Gsc

Here is a picture from today of my group. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be getting some young from them this year!

These cages can easily be stacked in a small amount of space. If you're interested in making the cages I strongly suggest Orin's ALLPET ROACH book... it has this info and much more in it... these cages are great in my view for smaller colonies of pet roaches!

Vola- you're done. I was able to make 6 bucket cages with 1 1/2 hours... ready to get some new species!

After the hole is cut out, it's time to hot glue the metal/aluminum screen in place. You should make sure that the pieces of screen cut are larger than the hole(s) you cut. You'll be glueing a piece to BOTH the inside and the outside...this will give you double protection from escapes in the event that one is damaged.

Once all you supplies are gathered it's time to move to Step #2: Cutting a vent hole(s). I use one vent hole BUT the ALLPET ROACH GUIDE book suggests 2 vents (1 in the lid & 1 in the side- this would work very well). The dremel makes cutting the hole(s) easy...remember to use all suggested safety guidelines when using it.

Today I made up a new group of Bucket Cages and decided to document the experience and share with the fourm members. Firts off, credit for the idea/design goes to the ALLPET ROACH GUIDE book- if you don't already have it, you should REALLY get it...worth every penny. Bucket Cages work VERY well for smaller/pet colonies. They are: Stackable (don't take up much space) Light Weight Cheap To Fabricate etc. Here is what you need to get started: - 5 gal. Bucket (I but the cheap ~$4 from Lowes, Home Depot, etc) - Tight Fitting Bucket Lid - Dremel w/ cutting wheel - Hot Glue Gun - Metal/Aluminum Window Screening

As y'all all know, I'm on a quest to start a Panesthia sp. colony. I found a friend here in the US who had a few adults and recently said they produced a bunch of nymphs. I've read different opinions on when it is safe to seperate out the babies. What do y'all feel. If they've been with the parents for at least a month, do you think they have enough for the gut flora to get established in them so they could survive on their own? Should I put a bunch of the substrate from my Macropanesthia roaches in their cage to help (ie Flora in the Macropanesthia feces...would that work like the gut flora from their parent's feces)? I talked with one gentleman from Europe who produced a litter of Macropanesthia...he seperated out some of the babies pretty much right away and they did fine... There shuldn't be a ton of difference between Panesthia and Macropanesthia... I'd love to hear everyones opinion... Thanks, Graham

Thank you Hornet- same goes for you....ever in Texas, give me a shout and I'll happily take you bug hunting.

My group is just reaching maturity...I think the answer is TIME...follow the genral guidelines that Orin mentioned and just wait... I know how it is..I too can't wait to see baby Lucihormetica in the substrate! Good Luck.

WOW- blue legs....freakin' awesome...

I agree with Orin that flippong rotten logs would be your best chance at some of the cool wood roaches (Panesthia)... I would KILL to be able to spend 2 or 3 days in Australia flipping logs catching critters... sounds like fun!

WOW- didn't realize that!

I figured they would. I've been saying I was going to try them out on my roaches for some time now! I bet they go nuts for it...

Awesome Hornet....Do you keep more roaches than just Macropanesthia rhinoceros? Y'all have a bunch of cool Panesthia sp. wood roaches over there... You should try to find some of those to work with if you get a chance.... Glad to see that your trying to establis some captive colonies.. Here in America we are getting a few CB Aussie tarantula species LEGALLY imported finally...

I have used the Spanish Orange Isopods in Millipede and Tarantula cages with great success. I tend to overfeed my roaches which can cause other critters (mites, gnats, etc) to pop up from time to time in my colonies. I recently added a few Trichorhina tomentosa (dwarf white isopods) to one of my colonies and they seem to be doing a great job at cleaning up any leftovers that the roaches aren't eating. I choose the T. tomentosa because they are much smaller than the Spanish Orange Isopods... I doubt they'd mess with the roach nymphs but why take chances... these dwarf guys are tiny... I'd love to hear Orin's & Matt's ideas on using these guys...what do y'all think... should it be safe? I know the easiest answer is to just not overfeed but my oddball workschedule keeps me away for so long sometimes that I tend to "spoil" the animals when I'm home and before I leave town...

Just got back home from being out of town working for two weeks and went through my roach colonies. Finally I got a batch of Hemiblaberide sp. nymphs. I really should take some pics of the adults for people who don't know what they are...I call the Horseshoe crab roaches because they remind me of a horseshoe crab "ish" looking critter. It's not that big of a deal BUT a nice suprise... (also found that a few of my Glowspot roaches have matured ).... Good times

Agreed...the saltwater fish hobby has really taken off recently with tank rasied corals (unheard of 10 years ago)!!!! BTW: I've ALWAYS pushed Orin's books- Hands Down...the best around...so much GOOD knowledge packed between the covers... When I was selling inverts online a few years back, I always sold his books... I really think that The Allpet Roach book had alot to do with the increased interest in roaches...I was thrilled when I stumbled accross it... i dreamed of many species in there that i currently own now. I still look through it at least once or twice a month...rereading the info...always pick up on something new. I REALLY do hope we catch up with Japan's and Europe's Insect hobby...Could you imagine HUGE live invert shows like the herp shows? Tables strewn with oddball bugs...all captive bred... ahhh... so nice...

I wonder about this alot. Over the last 15-20 years, invertebrates steadily gained popularity in the pet trade. No longer do you just see Chilean Rose Hairs and Emperor Scorpions.. usually a GOOD exotic pet store will have a few different species of Tarantulas...maybe a few scorpions...possibly some millipedes.... even maybe a few hissers every now and then. It seems that Europe is always a few steps ahead of us... I fell that roaches have became more popular due to reptiles... they make a great alternative feeder to crickets. Educated pet owners were searching for something cleaner, easier & healthier.... Hobbyists soon turned to roaches (next to crickets, they are the most popular feeder of insect eating herps).... People realized how cool they can be... Soon people were keeping them for pets and not just feeders. New and exotic species found their way into the hobby...Madagascar Hissing Roaches really opened many peoples eyes (from school teachers/educators to parents) about the "pet" quality of roaches. I have heard many people say that hissers remind them more of a beetle than a roach.... I hope to continue seeing the hobby progress... HOPEFULLY more species will make their way into the US pet trade...hopefully WE can help establish some of these species. I am very excited that Australia, Europe & Japan are breeding the Aussie Rhino Roaches... they are a LONG LIVED, SLOW, PET QUALITY ANIMAL. Finally enough adults have made it into the hands of keepers here in the US... It is only a matter of time before they start producing babies...hopefully BEGINNING to establish their foothold into the US market. Attractive species such as the Domino Roach and Glowspot Roach really got people talking. While they too are far from being fully established in the US hoby, they are close... Even non-roach people will call them "PRETTY".... ******************************************************************************** **************************************** Am I completely wrong? Do y'all see it differently? What species do you see really impacting the US hobby? What species do you want to get ahold of/help establish? ******************************************************************************** **************************************** Boards like this one reallty help to bring everyone together... The internet advanced the herp hobby (remember hand typed reptile price list that here snail mailed to your address?)...hopefully it'll do the same for us! Just tossing out some ideas to see everyones hopes/views/feelings.... Cheers, Graham

I'll agree fully with Orin on this one. I have had many of them and even caught a few in the wild. They are AWESOME pets... although they may "look scary" to some people- they are just big kitty cats-lol... very easy to handle. They remind me of some alien life form... really cool. Good Luck!

Hmmm... never even messed with light levels. I keep my roaches in my reptile room... it has one window that is 80% blocked on a different wall away from the roaches. I always felt they enjoyed the darkness...the only daytime active species of roach that comes to mind for me is the Pale Bordered Field Roach... The only roaches who aren't in bucket cages is my Rhino Roach group... they are housed in a 20 gal long on a shelf in the room. They stay burried during the day...sometimes at night you can catch them roaming the cage.... My roaches all seem to be somewhat more active at night... Have you tried messing with light levels? Have you seen any effects on reproductive levels? Thanks, Graham

Awesome Daniel... I really got the urge to start a few Polyphaga sp. colonies...

Insect Hobbyists has a section of fourms...one dedicated to roaches ( http://forums.insecthobbyist.com/forum.php?catid=10 ). I've watched/posted this fourm for years... it usually doesn't have alot of action BUT I see a chanc eto maybe bring over a few new board members. Together we can share our knowledge/experiences and learn from eachother... I've picked up so much new roach knowledge from the Allpet Roach board... not that many people in the reptile/invert hobby discuss roaches (other than the ocassional feeder question)...it's about time that we showed everyone that there is so MUCH MORE out there than tarantulas and scorpions... I posted a short message and link to this board...maybe someone will see it... Cheers, Graham

Hey Robin- Welcome to the boards. Many species of roaches make great feeders...and just as many make great pets. I think roaches are more addicting than tarantulas-lol. Welcome... Graham

I gotta go with the Austrailian Giant Rhino Roaches (Macropanesthia)... I really love the Macropanesthia and panesthia species roaches... but the glowspots are REALLY growing on me... hard to pick just one.

Nice Matt- Great discussion and photos... I'm learing all sorts of new stuff. Thank you for sharing....