Switching from Locusts to Lobsters

[Sorby]

Hey. I've been breeding dubia roaches for about a year, but with my youngest dragon eating so much, they aren't breeding fast enough, so they're on a 3 month minimum break to replenish. (Hundreds of 2mm ones and plenty of adults, but nothing in between!)

I've also been trying to breed locusts for 6 months now. However, despite trying everything I can, adding more locusts, keeping an 85F temperature, and them eating all the veg I can grow, I have only had one batch hatch successfully.

I'm seriously tempted to switch the locust breeding tank (3ft glass, large heat mat, mesh slide top) to lobster roaches instead.

Any thoughts / advice? I've done a fair amount of reading on lobsters, and can find little difference to the dubia’s except from the vaseline line. I'm hoping to get another little BD soon, so could do with another constant feeder, rathe than the hit and miss locusts.

[missk]

I've only ever seen lobster, not Dubia, but they climbed right up the wall and out of my viv vents. I dread waking up with one on my fce or next to me on the pillow bleugh (viv is in bedroom)...

[sharpstrain]

Originally Posted by Sorby

Hey. I've been breeding dubia roaches for about a year, but with my youngest dragon eating so much, they aren't breeding fast enough, so they're on a 3 month minimum break to replenish. (Hundreds of 2mm ones and plenty of adults, but nothing in between!)

I've also been trying to breed locusts for 6 months now. However, despite trying everything I can, adding more locusts, keeping an 85F temperature, and them eating all the veg I can grow, I have only had one batch hatch successfully.

I'm seriously tempted to switch the locust breeding tank (3ft glass, large heat mat, mesh slide top) to lobster roaches instead.

Any thoughts / advice? I've done a fair amount of reading on lobsters, and can find little difference to the dubia’s except from the vaseline line. I'm hoping to get another little BD soon, so could do with another constant feeder, rathe than the hit and miss locusts.

I have two colonies of dubias on the go - one which I breed and oone which I feed from - then after a couple of months I swap over to give one a rest

[Juzza12]

Lobsters are the quickest to breed and cheaper to buy, i hand feed my lizards so the roaches getting out of the viv isn't an issue for me

[Sorby]

Thanks for the advice. As an update, i ordered 300 lobsters as a starter colony from Rick. Had them about a week now and they're absolutely fantastic.

I've used the vaseline trick, and with the mesh lid escapee's aren't a problem. My viv has mesh in the vents, so no prob's there either.

Most importantly though, my bd Kermit absolutely loves them.

I'd highly recommend them to anyone.

[Juzza12]

How do you actually feed them to your beardie?

[mangotango]

with your hands......

[Juzza12]

Originally Posted by mangotango

with your hands......

Not the only option....

[grannykins]

Originally Posted by Sorby

Thanks for the advice. As an update, i ordered 300 lobsters as a starter colony from Rick. Had them about a week now and they're absolutely fantastic.

Rick who? I've been looking for some of these, but can only find Dubia for sale. How much was your starter?

[Sorby]

From Ricks Roaches:

Roaches*-*Ricks Livefood - Crickets, Locusts, Roaches

Very good quality, and generous quantity in tubs.

As for feeding to my beardie, the roaches all hide under the egg cartons. So i just pick up a carton and shake into a plastic bag.

Add powder, shake, and feed.