest, they don't breed overly fast, their potential to become a pest is nearly non exsistant, they can't climb smooth surfaces, they don't fly, and they give live birth. Also the size range is perfect. They max out at about .5 for the males and about .75 inches for the females. The young are also small enough that they are a good fruit fly substitute, so perfect for founding queens. I got mine from a seller on ebay called "the good bug" . I've ordered from Her several times and I have never had a problem. 

 

I got some Kenyan littles from (I think) 

They do seem like a great size. My problem is the roaches are so cute I'm really having trouble harvesting them, and they aren't breeding very fast that I've seen (??) 

 

 

Yes that is one of their selling points, for me at least. That they are slow breeders. With my mealworms, crickets and fruit flies they reproduce so fast that even with my larger colonies I end up with way to much feeder insects. That's why for now I stopped breeding my mealworms and crickets. Also with the Little Kenyans you need to have a good amount of substrate for the females to burrow down in so they can feel safe and make a birthing chamber. I use a mix of fine Orchid/Cypress bark, sand and a small amount of milled sphagnum moss. The sphagnum moss has good antimold properties so that is also helpful. 

 

I totally agree about them being so cute its hard to harvest them!!! They don't look like your typical roachy roach body. More like a cross between cute little beetles and isopods and they are interesting to watch scoot around and dig, but they seem to be such good food for the ants that I have almost completely gotten over it. 

Edited by FSTP, June 1 2020 - 3:34 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

As to the metalwork posts, I raise superworms, the better alternative to mealworms. They grow to 2 inches, eat veggies, can't climb, and have a higher fat and protein content than mealworms.

[OhNoNotAgain]

As to the metalwork posts, I raise superworms, the better alternative to mealworms. They grow to 2 inches, eat veggies, can't climb, and have a higher fat and protein content than mealworms.

Sounds like they can bite though right? So you make sure they're completely dead before feeding?

[ANTdrew]

I ordered a breeder colony of dubia roaches on Friday. I’m excited to give that a go.