Anyone in SE USA breed/feed local American Cockroaches?

jb · Honored Member Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 201

Apparently exotic roach species can't be sent to Florida b/c of risk they can wild breed. Makes sense, but i never knew this. So i am collecting "Palmetto bugs" from safe locations to raise as feeders. These are actually called Periplaneta americana even though they are an introduced species from the 1600s. Anyone ever raise these as feeders? They can climb, they can fly, they regurgitate oils that don't smell real nice, but they are big meaty feeders. They should thrive in my shaded lanai. Once i cycle thru to the F1 i am going to feed them off to my Argus monitors, Sav. monitor, beardies and tegu.

Teiidae · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:35 pm Post subject:

Good luck with that - I lived in south Fla for 5 years, and them palmetto bugs are just plain nasty and creepy - If free of pesticides and stuff like that, they would be a big meaty feeder, but I just hate roaches period, and palmetto bugs are even worse

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jb · Honored Member Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 201

Same here! You go in your kitchen late at night....kick on the light...and a huge 2 inch roach is in the middle of the floor...it starts running in circles out of nowhere. They are nasty. But they are an inexpensive, good food source. I'm going to get over my phobia by raising them and seeing their life cycle, etc. I'm going to invest in some long rubber-coated tongs b/c no f/n way i'm reaching in and snatching them up by hand. MMMWWWooooaaahhh, yuck.

BLD1228 · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:31 pm Post subject:

[quote]but I just hate roaches period, and palmetto bugs are even worse

SO you don't use them for feeding?I also live in South Florida and the roach law is new info to me, i would likemore variety in their diets and i could use some suggestions....Thanks

BLD1228 · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject:

Also.......So "exotic" includes anything that is not native to America?

Teiidae · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:10 am Post subject:

[quote="BLD1228"]

BLD1228 · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:56 am Post subject:

Thanks, sorry i'm trying to get the hang of the quote thing

jb · Honored Member Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 201

I have never kept roaches. I have collected some from parks and woods etc to feed off for kicks in the past. Then i started reading how well they reproduce and their food value. So i googled a few species and noticed the restriction to shipping to Florida. I asked about it on a monitor forum and some guy torched me about it like it was common knowledge. I guess lobster roaches are already colonized in areas of Tampa, so there is a realistic threat of colonization of many other species. I'll have to post some pics once i get my Palmetto's going, but it may be a good idea for other of you in florida. You can just house them outdoors in the shade and feed veggie scraps, dog food, fish flakes, etc. It's got to be worth a shot....don't you think?

plizardman · Member Joined: Aug 11, 2005 Posts: 25

Pretty gross, and I wouldn't risk them getting out in the house, or in from outside, but I will say that the defensive odor might be offensive to some animal predators, but to those who don't initially freak out over close proximity to a roach, it smells like amaretto. Actually pretty nice.

BLD1228 · Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:28 pm Post subject:

Wouldnt you fear nfestation in the event that a few got out?I too live in florida and that is my greatest concern

Teiidae · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:43 am Post subject:

jb · Honored Member Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 201

if you keep your house clean and there isn't a drought-roaches don't come inside. it's during times of lean water and food that they show up in your house, really. usually by the dishwasher, drip pan under fridge or by sink or bathtub (water!) i did my house in all hardwood (laminate really) and i don't leave dishes in the sink. i don't use pesicides at all-in or out of my house. the only time they show up is if it hasn't rained in a month (like this March-April-Mayi n Tampa area)...and a few showed up. now if you have a cage in your home-and it's full of dirt and mulch and a bowl of turkey burger in there...who knows? i am going to individually feed them with tongs or put them in a big rubbermaid with the lizard. no way in He** i'm going to just toss a dozen in there. that would be asking for it. smell like amoretto? haven't noticed that yet. i do like the smell of silkworms...it's kind of nice in a sick way.

reptile_addict · Member Joined: Jan 15, 2005 Posts: 14

I have a "large" colony of blatta lateralis of about 800 roaches that I feed to my monitor and my leos. The rats get a few of them in the dish sometimes. Great feeders if you ask me although they aren't a large species at all. Don't get bigger than a cricket but they give a good chase to anything that eats them. Non climbing and breed fast
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