tomatoes

[leedragon]

Tomatos as gutload is bad right? SOI am buying a new green banana roch coloni and the owner feed them tomatoes, between other stuff, how long should -i keep them and feed them other stuff before using them as feeders?

 

[MissSkittles]

I’m not sure about if tomatoes are toxic. I know the leaves and green parts are. I like to err on the side of safety so would say not to use them as a gutload. I have no idea how long roaches keep food or possible food toxins in their systems. @Motherlode Chameleon most likely can answer your questions.

 

[nightanole]

Nightshade is nightshade. You feed a hormworm hornworm chow and you are fine. You feed a hornworm tobacco and tomato leaves, and ded, they will naturally concentrate the toxin. Tomato plant "fruit" has the same toxins(natural insecticide) as the leaves, just in much smaller amounts.

 

[LizardLurkin]

On that note, here's a question:
The most passed around image on gutloading lists bell peppers, which are also a nightshade. Are all nightshades a no-go? Or only certain ones like tomatoes?

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

I’m not sure about if tomatoes are toxic. I know the leaves and green parts are. I like to err on the side of safety so would say not to use them as a gutload. I have no idea how long roaches keep food or possible food toxins in their systems. @Motherlode Chameleon most likely can answer your questions.

If you are that concerned about toxins in Bannana Roaches, I would pull the next generation raise them in a toxin free enclosure, then feed the next generation Bananna Roaches out when they are big enough.

Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich

 

[nightanole]

On that note, here's a question:
The most passed around image on gutloading lists bell peppers, which are also a nightshade. Are all nightshades a no-go? Or only certain ones like tomatoes?
View attachment 370373

Its mainly tobacco and tomatoes. Each nightshade as their own "toxin" and a huge range of where its stored and how much. Bell peppers store the bad solanine in the green parts of the plant. And like tomatoes, the fruit stores the solanine(mind you very low amounts for both plants) in the center seeds/area. Now a tomato is like 90% center seeds meat, while most people scoop out and pitch the whitesh center/seeds area of the bell pepper.

Technically you are fine feeding either to "non worms" because crickets/dubia etc cant concentrate the toxin as a defense mechanism. That being said, i have never had roaches eat a tomato nor pepper. Ive offered them when i pitch the people veggie tray in the bin, but they all eat around it. Crickets on the other hand i think would eat small rocks if you kept them wet enough...