Discoid roaches/false deaths head roach?

[smith710]

Ok, A pet store around here has discoid roaches and I was just wondering a few things about them.? First of all, are they good for the cresties?? Second, can they fly?? Third, are they easy to tell the difference between sexes? Fourth, what is good to feed them that is good for the cresties?  Also, are these better to feed to them than crickets?  And should I give both crickets and roaches for a variety?

[smith710]

Ok, I found them.  But all I found out about them is that they can not fly or climb the glass.  Still don't know anything else yet.

[smith710]

I'm not even 100% sure it is a discoid roach,I looked up a bunch of roaches and they all look pretty much the same to me but the discoid looks most like it.? I actually picked up a couple for my monitor though so let me show you a pic.

What do you think???

[sciteacher]

I've got a small colony of discoids going. I haven't fed any yet though, so I can't say how well they're accepted by cresteds. Obviously only young nymphs can be fed, as the adults grow quite large. I think the nymphs are more attractively patterned than my dubias or lateralis. I'll probably keep a small colony of these going as I find them kind of interesting. Supposedly, once they take off, they're quite prolific, although I can't imagine anything being as prolific as my lateralis colony.

Gary

[smith710]

Do the lateralis fly?  Would you recomend the lateralis to the discoid?  Also would you recmmend them more than crickets?

[sciteacher]

No, the lateralis don't fly or climb glass which is a real positive. The youngest nymphs are barely larger than a fruit fly, so I can feed them to my smallest hatchlings (helmeted geckos). The adults are slightly larger than an adult cricket, so even the adult lateralis can be fed to my adult cresteds. They're highly prolific and easy to keep. Keep them warm and fed and they'll multiply rapidly. They're also cheap. You see them listed as low as $50 for 500. The drawbacks I find with the lateralis is their speed. They're very quick, so if you drop one outside of a cage, you better try and squish it quick or its gone.

As far as comparison to crickets, nutritionally I don't think they're any better or worse. The main advantage is that they're free and constantly available (once you have your colony going). I haven't bought crickets for a long time, so I've more than paid back my initial investment in roaches. They have a very long lifespan, and don't smell or make noise like the crickets do.

If I just had a few geckos, I probably wouldn't bother with trying to maintain a colony of roaches, and I'd just buy crickets as necessary and feed mostly the CGD to my cresteds. As my collection grew, I found it advantageous to start up some of my own roach colonies. I've got three varieties going, but the dubia and discoid colonies started with a very small group and are just now starting to take off. If anyone is interested in starting up a Blatta lateralis colony, I have enough that I could easily hook you up with a group. For people here, I think I could beat the going rate pretty easily.

Gary

[smith710]

Well I have alot of other things that will eat the roaches so I figured I'd start a colony and use them fr everyone.  I was just making sure they were fine for the cresties.  I'll probably end up getting some lateralis. Thanks

[smith710]

Ok, well I got 10 of the discoids for now.  I know it's not much but I figured I'll grab a couple every time I go in there.  I'm not going to be feeding them to anybody for a while.  I'll let them get going on the breeding  and just feed crickets for a while longer until they get going.  I'll definitely be getting a colony of the lateralis soon though.

[firecrested]

I just ordered some dubia roaches yesterday.  i had them before and i like them.  They dont fly or climb.  there's a sale on them too on kingsnake, however many you buy they will match it.

[smith710]

Awesome, I'll definately check that out.

[smith710]

Where did you find this sale? I can't find it.

[firecrested]

the sale may be over now but i got them at thecarnivorousorchid.com
They were already the cheapest i found for the dubias before they had the sale

[firecrested]

sorry wrong site i believe.  this is them blapicadubia.com

[smith710]

Oh ok, found it.  The sale must be over though  .  That's ok, I think I want to get the lateralis anyways and just stil with the discoids I got now.  Thanks though

[NYCrestie]

man im so jealous. ive tried and tried but im not allowed to keep them not even in the garage.
i want a dubia colony so bad