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Matt K

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Everything posted by Matt K

  1. Found this while going through some older paperwork today. Its the receipt from when I had to pay 1000 for having 14 bugs in my luggage returning from Costa Rica. And Costa Rican soil still on the soles of my hiking boots. ..So for anyone who thinks the fines are made up, think again. This could happen to anyone "bringing in bugs" from another country to the USA- and this is just the first-time offense charge. Was it worth it? No. The strip-search in the process made it less amusing to remember...
  2. Are you 100% sure they are not just a smaller B. giganteus? You know any roach can come in cultures that are somewhat larger or smaller than someone elses culture..... For example, the Kansas City Zoo has had some B.giganteus in the past that were so large it was not believable, and at the same thime there are some people with giganteus cultures that are significantly smaller (maybe by 2 cm) than what they had. I also see in my own culture of any species that when they have been too crowded for too long they are consistantly smaller (you have to consider individual husbandry techniques are a factor too) they way I keep them. I would compare the genitalia to other Blaberus to be certain.... and post some photos on this forum if you can!
  3. Ha hah ha ha ha.... Oh Lord, help them with what they think they know, so that they figure out what they really don't. :/
  4. Hemithyrsocera lateralis adults and subadult nymphs I would love to have someday....
  5. They all breed fast if cared for properly. As for surinames- why do you need adults? Nypmhs mature quickly and the adults will reproduce quickly- faster than most species. If you can get a couple hundred, then you already have a colony.
  6. It really does not matter. However, it does help if you are trying to ensure the sustainabilty or growth of a colony to keep as many females as possible for reproduction. So if you need to feed off a larger nymph or adult sized roach the males are best as first to go in that scenario.
  7. Basically all of your questions are questions that have no real answers. The laws are for the most part very ambiguous and discressionary so that regional officers can enforce them or not as they choose in general or on a case-by-case basis. This is because pests are only "pests" in some areas and not others, so its not possible to write a federal law that is different for every county in every state. The whole bug hobby exists in a grey area of laws where its not illegal, but is in some places, and where all of our roaches are really "feeder" roaches for lizards, amphibians, and other invertebrates, but these feeders are sometimes kept just for keeping and not feeding off to anything. There is no concrete law that blakets the hobby too as the officers have bigger problems with thousands of illegal importations to work on and not enough employees to work on it instead of worrying about joe blow shipping roaches from Michigan to California, or any other A to B.
  8. They are pretty neat-o, and more lavender /purplish in person than in a photo. The three available Gyna sp. are all neat really.
  9. Dont worry about mold. If you let the bin dry out the mold will die off and eventually dissappear from roach activity. Don't bother grinding up food- that's what roaches do. Put the substrate back in the bin and leave it alone. The mold is from overwatering your roaches- that's all. Instead of misting them daily which is very unnecessary, water them once or twice a week by pouring water allover one half of the bin and let it dry out THEN add water again. Easy and less maintenance, which is how roaches are kept. If you have to do too much maintenace/care, then you are doing something wrong. I have more roaches than I can know what to do with. I use substrate in every bin 2 inches or so deep. Some bins are just cypress mulch and some are coco-fiber, and some are a mix of the two with oak leaves added. Substrate ultimately keeps the roaches cleaner and healthier and better controls your humidity level, which you are having problems with now.....
  10. It appears that's not a 'giant'. This is a normal sized Aeluropoda (within normal size range). You've been jumping to some conclusions in a few posts now and then withouit doing any research to find out if the info is correct first, and this can mislead someone who is new or does not know about a particular species. Fact check then publish, not vice versa.
  11. If you got some from James, they are likely from me too. Or Orin. Would be interesting to know why they are that color. I'll try to post a photo here later....
  12. Thanks Orin! I could not tell for sure.
  13. Mine are a solid uniform color, amber, and the body is not clearly visible through the wings and somewhat more elongate overall. If you got yours from him and his came from mine, then either: a) its husbandry related and would be interesting to know what caused that. they were accidently hybridized between the two of you somehow. c) they did not originate from me. Mine came from one of two sources that brought them in directly, but I could not say for sure what country they originated from as I did not ask at the time, which was a great while back now.
  14. That sure does not look like B. colloseus. Mislabeled?
  15. I have photos of 3 sizes of enclosures I use on this site somehwere if you search my posts. All containers were purchased at Target (or Target online), the Container Store, and a few from a local pet store though those aren't in use so much now. Search link is here and info is around the middle of the first page: Enclosure examples (link)
  16. It could VERY easily have been a B.craniifer nymph got into the mix along the way, and that's what that is...... no question in my mind.
  17. Funny how I have periodically gotten PM's or emails regarding someone wanting to obtain "new bloodlines" of a roach species. As far as I know, roaches are more or less built for inbreeding and do it to maintain a colony. Most species in the USA all started from the same original colony anyway, so new genes are highly unlikely. It may even be that roaches can go for thousands of years without any introduction from a new colony. If inbreeding were an issue, I doubt any one colony would last more than a year or two without dramatic changes- I have one colony that is 14 years old and started from 5 or 6 individuals I bought at a pet shop that is still 'normal' withoiut introduction of any 'new' genes..... Commments?
  18. Mine live in a cage, and two days ago I found two small hatchlings running around (did not even know the female laid eggs). All on a diet of roaches.
  19. The best thing to do is to put it somewhere that it can just dry out for a while, like in a garage. You could cover it in foil and bake it at 300'F for an hour or so, but really thats not necessary. Most anything you will find on the wood will not harm the roaches if your roaches are cared for properly in the first place. I used to bake found wood, but gave up and still no problems other than having too many roaches....
  20. There are a number of extremely colorful species endemic to Australia that are not in culture anywhere in the world- unfortunately. There are some worth dreaming about, and several are Polyzostera.
  21. I have them living in my house year 'round in a room where the average temp is 83'F. Never hibernate, and they keep reproducing. Not sure where most of them depart to... normally I just find a few mediums/adults or a dozen or so tiny ones. They feed on any roach they can grab from an open bin.... thought I posted a photo at some point.
  22. I hate to say it, but those don't look like the parabolicus I had..... wish I had some better photos around here (and might) somewhere.......
  23. Looks like one in general, and it may or may not be fully grown either. Ive had them appear like that only to molt again and have larger 'horns'. How long is that one in the photo?
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