#roachkeeping

Just some information on insects to feed to beardies, how to breed them and how to keep them.

1. Crickets - These extremely available staple feeders can be found in most pet stores for cheap. Don't be fooled though, these guys aren't hardy at all and can be a pain to breed. They also aren't as nutritious as other feeders can be. For protein they are alright but they are high in phosphorus. To breed you need a proper temperature (a heat pad on the container you're keeping them in works fine), a moist soil container and luck. To keep them is fairly simple, all you need is; a container to keep them, shredded newspaper, egg crate or toilet paper rolls or coin tubes for them to hide, food, and gel water or wet paper towels for drinking. If they get even a little bit too warm, cold or humid they will die.

Pros: Easy to find, easy to dust, easy to keep, cheap

Cons: Smelly, die easily, hard to breed, noisy, jump

2. Dubia Roaches - Personally I recommend these little guys highly. They are easy to breed and keep. They're really nutritious for your beardeds as well since they have a longer digestive track than crickets, more meat and less shell. They are an excellent sources of protein, at least double that of crickets. To breed them simply keep them in a clean enclosure, feed them well and keep them warm; it's best to have more females (wingless) than males (have wings but can't fly) as the males may eat the other males babies. Keeping them is extremely easy as well, you just need a 10 gallon tank or 40 qt tub, no substrate or solid newspaper, a heating pad, egg crate or toilet paper rolls or coin tubes, food, gel water or wet paper towels. Also the best part is they don't smell at all, unlike crickets. Additionally they live for 1+ years and females can breed their entire lives (30 babies a time every month!)

Pros: Easy to breed, easy to keep, easy to dust, have longer digestion track for more gutloading, don't smell, quiet, don't jump