Mass breeding of food insects. Breeding food insects for songbirds and insectivorous birds Breeding food cockroaches
List of the most common food insects kept and breeding at home. The description and characteristics are shown for pet lovers, but in principle, the caloric content and usefulness of this food leads to its logical use for people :)
1. Drosophila (Drosophilidae) - fruit fly
Http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Drosophila_melanogaster_-_side_%28aka%29.jpg/275px-Drosophila_melanogaster_-_side_%28aka%29.jpg
Fruit flies (Drosophila spp., fruit flies) have a soft body, not covered with a thick layer of chitin, making them an ideal food for small insectivorous terrarium animals such as frogs, toads and young arthropods.
2. Mealworm (mealworm larvae Tenebrio molitor) - mealworm
Http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Mealworms_in_plastic_container_of_bran.jpg/556px-Mealworms_in_plastic_container_of_bran.jpg
3. Zophobas morio
http://telcontar.users.photofile.ru/photo/telcontar/3730030/xlarge/84609484.jpg
4. Locusts (Acridiodea)
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Since locusts are better in size and nutrition than crickets, they are preferred by owners of spiders and large reptiles. Usually two types of locusts are bred: migratory (Locusta migratoria) and desert (Schistocerca gregaria) - they are more graceful and brighter in color, despite this, the recommendations for breeding both types are almost the same.
5. Banana Cricket (Gryllus assimilis)
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Of the majority of insect species intended for food, crickets can only be compared with locusts, but even they are not superior to crickets in the presence of some amino acids. For animals that eat insects, crickets- This is the best and optimal food. Moreover, they are easy to breed and practical to feed.
6. Marbled cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea). Feeding cockroach
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Nauphoeta cinerea - not large, therefore not very suitable for large animals, for example, the adults of most spiders, large lizards, run on glass - you need a tight-fitting lid or Vaseline, leaving it in the ground for a long time is fraught with escape, do not fly, like to bury themselves in the substrate, running speed medium, quite soft, especially the larvae, reproduce very well and quickly in any room temperature(at a higher temperature, naturally, faster), in my opinion, they are excellent for feeding leopard geckos, teenage spiders (terrestrials) of most species, but you need to be careful not to burrow into the substrate or run away.
7. Turkmenistan cockroach (Shelfordella tartara). Feeding cockroach
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Shelfordella lateralis (=Shelfordella tartara) - small, fast, does not run on glass, males occasionally fly, does not burrow, on high legs, likes to climb branches (good for chameleons), prone to predation (including cannibalism ), some have problems with breeding, for others everything is fine, a favorite food crop of many terrarium keepers, but due to its size it is of little use for large animals.
8. Argentine cockroach (Blaptica dubia). Feeding cockroach
http://eublepharis.ru/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/Dubia_Roaches.jpg
Blaptica dubia - medium-large, whether it runs on glass, does not run, does not fly, the running speed is quite high, it reproduces very well and grows quickly, but only with high temperatures(about 38 degrees)
9. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Feeding cockroach
http://eublepharis.ru/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/periplaneta5.jpg
Periplaneta americana - medium in size, on high legs, which makes them clearly visible to all lizards, they run on glass, fly, they hold the Guinness record for the fastest running among insects, in general, they need an eye and an eye, they usually do not burrow, they breed mercilessly under any conditions, the only food crop for insects in the Nikolaev Zoo, but they are given there only crushed, if you feed them constantly, some will inevitably run away and form a small population in the apartment, because of this. and also due to the widespread infection of my crop with nematodes, I refused them as a food item.
10. Madagaska Russian cockroach (Gromphadorrhina portentosa),Madagascar giant hissing cockroach
. Feeding cockroach
http://eublepharis.ru/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/gromphadorrhina-portentosa-1.jpg
Gromphadorrhina portentosa - large, slow, low-slung, juveniles walk on glass, do not fly, because there is nothing to wave, development speed varies, depending on conditions, requires elevated temperature. fecundity is low, the growth rate of the colony is low, very hard thick integuments, IMHO it is more likely not a feeding cockroach, but an ornamental cockroach.
He is considered almost the most large cockroach in the world. Its dimensions are females - 60 mm, males - 55 mm. Some specimens grow up to 80 mm.
11. Phoetallia pallida
http://zoodogma.by/index.php/prajs-list/item/298-phoetallia-pallida.html
Phoetallia pallida- a small feeding cockroach, runs on glass, in general is similar to the marbled one, but is not inclined to burrow, does not fly, runs quickly, requires high humidity, high fertility, newborn larvae are very small, which makes it possible to use them for feeding spiderlings of the first instar, more I won’t say anything yet, because I won’t be keeping them for long.
12.Archimandrita tesselata- a very large feeding cockroach, does not run on glass, the disadvantages are the same as those of Madagascars + low growth rate.
13. Blaberus giganteus
Http://gallery.connectedbypets.com/photo.php?id=130128&user=681 http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0106+0068
Blaberus giganteus- a very large feeding cockroach, does not run on glass, grows quickly, but is rare (for six months I can’t find an adult female for my male)
14. Blaberus discoidalis- a medium-large feeding cockroach, like all blabberus, does not run on glass, does not fly, the running speed is average, likes to burrow, grows and reproduces quite quickly, but is not as fertile as other blaberus, maintenance is easy, but heating is desirable, according to unverified Information is the only Blaberus that does not emit a pungent odor when in danger, and therefore it is recommended for particularly capricious reptiles (I don’t know if this is justified).
15. Death's Head Cockroach (Blaberus craniifer)- Colombian, winged, forest
16. Blaberus boliviensis- a large feeding cockroach, slightly smaller than the previous one, the features of keeping are the same as those of other Blaberus, but it reproduces much better than other large tariks. Recommended for adult spiders and large lizards.
To some people, cockroaches are vile and disgusting creatures that need to be crushed immediately. And some people specifically buy and breed exotic species of cockroaches to keep in terrariums. Cockroaches are unpretentious creatures capable long time go without food. Compared to other species, the marbled cockroach can thrive in low humidity.
You don’t have to worry that your pets will go hungry, they are omnivores and can eat any food from your table.
The ash cockroach is certainly not a beautiful exotic animal, and does not shine with intelligence, but many people breed them at home to feed fresh food to large animals that eat insects.
Marbled cockroaches are rich in proteins and essential substances for the proper development of your pet.
You need a small low aquarium or insectarium in which your pets will live. Sawdust a few centimeters high is poured onto the bottom; paper boxes should be placed inside the insectarium so that marbled cockroaches can hide in case of danger.
A prerequisite is that the lid is tightly closed, otherwise you risk losing your agile pets. The lid should have small holes for normal air circulation. To make it more difficult for insects to escape from the terrarium top part The walls can be lubricated with Vaseline or sunflower oil.
Fruits, vegetables, sweets, baked goods, leftover meat dishes, and all uneaten foods that can be found in the refrigerator are suitable for feeding. For food, place a plastic bowl and replace it every few days so that the food does not stink. For water, a shallow vessel is also installed, and cotton wool or a foam sponge is placed inside so that the insect does not drown. The cotton wool will absorb water, and the cockroach will drink from the cotton wool.
If you accidentally forget to feed the cockroaches, don’t worry; they can survive long enough without food, and in case of severe hunger, they will begin to eat paper and wooden objects located in the terrarium. The main thing is to monitor the amount of water in the drinker; without liquid, insects will die within 3-6 days.
Try to feed marble cockroaches a variety of foods so that they receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals. You can buy cockroach food at a pet store. The amount of food directly affects the rate of reproduction; if you are going to breed marbled cockroaches as food for various animals, you should take care of a nourishing and balanced diet for cockroaches.
Keeping marbled cockroaches is not difficult, but certain conditions must be maintained. Since insects come from Africa, they love warmth, the recommended temperature in the insectarium is 25-30°; it is also advisable to maintain air humidity of 60-70%; for this, it is enough to open the lid of the insectarium every few days and spray water from a spray bottle several times. It is better to place the terrarium in the southern room near the radiator, so that the insects feel comfortable even in winter.
The sawdust in the terrarium should be changed 1-2 times a month to prevent pests. Before replacing, you should transplant the cockroaches into a separate box and put a piece of rag there so that the insects do not run away, but hide under it.
Breeding marbled cockroaches
After fertilization, the female carries the eggs within herself, sometimes pulling out the ootheca to ventilate the eggs. The female carries the eggs for 1-1.5 months, after which her back part opens and white nymphs emerge. The female gives birth to 15-24 nymphs. Keeping small cockroaches is no different from adults. A cockroach becomes an adult at the age of 2 months, during which time they shed their old shell several times. After molting, cockroaches become and acquire their usual color within a few hours.
For a full-fledged existence, a bird must have good nutrition. Sometimes grain mixtures and fruits alone are not enough. Some birds are insectivores. Therefore, in order to satisfy all the needs of his pet, the owner has to constantly purchase fresh insects. However, such events can seriously affect your pocket. This means that it is necessary to find a convenient alternative - breeding “food” at home.
Breeding food insects is quite an economical activity, allowing you to significantly reduce your financial expenses. However, before you run to purchase a larva, you should find out which insects are easiest and most profitable to breed at home.
One of the simplest and available options. Worms are not fastidious and reproduce quickly. For their convenient breeding, it is worth purchasing a wide, flat container. To prevent the “pets” from leaving their habitat prematurely, small holes should be made in the lid of the container and a mosquito net should be attached.
The filler also matters. Of course, you can make do with improvised means - flour or oatmeal. However, such products are only suitable for the first time. For constant cultivation, you should approach this issue more thoroughly. So, 50% of the litter should be coarse flour, after which oatmeal should be laid, and finally sawdust.
You can also create several tiers in their home. This will allow them to separate depending on their life cycle. To simplify the process of getting worms, you need to put a leaf or a fruit core on top. Insects love to hide under this shelter. Therefore, when necessary, it is enough to lift this element and find a couple of treats for the bird under them.
Many people worry about coverage frequency. However, it takes quite a long time to get dirty. Therefore, replacement should not be done frequently. To make the inhabitants of the container feel more comfortable, you should place the container in a dark place where there is no direct sunlight.
The mealworm, although a tasty filler, needs additional food. You can use pieces of fruits, vegetables, meat and fish as it. There is no need to create a special diet and diet; this is done whenever possible. The most important thing is to stir the food over the surface of the entire container. This will allow all its inhabitants to get their portion. It is important to understand that this is food, not a pet, so there is no need to install any drinking bowls with water.
Marble cockroach
You can usually find large and medium-sized cockroaches in pet stores. But they are well suited for large birds. For example, a small robin can hardly cope with its prey. As a result, instead of pleasantly absorbing food, she gets stress and extreme fatigue. Therefore, home breeding has its advantages - you can easily grow cockroaches of the required size.
The insect is unpretentious and reproduces quickly. Therefore, it is worth purchasing a large container in advance. However, you should be aware of their excessive activity and buy a container with high sides. To make them feel as comfortable as possible, you need to put an egg patch in the container. This will allow you to get the necessary area to display your activity.
Usually the container is left open, after placing gauze on top or smearing the edges of the box with Vaseline.
Filler
As a storage device, you need to take a well-absorbing base - sawdust, flour, crackers. It will not only be a place to live, but also food that cockroaches will happily consume.
However, you should immediately prepare for frequent changes of their home. The reason for this is quite bad smell from their experiments. Therefore, if you feel it, you should immediately begin changing the litter. Egg cells should also be replaced, which also quickly become unusable due to excess moisture.
These creatures are omnivores; there will definitely be no problems with feeding them. They can be given any leftover food from parrots, vegetables, fruits, cat food and meat - they also need protein food.
With cockroaches everything is incredibly simple, you just need to create them special conditions, simply no. The only exception is temperature. It should not be below 20 degrees. This indicator directly depends on the speed of their reproduction. As for humidity, there are no restrictions.
Marbled cockroaches have several stages of development, which makes them easier to breed. Depending on the size of his bird, the owner himself selects ideal age. After all, if the bird is small, there is no need to raise the insect to adulthood.
They can be kept together with mealworms. Both of these species get along well with each other.
Also, thanks to the presence of wings, they are able to jump well, this is always worth remembering. At one time, a female is capable of giving birth to up to 30 babies; her pregnancy lasts about a month. Therefore, if there are several females, you can breed in a short period of time a large number of stern.
Turkmen cockroach
Raising food insects may seem like a daunting task to most people. However, in practice everything is much simpler. Turkmen cockroaches also do not require much grooming. Breeding is reminiscent of caring for marbles. The only exception is the need to separate individuals of different ages.
So, young animals in one container, grown ones in another. Although there are enough reviews regarding their living together. In all other respects, the filler, nutrition and maintenance conditions are similar to their counterparts.
Their main feature is their red color, thanks to which they resemble ordinary red cockroaches. They also have wings, but they cannot fly.
Argentine cockroach
Most of all they like to dig into the substrate, which means, unlike previous insects, the amount of bedding should be increased.
Life expectancy can reach up to 2 years. They become adults when they reach 7 months of age. Pregnancy of female cockroaches lasts 60 days, after which they are able to give birth to up to 25 cockroaches.
They prefer sweet fruits in their diet. The greatest activity of insects occurs at night. Therefore, they should be fed in the evening.
Raising food insects can help save money. Therefore, it’s worth getting a little confused and thinking about a similar option for getting food. In addition, the bird will be able to enjoy fresh product at any time of the day or night.
It turns out to be a very profitable business.
I want to start an additional business.
Here is information from books on animal husbandry:Cockroaches are one of the most common food items for terrarium animals. Their advantages include extreme unpretentiousness in maintenance, rapid reproduction, lack of odor, and aggressiveness. There is essentially only one drawback - the ability to crawl on glass.
Cockroaches are a universal food for almost all lizards and amphibians, some turtles and snakes. But their mobility and ability to hide should be taken into account, so it is advisable to feed cockroaches by placing them in special feeders, partially removing the limbs, or offering them to the animal with tweezers.Here's what the breeders say:
Today, the cockroach is one of the most popular food crops, this is facilitated by several qualities of this species such as: low cost, unpretentiousness and high fertility. For example, in 2 years, a colony of 40 cockroaches has turned into an army of thousands of destroyers of everything edible, and continues to grow.
Option 2
Business idea: Breeding Madagascar cockroaches for work during the holidays.
Who is it suitable for: everyone.
Required resources: box or aquarium, cockroach ring.
Required personal qualities: love of insects, responsibility, organizational skills, sense of humor.
Starting capital: about 500 rubles.
IN Lately It has become popular to keep exotic animals and insects at home. You can make money by breeding some of them. This also applies to exotic cockroaches.
For comfortable stay and reproduction, rams need to maintain a temperature of about 25 C and air humidity (it is enough to spray the aquarium with water once every two days from a spray bottle).
For reproduction, it is enough to have two individuals (male and female). The cost of a pair of cockroaches usually does not exceed 300-500 rubles; young ones can be bought for 50 rubles. Cockroaches grow very quickly and comfortable conditions begin to reproduce. As a rule, offspring (10-20 cockroaches) appear within a couple of months after purchasing a pair of “newlyweds”.
The resulting offspring can be sold (to a pet store or through an advertisement), or you can do it more profitably and organize cockroach races as entertainment. Yes and original gift friends will always have it at hand.
How to organize cockroach races?
For competitions you need to have several (10 -15 individuals) trained “athletes” and a cockroach ring. A cockroach race looks like a large box with low sides made of transparent plastic or glass, the field is divided into running tracks, and the start and finish lines are marked. You can make it yourself, or you can order or buy it in a store.
Cockroaches participating in racing must be prepared in a special way and be on a special diet (usually cockroaches are not fed much 3-4 days before the competition).
How to implement a business idea?
You can offer your services at various corporate events, friendly parties, New Year, birthdays and even weddings. If you know the organizers and presenters of events, you can agree with them on cooperation and try your hand at it, you can also advertise in the media that a new service of an entertaining nature.
Each participant chooses a cockroach and cheers for it. You can come up with a funny nickname for the cockroach and encourage your athlete in every possible way. The presenter must develop a racing program, announce the start of the competition, announce the results of the races and reward the winners. Having good organizational skills and a sense of humor can turn competitions into an unforgettable holiday for its participants.
However, it is worth remembering that you cannot place money bets on such races; betting is prohibited by law in our country. But it is not forbidden to give a prize to the winner of the race.
Good day, dear readers. Today we'll talk about the cockroach beautiful name– marble. You will find out why this type of cockroach is very popular as a food crop among owners of unusual pets - toads, spiders, lizards, large parrots, snakes and other non-trivial living creatures.
If you are that same lover of exotics and are planning to have arthropods as food for your little animal, this article will be useful to you - I will tell you how to keep a marbled cockroach, what conditions it needs to comfortable life, how to arrange a house and what to feed the colony so that insects reproduce successfully.
Why do owners of exotic pets choose marbles as a food crop?
This insect, originally from Africa, is very unpretentious in keeping and breeding, which, coupled with omnivorousness and rapid reproduction, has made these creatures so popular among the owners of lizards, ants, snakes and spiders. The marble cockroach got its name because of its characteristic color: its brown-black shell is interspersed with light spots and streaks, which somewhat resembles the pattern of marble.
Marbles are high in protein and low in fat, making them an excellent food for animals that eat insects. They are low-fat and nutritious, and are also easy to digest - so you can be sure that your exotic pet will not have any digestive problems.
For lovers of arthropods, this creature even seems beautiful - certainly the marbled ones are prettier than our Prussians. However, if you accidentally meet him in the kitchen, this meeting will not bring you joy - his 3 cm long body and antennae will cause unpleasant feelings even in the most cold-blooded owners.
How do marbled cockroaches stand out among other cockroaches?
Before we talk about keeping marbled insects, I’ll tell you a couple of facts about these unusual insects:
- Marbled cockroaches have long, glossy wings.
- The female is traditionally somewhat larger than the male.
- They are viviparous cockroaches, so at the end of a 2-4 week pregnancy, one female gives birth to 1-3 dozen small white nymphs.
- Newborn nymphs will become adults in about 4 months, but in general the complete life cycle This type of cockroach lasts about 9 months.
Sexual maturity occurs at approximately 5 months - from this time the female will bear offspring 4-6 times. It is interesting that marbled cockroaches exhibit some kind of maternal instinct - after the birth of the nymphs, the new mother fiercely protects them from other inhabitants of the insectarium. True, parental feelings end as suddenly as they appear.
If you decide to start breeding these arthropods as a food crop, first of all you need to prepare and learn how to keep marbled cockroaches so that they feel good and serve as tasty and nutritious food for your pet.
Preparing the insectarium
As a home for marble makers, a large Plastic container or an aquarium. These creatures are extremely unpretentious in their maintenance, so they don’t care where they live.
- However, keep in mind: the marble's tenacious legs allow it to easily move along vertical surfaces, be it plastic or glass. Therefore, it is important to protect against escapes and cover the insectarium with a fine mesh - this way the cockroaches will not run away and proper air exchange will be maintained.
- If a suitable mesh is not found, simply lubricate the upper edge of the walls of the house with Vaseline - this will prevent arthropods from escaping. However, even if a couple of individuals were able to escape, do not worry, it is extremely difficult for them to take root in a human apartment. Some owners of marbles say that they feel lonely and when they escape, they often return to the insectarium.
- The bottom of the insectarium is lined with a substrate - a filler suitable for cat litter, sawdust, coconut bark. You definitely need to put some kind of shelter inside for insects - these could be egg trays, paper boxes, tree bark and branches.
- Don’t forget about the feeder and drinker - they must be installed so that even small nymphs have unhindered access to them. Any bowl will do as a drinking bowl, just cover it with cotton so that the cockroaches don’t accidentally drown. The water should be renewed regularly, because without liquid your cockroaches will die within a few days.
- Once every couple of months it is necessary to clean the insectarium, change the substrate with fresh one and replace it when it gets dirty egg trays or those shelters that you have installed. If this is not done, an infection or mites may develop in the cockroach house - both of these can lead to the death of the entire colony, so it is important to maintain cleanliness.
Reading on the topic: Sea cockroach what a miracle Yudo
Temperature and humidity in the insectarium
Marbled cockroaches are heat-loving creatures, so the temperature in their home should be kept at 25-30 degrees. As for humidity, there is no universal council. If the insectarium is covered with a tight lid, you can irrigate it only once a week. If there is no mesh or lid on top at all, it is better to moisten the cockroach house a little every day warm water from a spray bottle.
What to feed marbled fish?
Special bacteria live in the digestive system of these insects, thanks to which marmorates digest everything that their jaws can survive. However, they have one interesting feature– in a nutshell, cockroaches acquire the taste qualities of the product they eat.
So make sure that there is always fresh and varied food in the feeder - otherwise your cockroaches will start eating cardboard, wood and their fellows. Your chameleon is unlikely to like a cockroach whose stomach is full of cardboard.
Otherwise, there are no difficulties with food - marmorates, as I already said, are omnivores. They can be fed the following foods:
- fruits and vegetables - apples, pears, carrots, beets, grapes, juicy watermelon, melon and cucumbers;
- bread and cereals, cereals;
- boiled eggs;
- dry cat food;
- dry food for fish.
As you can see, the question of what to feed marbled cockroaches is easy to solve - almost anything that you yourself eat will suit them. The main thing is to regularly put fresh food in the feeder so that arthropods are not tempted to chew the cardboard or engage in cannibalism.
Don't forget about the drinking bowl. Cockroaches need plenty of water to feel normal, and they come to the drinking bowl more often than to the feeder. Without food, these creatures can live for weeks, replacing normal food with whatever they get under their mandibles. But the lack of liquid in the insectarium threatens the insects with death in a couple of days. If you often go away and leave the insectarium unattended, it makes sense to install a drinking bowl like the one they install for birds. This way you will be sure that marbled arthropods will not suffer from thirst.