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Ok, since this is the 'net, it's hard to express oneself fully. The reader cannot sense body language and tones. I started out by stating an opinion that they are small. In many opinions 18mm at maturity is a rather small creature. The birds can pick them out no problem, and it's a great feeder for them, however if you are feeding them to another creature and do not want them eating chunks of compost while trying to get at them, then they are quite small to be picking out. I suppose that if I had read all the pages, I'd have known that you were on, and I would have keep silent. BSFs are your thing, and that's cool. It was just a comment and was in no way addressed to you, and I'm sorry if you thought it was an opinion in regards to anything you had previously written. I was addressing the topic poster.
However, now that it's been opened up, I'd loooooooveeeee a colony of BSFs.
For my purposes, though, having a colony does not fit my environment and environmental needs. I chose roaches (and specifically these 2 breeds) after months of researching them for specific reasons. They don't climb plastic or glass, they don't fly, and they breed like mad. BSFs may breed like mad, but I don't want them escaping and swarming inside my house. I keep the colony in a 1x1' plastic container under my lizard tank in my house and can feel safe that barring any accident, they stay right where they're supposed to be. That is why I don't have any other feeder colonies. If there was a set up that assured me of practically no escapees and maximum control of the environment (no contamination of other insects and no parasitic concerns which, is a common way reptiles get internal parasites), all in a small space that I can keep hidden when guests come over, then I would most definitely start my own BSF colony.
Furthermore, though I prefer soft bodied prey, chitin (the shell) in some quantities is helpful to an adult beardies diet. Adult beardies need less protein than younger beardies and little fat (unless they are malnourished or laying eggs). Roaches have more meat to chitin compared to mealies and crickets and such. Also, I personally have had crickets escape and have seen mealies chew through plastic containers. All things considered, I'd rather have roaches to any other shelled feeder, and (larger) BSF to any soft bodied feeder for my reptiles. When I get my order of Phoenix's in for my boys I'll have to remember to put some in to colonize the compost for my flock (I hope they get here soon!
).
In any case, I have to apologize to the topic author. This topic is not about the nutritional values of either BSF or roaches and which is better for a reptile. It's about a person's really cool (or some may think disturbing, LOL) find of a huge colony. All I wanted to say was how cool it was, and it is, and you're lucky to have such a find for your flock who will benefit from the high calcium levels.
And, like I said, since one cannot read a feeling or intent... :aww Not a big deal! I really am pro-BSF!
Ok, since this is the 'net, it's hard to express oneself fully. The reader cannot sense body language and tones. I started out by stating an opinion that they are small. In many opinions 18mm at maturity is a rather small creature. The birds can pick them out no problem, and it's a great feeder for them, however if you are feeding them to another creature and do not want them eating chunks of compost while trying to get at them, then they are quite small to be picking out. I suppose that if I had read all the pages, I'd have known that you were on, and I would have keep silent. BSFs are your thing, and that's cool. It was just a comment and was in no way addressed to you, and I'm sorry if you thought it was an opinion in regards to anything you had previously written. I was addressing the topic poster.
However, now that it's been opened up, I'd loooooooveeeee a colony of BSFs.
Furthermore, though I prefer soft bodied prey, chitin (the shell) in some quantities is helpful to an adult beardies diet. Adult beardies need less protein than younger beardies and little fat (unless they are malnourished or laying eggs). Roaches have more meat to chitin compared to mealies and crickets and such. Also, I personally have had crickets escape and have seen mealies chew through plastic containers. All things considered, I'd rather have roaches to any other shelled feeder, and (larger) BSF to any soft bodied feeder for my reptiles. When I get my order of Phoenix's in for my boys I'll have to remember to put some in to colonize the compost for my flock (I hope they get here soon!
And, like I said, since one cannot read a feeling or intent... :aww Not a big deal! I really am pro-BSF!
