r/InvertPets • u/MercurialMercyy • 2d ago
Please Advise!
My sister's bf bought this Discoid roach as a feeder, but he's too big for the lizard to eat. I offered to take him off their hands because I love bugs and I think he's too cute.
I've been doing a bit of research into them, but all the information I can find for enclosures is from breeders (who I don't necessarily trust). Can anyone tell me what kind of enclosure or enrichment would make this little dude happy?
EDIT: also, if anyone can clarify whether he needs enclosure mates and what that should look like, that would be lovely!
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u/GrimoireOfTheDragon 2d ago
They do prefer having tank mates rather than being alone. Nymphs also like to dig while adults will chill out in the open a lot more. I have my colony in a like 30 quart bin. They have substrate to dig in and also some pieces of bark. I feed my roaches stuff like dog food and apple though a lot of online diets also work. I’ve offered mine quite a few other foods too, such as bee pollen, oats, fish flakes, dried shrimp, etc.
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u/bickandalls 1d ago
Isn't dog food objectively bad for roaches? They convert excess protien into uric acid which is bad for the roach and the animal it's fed too, if they are feeders of course.
I feed my roaches ground rolled oats mixed with ground dried carrots and sweet potatoes.
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u/GrimoireOfTheDragon 21h ago
Not that I’ve heard, I’ve spoke to several roach keepers as well and dog food is often used. I’ve seen it recommended for many roaches, both feeders and pets
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u/DblEBros 2d ago
I have mine in a bioactive enclosure with isopods, springtails, a mix of cococoir, top soil , worm castings and dried leaves. The like things to hide under so I have plants and bark and rocks and they are happy with all that.
They eat tons of different things. Some things I’ve fed mine, Fruits veggies ( I don’t feed mine citrus) , oat baby cereal, frozen shrimp like fish foods, edamame, isopod food, calcium blocks, roach chow, ect. No seasonings or sauces. And I don’t have water in my enclosures. Mine are in a seedling mat when it’s cold and or to maintains humidity. I’ve had my colony a few years now. Some I have with the egg cartons some I don’t and have it more natural only but all have a soil and a clean up crew and are fed fresh food and grains.
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u/Obant I <3 INVERTS! 2d ago
Why do you not trust breeders who have been breeding them for years and making guides to help people?
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u/SoonBlossom 2d ago
Because sometimes breeders favor numbers maximization rather than happyness maximization
For exemple some of them would rather have a setup that lands 100 roaches a week with 10 dying each week than one that lands 50 roaches a week with 0 dying
So I can understand that OP wants a "pet" guide and not a "feeders" guide
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles 2d ago
I have dubias as feeders and pets. So far they are thriving with activity and babies. Theyre in a 10 gallon aquarium with a mesh wire top. 2 inches of topsoil with crushed and full leaves. Egg cartons and TP tube hotels work amazingly (bend 2 TP tubes and shove them into a full one, loved by nymphs and adults) I feed them roach chow from Dubia.com and slightly old organic veggies. They have a reptile water bowl full of water crystals I keep covered to help them last