Roach Breeding Tip

Hello chameleon enthusiast and fellow roach breeders!
I have a great tip for breeding roaches without disturbing the adults.
This will help you separate the babies without disturbing your breeding colony.

Supplies needed:
2 five gallon buckets
1 drill with a 1/2" bit
4 1/2" screws
1 saw
1 Hot glue gun
screen
roach flats
roach food

Your top bucket/breeding bucket will be for your adults.
Take your drill with a 1/2" bit and start drilling a dozen or more holes in the bottom.
This will allow the babies to fall through and the adults cant.
Then take a bucket lid and cut the center out and install screen.
If your lazy like me, then go to WalMart and in their fishing section where they sell bait bucket lids.
I think they are 3 dollars.
They have a flip top which makes it easy to toss food in.
http://www.castawaylakes.com/BucketLid.html

The bottom bucket is where all of your babies will fall into.
The first thing you want to do is install you screw stops.
The screws keep the top bucket from sliding down to far into the bottom bucket.
I installed the 4 screw 7 inches from the bottom of the bucket.
Each one was spaced equally around the outside of the bucket.
When you are done with that, then you need to cut out your air holes.
I cut two 3"x5" rectangles on opposite sides of the bucket.
Install the screen on the inside. It looks much better this way.
I used a glue gun to fix the screen to bucket.

Slide your top bucket into the bottom one.
Toss in some egg crates, roach food, and adult breeders.
Give it a little time, and you should have a great breeding method.

If you have any questions let me know.

I was going to post a new thread but this looks like an appropriate place for my question. Great tip by the way. Would you post some pics of it.

I just started to breed Dubias. What is the best way to introduce to my Cham. Should I put them in the feeder cup with crickets or just offer the roaches by them selves. So far he has not shown any interest and I would love to get him started.

Any advise would be great.

I use cups to feed my roaches.
Just keep adding them along with your crickets.
If they continue to not eat them, then I would try starving them for a few days.

I'll get some pictures up tonight.
I don't have my camera right now.

Great tip Justin! I am going to try that... I wouldn't mind seeing pics as well...Do you have to shake it to get the babies to fall down? Do 5 gal buckets hold a good sized colony? That also sounds more space effecient than the rubbermaid tubs. Thanks Justin... I will try that this weekend and post pics of my new container.

~Joe

Sounds neat. i'd like to see some pics

Yea, mine has no interest in roaches either.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Any of you roach guys and gals?
When I get out of class tonight, around 9 eastern time, I'll post some pictures.

Are you separating the babies for feeding and growing to become breeders? Also is it wise to take them out? I read the nymphs stay close to the mom. Are they cannibalistic? I am leaving the nymphs in the tub because I only have about 70 roaches right now are letting nymphs grow. More females than males. Im going to get another 50 here soon. I have been kinda building slowly. All my panthers love them. I feed a few to my 3.5 month guy everyonce in a while. That is the first thing he will strike at. Great tip too I am going to try this method.

How do you keep the babies from falling out when you remove the top half?Because you will probably still have some remaining in the top bucket.

CamoCritter said:

How do you keep the babies from falling out when you remove the top half?Because you will probably still have some remaining in the top bucket.

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If you set the bucket down into another sort of container, like a bucket lid, the nymphs wouldn't get far.

How long have you been using this bucket method?

How to

I had to go out and buy some buckets, so I could show you guys how to do this.
All of you owe me 5 dollars!
I didnt want to disturb my colony by banging them all up.
Thats the point of the bucket method.

Here are some of the supplies I used.
The only thing missing is a round file.
I use the file to smooth out the holes and cut edges.


Make sure you file both edges of the holes.
This makes it easier for the babies to fall.


These are self-tapping 1/4" hex head screws.
3/4" long.


Top buckets is help up by the screws.


3x5 hole cut for screen to allow for airflow.


Toss in your eggcrates,food, and a couple dozen breeders.


Latch you lid on and slide the top bucket into the bottom bucket.
Let the roaches do the rest.

Very nice ! on my way to home depot

cool method! thanks for the tip justin..

Brilliant!

Wow - I have been breeding dubia for years and I've been waiting for something like this.......I might just try that Thank You so much for showing the details and spending that $5 - If you go to Anaheim I will reimburse you LOL

I'm very glad to see this is a hit.
If anyone gives it a try, then let me know in a few months.

Thanks
Justin

Just Ordered Dubia Roach Kit

Hey is it possible if a group of these Dubia roaches happen to escape and start breeding and infest in our walls? Since Florida climate is ideal for them to breed? Have anyone ran into any kind of problem like this?

Picasso said:

Hey is it possible if a group of these Dubia roaches happen to escape and start breeding and infest in our walls? Since Florida climate is ideal for them to breed? Have anyone ran into any kind of problem like this?

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Might be why breeders are not allowed to ship to Florida.....

I know this is old but I just came across it, and thought it was great! I was wondering, how do you keep them roaches warm enough to breed? I've been reading up on this lately and it appears that they breed best at around 90 degrees F. Do the babies also need to be kept so warm? What is the best way to achieve the temp. with the bucket method?

Kat77 said:

Do the babies also need to be kept so warm?

Click to expand...

Babies don't breed......

Kat77 said:

What is the best way to achieve the temp. with the bucket method?

Click to expand...

A heat pad on the side of the bucket or a suspended ceramic heater would be a good idea for adults.... which do breed.