Raising feeder insects

[Kassaundra]

Well I got my roaches today, of course it would be today when I'm at work! I had their new home all set up for them, so all my husband had to do was put them in. I was really wanting to be home when they got there b/c my DH is not 100% on board w/ the whole roach raising idea (he actually thinks I need to be commited) Anyway he was a trooper and put them in the bin for me.

 

[Kassaundra]

Okay, I am giving up looking for this answer on my own, hopefully someone on this site will know the answer. How many GRAMS of protien in the average adult size b. dubia? I can find % only. If I weigh the adult and take the 36-39% of body weight in grams will that give me the grams of protien in the insect?

 

[HorizonSon]

How are your lil roaches doing?

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Awesome!!!! A few have already molted, there were more larger sizes then I expected. I only bought the 75 w/ 1 adult breeding pair, so was fully expecting a ton of babies, but thank you theroachguy b/c he sent a good selection of larger sizes too. They all arrived alive, they have already eaten a couple of slices of orange.

I had them in a plastic wal-mart bin at first, but wasn't happy w/ it, and had a large fish tank that I lined the outside w/ styrofoam sheets that had one side silver mylar type coating ( at lowes) and put in a wood cabinet w/ a heating pad. I'm still a bid squeemish about picking them up and handling them, hopefully that will get better. I've been on the look out for babies! And the adults are bigger then I thought, but that is a good thing, more filling for the girls.

 

[HorizonSon]

Ha ha; glad to hear it!

To help get over the icky; just reacquaint yourself with a diaper-wielding baby for the weekend

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
I have never changed a diaper in my life! I don't have children, was raised as an only child by my Gparents, was never close friend to anyone at the time thier children were babies. I am however a paramedic, while I almost never "wipe butt" I am confined in small space w/ many unmentionable smells and visually disturbing scenes, but still not as creepy as holding a multi legged crawling bug!!!!

 

[HorizonSon]

My oh my... I'm a professional butt-wiper (no joke); I'm a caregivers

Seriously; between friends with kids, cleaning up drunks in my party days, caring for the sick, raising a precious lil girl from 2-5 and my last several years of work; I'm highly qualified, lol

 

[Kassaundra]

Since my colony has started out so small, I won't have to cross the bridge for a few months anyway (before any serious handling will be required) so hopefully by that time it won't creep me out as much! I think it is a boy/girl thing, most boy children are fascinated by bugs have no problem picking them up and playing w/ them, while most girls are just creeped out, and to the bottom of my toenails I have always been a girly girl!

 

[Kassaundra]

Okay, I have a quick question, the "colony" is growing and having babies already so things seem to be working, but I have an observation/question. I have a magarine tub w/ water crystals, and one w/ crushed kitten food, and one I put a treat in usually has been fruit (orange or apple) my question is they are definately eating the treats down to nothing in just two days, but I haven't noticed much differance in the amount of cat food I put in and what is left now, if they are eating it they are not eating much. Is that normal? Also I read where common roaches love fat, what about alvacodoes for a treat?

 

[gumbii]

i got my roaches from www.roachesrus.com his name is rene, he's local to me, and gives people a decent over count...


but i have dubia roaches, madagascar hissing roaches, mealworms, superworms, wax worms, silk worms, and i'm planning to get red runner roaches too...


i have lots of leopard geckos... lots of them... LOL... i just don't breed crickets... but my chickens love crickets... but they stink... i can't deal with the odor... i haven't tried giving them wax worms yet... i don't have as many as everything else, but they are so easy to breed... it's one of those set it and forget it deals... i use them to get my lizards fat... i wonder if they are worth giving the chickens too...