Roaches for Tarantulas

[BugChick]

This thread is for those of you to share your experiences using roaches to feed tarantulas.

I've found lobster roaches to make a good all-purpose feeder since they come in a good range of sizes suitable for slings and smaller adult Ts. They work well for arboreals since they're able to climb glass, but they will also burrow into the substrate and get caught by terrestrial Ts.

However, I could never get my adult Avicularia spp. or adult Psalmopoeus spp. to ever take larger roaches like Blaptica dubia or Blaberus discoidalis. I'm not sure why. Out of six Psalmopoeus and 10 Avicularia, I only had 1 P. cambridgei take on an adult discoidalis.

For smaller slings (3/4"), I've had success using Phoetalia pallida as a feeder. They're like a smaller version of lobster roaches. The adults only max out at 3/4", so it's very easy to collect small nymphs if you have a lot of slings to feed. And by easy, I mean you don't have to dig around in the cage to find the right size roaches to pick out.

[Keatonus]

I use B.Dubia for all my tarantulas, I'd prefer not to use Lobsters as they climb and would prefer not to deal with the added hassle.

Dubia's are tough to feed to arboreals, you pretty much have to hold it in front of them till they eat it, and some T's get bored because they play dead or don't move alot.

[froggy]

i find the best food for mine are periplaneta americana
the tarantulas love them because they site far off the ground and are very active
dubia are the worst i have used
they have a very odd defensive smell and the tarantulas hate it
they still will eat them if they really really need food
archimandrita teselatta are great for large tarantulas
meaty and they cant really fight back




thanx froggy

[vixvy]

For me orange heads are one of their favorite aside from dubia. But feeding Oheads is messy and the bolus can make some flies fast. Meat shell ration is great.

[esotericman]

What about non-glass climbers? Many of us dwell in apartments, and loose roaches of any species could spell eviction!

I personally have Blaptica dubia and Blaberus craniifer x B. fusca hybrids (from Bug Chick!).

Both behave, but are not really useful for tiny Brachypelma or Aphonopelma spp. I have some irregular access to freshly emerged Blatta lateralis, but would like to keep them going and have not started my own colonies.

Luc Ross wrote a great article on a species of roaches for feeding scorpions for the American Tarantula Society Forum Magazine, Byrsotria fumigata. I'd love to get these going also, but alas, have not hunted down some as of yet!

While I'm on them, what do the more experienced culturalists think of this page:

http://www.exotic-pets.eu/cuban-burrowing-roaches.php

[Keatonus]

I just received some freebie Blatta Laterallis, and so far have had MUCH success. I even tried a side by side comparison with the exact same Tarantula which is Lasiodora Klugi.

Tossed in a dubia, he chased the dubia till it played dead, T lost interest, and when T walked away it burrowed.

Tossed in a Laterallis 1 hour later, 2 seconds and SNATCH, got it.

both were dropped right in front of him.

only thing making Dubia better is their larger size for larger Tarantulas.

[huntsman]

Phoetalia pallida for me as the mainstay of my feeding.

Bigger tarantulas?...Well, they get several P. pallida as my other colonies are too cute to use as feeders!

[rogervan]

Hello All,

If this is not a forum for beginners, please let me know.

I'm using Lobster Roaches right now. I have all the subsoil, temps, and humidity right I think.

Lobsters climb glass, resulting in a few strays. If my roommate or landlord ever sees one I'm toast. Lobsters also burrow, but I've learned that T.'s can find burrowed prey.

I don't want to spray my carpet or the perimeter with insecticide because it's a small bedroom and I fear contamination of me. Plus, climbers always find a way out, get in the room and grow.

So, I dislike Lobsters. I don't want periplaneta americana because they are too well suited for the climate I live in. At least the Lobsters die in a month or two.

Can you guys recommend, or just name, tropical roaches that are about one inch long, do not burrow, do not climb, do not stink, and do reproduce in a tank? How close can I get to that ideal? rogervan@sonic.net

Roger

[Pharma]

Hi

This forum is for beginners too!

Well... one inch and no climber but easy and fast to breed? Thats difficult...
Shelfordella lateralis (syn. S. tartara and Blatta lateralis) also known as Turkestan roach would work, but some people don't like the odor (me for example) others like it pretty much. They are a non-climbing fast breeding species BUT they have the ability to reproduce at room temperature and sometimes do it in the apartment too. So it is important to handle them with care!

Others I know are bigger, like Blaberus sp., Eublaberus sp., and Blaptica dubia: you could only feed the nymphs .