High Protein

I usually use something called textured vegetable protein (TVP). It is a soy based protein used by vegetarians. I get it in the health food section of my grocery store.
 
I usually use something called textured vegetable protein (TVP). It is a soy based protein used by vegetarians. I get it in the health food section of my grocery store.

TVP is great, you can usually buy it in bulk at a health food store for a good price. I make my own chow with a base of TVP & Organic chicken feed. The chicken feed is corn based and does not contain any animal products or medications. If you go the chicken feed rout freeze small batches in the freezer for a few days, this will kill any mites that some people say come in the feed. I have never had problem and start with a high quality feed to begin with. Its a great base and you can add a lot of great additional ingredients to it when mixing/blending. There is a blog on here that list many of the items as well as where to get them.
Blend everything up very good and the roaches love it!
Dont forget the fresh stuff as well :D
 
Never feed roaches a high protein diet. Stick with 15%, 20% tops, above that and you will start having some die offs. They are not crickets that can still do well at 30-35% protein diet. If you feed the roaches too hight of protein, they will store the extra as uric acid. Guess what happens when a lizard eats too much uric acid, Gout.
 
Never feed roaches a high protein diet. Stick with 15%, 20% tops, above that and you will start having some die offs. They are not crickets that can still do well at 30-35% protein diet. If you feed the roaches too hight of protein, they will store the extra as uric acid. Guess what happens when a lizard eats too much uric acid, Gout.

That's odd. NY Worms specifically says to feed a high protein diet http://www.nyworms.com/dubiacare.htm

Anyhow, I only mix it in with my dry gutload at about a 25% ratio. My roaches seem to love it. The one I use has 12 grams of protein per 1/4 cup which equals 25% of the daily recommended intake for people. Not sure if that is considered high for roaches, but I was under the impression they needed a moderate level of protein to breed well. Am I wrong?
 
That's odd. NY Worms specifically says to feed a high protein diet http://www.nyworms.com/dubiacare.htm

Anyhow, I only mix it in with my dry gutload at about a 25% ratio. My roaches seem to love it. The one I use has 12 grams of protein per 1/4 cup which equals 25% of the daily recommended intake for people. Not sure if that is considered high for roaches, but I was under the impression they needed a moderate level of protein to breed well. Am I wrong?



I dont have the info in front of me (wrong pc) but look up the development of bug burger and uric acid studies in dubia roaches. basically dubia do not do well above 15% protein, bug burger was 30% (really good for crickets) and was killing off roach colonies slowly if it was only fed bug burger. They had to reduce it down to 20% protein, and say feed them lots of veg too.

http://www.store.repashy.com/can-feeder-insect-diets-contribute-to-gout-in-reptiles.html
 
I dont have the info in front of me (wrong pc) but look up the development of bug burger and uric acid studies in dubia roaches. basically dubia do not do well above 15% protein, bug burger was 30% (really good for crickets) and was killing off roach colonies slowly if it was only fed bug burger. They had to reduce it down to 20% protein, and say feed them lots of veg too.

http://www.store.repashy.com/can-feeder-insect-diets-contribute-to-gout-in-reptiles.html

OK thanks. I hadn't seen this info before. Luckily I have only had my roaches for about a month and am still working on getting a self-sustaining colony going. Also no die-offs :) I will adjust my gutloading to keep the protein from getting too high.

It's so frustrating when there is conflicting information out there. But I definitely like the Repashy products, and use them for my supplements, so will go with their experience for sure!
 
"I learned that Roaches are very different than most other Insects. First, they have developed to survive on very low levels of protein. 4%, compared to around 10% for Crickets. More interesting however was the fact that as part of their evolution to survive on low levels of protein, they have developed the unique ability to convert excess dietary protein to Uric Acid"

http://www.store.repashy.com/can-feeder-insect-diets-contribute-to-gout-in-reptiles.html
 
Thanks for the links and info. Very interesting indeed. Glad I found this out well in advance of using my roaches as feeders! I will cut the vegetable protein out. Anyone have any good vegetarian recipes that call for TVP? I just bought a new bag :eek:
 
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