Fingerlakefeeders

Got to get some of these...

A pic from tonight.

Three orange pieds have made an appearance. Unsure if that can be fixed, the melanin reduction seems to be very ever changing.

I would consider it.

One of my four lines of Heterometrus silenus produce red brown females. What the heck?

Thank you, Sir! I appreciate the feedback. As evidenced by the pic, some of the original stock isolated became very ordinary looking. Not all, though. I took another look last night and the F2s are quite variable. There are regular milkbacks, pale yellow milkbacks, whites, yellows, oranges, and pieds. Like I stated earlier, I have no idea what is going on. Fingers crossed.

Update - there are some orange F2s. Evidence suggests either there was a cross, however unlikely, or it is a spontaneous mutation. Once again, I am flummoxed by the genetics.

Update - a few whites and pieds are showing up. Still not sure what is going on genetically.

I completely understand your point and know many folks have had success using coir. Based on my experience and research, although most isopods do not "need", many benefit from substrates that support a healthy biofilm. I am not talking about cellulose, I am talking about the bacteria and fungus that grow on such substrates. Of the species I keep, the Cubaris/Nesodillo benefit the most. The Armadillidiums benefit, but probably to a lesser extent. For many of the others, it is certainly doing no harm. Perhaps the ultimate benefit is what the spent substrate does for my garden plants. All of the Mediterranean Porcellios I keep have a far different substrate. Hakuna matata.

I would say a nutritive substrate is very important. However, HD says coir works just as well. Based on my respect for HD, I would say that varied approaches work.

I keep the Baltic Armadillidiums about half way between the Western European Armadillidiums and Mediterranean Porcellios. Moderately high ventilation and a more alkaline clay infused substrate. An addition of 10% Sodium Bentonite and 1 % Pulverized Dolomitic Limestone to the substrate more closely imitates their natural soil type. It has worked very well for me.

Working on fixing this pearlescent morph. Pictures, especially low res, do not come close to capturing the pearlescense.

North Carolina State Agricultural & Life Sciences Department determined of the twenty naturally occurring amino acids, at least ten must be present in an insect’s diet. These ten, called essential amino acids, include lysine, tryptophan, histidine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, methionine, valine, and arginine. The other ten amino acids are considered “non-essential” because they can be synthesized from other amino acids or similar chemical building blocks. Insect diets and human diets require the same ten essential amino acids! Certain roach species still need all ten amino acids, but can subsist on a poor protein diet due to bacterial symbionts that synthesize certain essential amino acids to the benefit of the host roach. Let's examine the facts: Roaches need methionine. DL-methionine is a 50/50 mix of the D and L isomers of methionine. And although only the L isomer is used by the roach, there is no indication that the D isomer is inherently toxic or otherwise harmful to the roach. Why then is methionine, or the chemically synthesized version DL-methionine, vilified? Bruce Stevens, professor of physiology and functional genomics in the University of Florida college of medicine, first discovered the pesticide properties of methionine while cloning genes that regulate amino acid metabolism in 1998. Working with co-author James Cuda of UF's department of entomology and nematology, Stevens later found this amino acid to be effective against many insects, including yellow fever mosquito larvae, tomato hornworm, and Colorado potato beetle. Noting the very curious phenomenon to have this nutrient amino acid that humans can't live without, yet at the concentrations they put on the leaves, was toxic to the crop-destructive caterpillars of certain butterflies. It was determined that mega doses of methionine disrupt an ion channel that controls nutrient absorption in larvae with an alkaline intestine. That does NOT mean that any feed or feed ingredient that contains DL-methionine is toxic to roaches! There are many feed ingredients in normal amounts are needed and beneficial. In larger doses, those same ingredients can be toxic and some are used as ingredients in insecticides. Two notable such ingredients, sodium chloride and copper sulfate. Let's not forget without those two substances, most organic life forms on the planet would cease to exist. Proper context is important to understanding. Are you using feeds with DL-methionine and getting good results? If yes, continue to do so. When veterans of the hobby have done so for decades, it is a safe bet that it is ok. Disclaimer: This phrase is trademarked and not to be used without the permission of Ricky Bobby Inc.