Roaches and Misting System...Need Advice

[camothechameleon]

Hi everyone. Just bought a veiled chameleon. Had him for about 3 weeks now. I believe he is about 3 months old, and growing fast. He also eats a ton of crickets right now. Close to 10-15 a day of medium crickets. I would like to switch him over to Roaches for his main diet, with worms and crickets mixed in. My questions are: How hard is it to breed roaches, and how fast do they breed? My concern is that he will be eating them at a faster rate than they breed. Also, how difficult is it to breed Crickets? Also, how fast do they breed?

Next, I need to know about misting systems. Right now, I am using the Habba Mister, but it is way too small for the big cage that I am putting him in next (24x24x48). I heard of Mist King and Herpmist. Is one better than the other? My understanding is that they are about the same price ~$150. Thanks everyone.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Hi everyone. Just bought a veiled chameleon. Had him for about 3 weeks now. I believe he is about 3 months old, and growing fast. He also eats a ton of crickets right now. Close to 10-15 a day of medium crickets. I would like to switch him over to Roaches for his main diet, with worms and crickets mixed in. My questions are: How hard is it to breed roaches, and how fast do they breed? My concern is that he will be eating them at a faster rate than they breed. Also, how difficult is it to breed Crickets? Also, how fast do they breed?

Next, I need to know about misting systems. Right now, I am using the Habba Mister, but it is way too small for the big cage that I am putting him in next (24x24x48). I heard of Mist King and Herpmist. Is one better than the other? My understanding is that they are about the same price ~$150. Thanks everyone.

Mist system : I use a herpmist and love it. I also like to work with Jason. Great guy. ( To be fair : Mist King is a great system as well I just have not worked with it)

Roaches : Very easy to breed and they are fast breeders. Once you get a good colony going you will not have a problem keeping feeders. Dubia is the way to go.

 

[camothechameleon]

Nice, thank you for the advice. I will look into both suggestions. I think there is a reptile show coming up in NY in 2 weeks. I will probably pick up some roaches then. How many should I get to start a colony?

 

[summoner12]

Buy a Herp Mist and then get some Dubia roaches. You can find the roaches in the classifieds section sometimes. or check out: www.thecarnivorousorchid.com

 

[summoner12]

Nice, thank you for the advice. I will look into both suggestions. I think there is a reptile show coming up in NY in 2 weeks. I will probably pick up some roaches then. How many should I get to start a colony?

get about 20 adults... more female than male. Leave them alone for about 2-3 months and you'll have quite a few. Just give them a dark warm place.

People keep them in rubbermaids or glass tanks. I keep mine in a long 20 gallon tank with a heat pad on one side and food on the other. For shelter in the tank I use a bunch of toilet paper rolls and egg crate.

 

[veiledchamguy]

In my opinion you dont need a misting stystem for roaches...there are other alternatives

1. Wet a sponge down regulary
2. buy those cricket water pads those work as well
3. paper towel wet down

I buy the calcium filled water gel things lol they work really well and not really a mess and no drowning!

so before you buy an expensive misting system consider other solutions...

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

In my opinion you dont need a misting stystem for roaches...there are other alternatives

1. Wet a sponge down regulary
2. buy those cricket water pads those work as well
3. paper towel wet down

I buy the calcium filled water gel things lol they work really well and not really a mess and no drowning!

so before you buy an expensive misting system consider other solutions...

I think he wants the Misting System for the Cham not the Roaches

 

[camothechameleon]

I think he wants the Misting System for the Cham not the Roaches

Ditto. But I appreciate all of the tips everyone. Thanks a bunch.

 

[jejton]

Save on the shipping and get the roaches at the white plains show in 2 weeks. if you decide to go with lobster's, I can hook you up with a few adults to get you started but you'll have to pay postage ( I'm in Suffolk ).

 

[camothechameleon]

Save on the shipping and get the roaches at the white plains show in 2 weeks. if you decide to go with lobster's, I can hook you up with a few adults to get you started but you'll have to pay postage ( I'm in Suffolk ).

Thank you for the offer. I will definately keep that in mind. I think I will go to the show and see the different types they have. Thanks again.