Turkistan Roaches
 

I'm planning on breeding Turkistan Roaches as a food supply for my alligator lizard colony, and eventual Leopard Gecko colony (don't have any yet, might aquire some leos next season).

I've got a standard 20 Gallon tank, which hopefully is big enough to breed them in sufficient quantity. Plan is to raise them on dry cat food, and use a smaller aquarium for gutloading before feeding to the herps. I've been told they can be gutloaded using standard cricket gutload.

Anywho, I have a temp question. Allegedly they need to be above 90 to breed. Is that measured at the base of the enclosure, or air temperature? I have a feeling I may need to put some kind of insulation on the glass (probably packing foam) to maintain the heat if it is air temperature.

Also, I've seen some kind of "water gel" described as the best way to keep them hydrated, but I have no clue what they are talking about - what exactly is this water gel thing? Are they talking about the same thing sometimes mixed with potting soil and used for non succulant plants?

From what I've read on B. latteralis, they also need high humdity. A tank may not be the best thing to raise them in. I keep mine in an rubbermaid.

As for the water gel stuff, it's similar to the stuff used in potted plants, I don't know if it's the exact same thing. Fluker's Cricket Quencher would be an example of the water gel stuff. Several invertebrate dealers sell the acutal crystals for water gel.

I have a question on them as well.. I have a well established colony well over 400 roaches. My question is I was told they are tropical and could not survive cool temps. Well I left a few in my runnermaid container when I moved By accident of course. Well after two weeks of 30 degree night temps and 40 day temps they all survived.. Is it safe to assume they can adapt to cooler weather?? Now the wife is not letting them in the house lol