OPEN THE GATES
On arrival
Set the unopened shipment inside a second smooth-sided bin before transferring the roaches. Have the lid, food, and moisture ready first. Their speed makes a deliberate transfer much easier than trying to catch escaped nymphs afterward.
BUILD THE REFUGE
A secure holding setup
Use a smooth tub, a firmly secured lid, and ventilation fine enough to retain the smallest nymphs. Keep cardboard flats below the rim and inspect seams, feeding ports, and lid corners. Do sorting and cleaning inside a larger catch bin. A climbing barrier may help, but does not replace a secure lid.
KEEP A STEADY WATCH
Temperature & placement
Keep the colony warm and well ventilated, without a cold, wet bottom or heavy condensation. Holding conditions are different from deliberately warming a breeder colony. Measure conditions at the resting area and regulate any supplemental heater with a thermostat. Never put a closed tub in sunlight.
PROVISION THE COLONY
Food & hydration
Offer a suitable roach or insect diet in a dry station, with small portions of fresh vegetables for moisture. Remove wet leftovers promptly. Avoid open water dishes, and do not pour water across the bedding or egg cases. Gut-load the animals you intend to feed rather than relying on their shipping provisions.
Prepare with Dubia Water Crystal. Check each product’s directions before use.
THE DAILY WATCH
Care between feedings
Red Runners lay egg cases called oothecae. When cleaning a breeder tub, sort those separately from waste so they are not discarded accidentally. Check the enclosure daily for hatchlings, spoiled food, and loose mesh. Label containers by species and keep them away from household food storage.
AVOID THE COMMON TRAPS
Mistakes worth preventing
- Opening the tub over carpet or beside gaps in furniture.
- Assuming small nymphs cannot pass through ordinary screen.
- Treating egg cases as live nymphs when checking a product count.