roaches and silkies---need advice
Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:45 pm
I just ordered some dubia roaches and silkworms for my lizards. Unfortunately, they were sent to my mailbox (metal, unshaded, summertime in Texas) instead of my house and many of the silkies died. (The Mulberry Farms' CS rep. took almost a week to respond and said the most they would do is to give a small discount to my next purchase. 
)
I am keeping the dubias in a 10 gallon tank (lidded as the nymphs DO clim!) and feeding them fruit, veggies, cereal, dog food, and fish food. How do I supply a little extra water without drowning the new babies? Do I need to buy that cricket gel, use a sponge, or what? How long til the babies become breeding adults? My kids have fallen in love with the roaches. I have self-portraits of them with their pet roaches on my fridge. I need to convince them that only mommies appreciate roach pictures (not in laws or teachers!
) We were at a restaurant one night and my daughter shouted "When we get home, can I hold the roaches?" The waiter almost poured the whole water pitcher into my cup. I keep waiting for CPS to visit our house. 
The silkworms finished their chow and I am now stripping large quantities of mulberry leaves from a tree that hangs over our fence. (I asked the neighbor if I could do this and he just laughed---he has already deemed me insane and there is little I could do to suprise him.) I already have several chrysalises. How hard are silkies to raise? Must I heat, humidify, sterilize, and do all that other stuff? They make it sound like a pain. Has anyone here ever raised them? If it is too much trouble, I assume Pele' (my bluey) can consume the moths. (Yes?)
I thought my new Crested Gecko would eat the roach nymphs or baby silkies but he has other ideas---even when I smeared a silky in baby food. That means Pele' has been feasting on silkies for 2 weeks. I have been giving him veggies, etc. too but should I worry about feeding him too many? Varied diet does not apply to this week.
Any advice regarding keeping roaches and silkworms is welcome. Too bad none of you live close. I've already pawned a bunch of silkworms and several roaches on a lizard friend nearby. I suppose I should just get Pele' (who I am beginning to think should be Mia Hamm) a little brother or sister. I keep hitting the garage sales and hoping for a new aquarium. I'm going to start checking pet stores and craig's list a little harder. It's a shame for Pele' to have to eat all these munchies by himself!
)
I am keeping the dubias in a 10 gallon tank (lidded as the nymphs DO clim!) and feeding them fruit, veggies, cereal, dog food, and fish food. How do I supply a little extra water without drowning the new babies? Do I need to buy that cricket gel, use a sponge, or what? How long til the babies become breeding adults? My kids have fallen in love with the roaches. I have self-portraits of them with their pet roaches on my fridge. I need to convince them that only mommies appreciate roach pictures (not in laws or teachers!
) We were at a restaurant one night and my daughter shouted "When we get home, can I hold the roaches?" The waiter almost poured the whole water pitcher into my cup. I keep waiting for CPS to visit our house.
The silkworms finished their chow and I am now stripping large quantities of mulberry leaves from a tree that hangs over our fence. (I asked the neighbor if I could do this and he just laughed---he has already deemed me insane and there is little I could do to suprise him.) I already have several chrysalises. How hard are silkies to raise? Must I heat, humidify, sterilize, and do all that other stuff? They make it sound like a pain. Has anyone here ever raised them? If it is too much trouble, I assume Pele' (my bluey) can consume the moths. (Yes?)
I thought my new Crested Gecko would eat the roach nymphs or baby silkies but he has other ideas---even when I smeared a silky in baby food. That means Pele' has been feasting on silkies for 2 weeks. I have been giving him veggies, etc. too but should I worry about feeding him too many? Varied diet does not apply to this week.
Any advice regarding keeping roaches and silkworms is welcome. Too bad none of you live close. I've already pawned a bunch of silkworms and several roaches on a lizard friend nearby. I suppose I should just get Pele' (who I am beginning to think should be Mia Hamm) a little brother or sister. I keep hitting the garage sales and hoping for a new aquarium. I'm going to start checking pet stores and craig's list a little harder. It's a shame for Pele' to have to eat all these munchies by himself!
