Question about B. lateralis

[DanaD]

I finally got my hands on a few hundred adult or near adulthood B. lateralis to start a colony and I've noticed quite a lot of males among them (more than females). So what is the best male:female ratio for best breeding results, or with them, unlike crickets and B. dubia, it doesn't matter?

P.S. - And a funny thing: I also got a few hundred B. dubia, and so far my husband won't let me use them as feeders - he thinks they are to cute and funny....can you even imagine that? :?

 

[aquapimp]

I liked the dubia and latteralis as well for feeders. Unfortunately, they cause me severe asthma... please, be careful with roaches!

 

[DanaD]

Thanks for the reply!
I didn't know they could cause asthma, but I think we (my husband and I) are pretty "immune" to that: we have crickets, tons of mealworms, superworms, mice, rats and around 200 fish aquariums, as my husband breeds tropical fish for a living. Well, we keep most of those in a rented basement/garage thing, but still.... I simply got tired of crickets and I know mealworms are a very poor choice for a staple diet. But what you told me is very helpful to me, and I'll move the roaches there also, 'cause there's a baby coming into our lives in a month or so and I don't want to risk anything....

 

[aquapimp]

I own a tropical fish shop and kept geckos all my life on crickets and worms in great health. The roaches brought on the asthma quick. Very well documented that roach dander/feces dust is a major allergen.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Tom's right about some people having reactions to roach feces. I on the other hand have tons of allergies, but after years of working with roaches now, have not had a single issue with them. It's simply different for different people. I wouldn't worry too much about sex ratio with your roaches unless it gets to a point where it seems to be a problem. Lateralis in particular breed so quickly that it should never really be an issue.

 

[Hibiscusmile]

My roaches don't bother me either, the crickets do though! go figure... and right along with your hubby, I can't use mine as feeders either, they are so cute and I love the way they hide in the food, never seen food move before!:crackup: