Yes indeed it is winter time which means get some Oranges at your fruit and veg shop.

- Oranges will boost the breeding of any roach colony especially Madagascar hissing cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa), so lets keep the feeders healthy, and multiplying.
- Bananas is good for monkeys BUT is even better for your Orange spotted dubai (Blaptica Dubia) colony so add those to your list to feed as TREATS.

Heat Heat and more heat. Keep your colony warm this winter - slap a silver heat mat "big enough to cover at least 3/4 of the enclosure bottom" covered with glass and folded cloth to evenly distribute the heat at the bottom.

Humidity - In winter we loose a lot of humidity so a bigger water source will be required

Food mix - as always get your proportions right "1 part Oats, 1 part bran, 1 part "powdered Montego classic puppy mix"

Lastly enjoy and you will be surprised this coming summer especially everyone who's keeping Gromphadorhina portentosa (Madagascan hissing cockroaches) as your colony will be booming. The rest of us ... well we will have our hands full

Ask if you need any advice.

Last note: Healthy feeders makes for healthy Tarantulas.

Thanks for the tips iclaz!

Thanks for the advice, will really help allot of people.

I find my roaches breed faster during winter than summer, as they are right in front of the heater panel, and they get plenty oranges and bananas, through the coming month, when oranges are cheap.

Thank you iclazion!

I am getting 60 Oxyhaloa deusta (Cape Red Head) roaches tomorrow and i want to start my own colony

I've got the Container, egg shells, heating pad and even Vaseline because i know they climb all over the place... Any specific advice on this species?

Any Advice on this species will be appreciated

Great post.
I have been keeping roaches for six months now. Something I found in the last two months is I only feed my roaches fresh produce. I now have a super booming colony.
1) I don't need to give them water.
2) The fresh produce is healthy.
3) I don't have to maintain humidity as there is more than enough coming out of the fresh produce.
4) They breed better and faster.

Dry food is good as a backup for when you go away. Fresh produce is the business.

I raid my wife's fridge twice a week for goods she will most probably throw out.

Vinzy wrote: Thank you iclazion!

I am getting 60 Oxyhaloa deusta (Cape Red Head) roaches tomorrow and i want to start my own colony

I've got the Container, egg shells, heating pad and even Vaseline because i know they climb all over the place... Any specific advice on this species?

Any Advice on this species will be appreciated

Erm...why are you stocking up on the cape red heads? They are hard to kill and they and lobster roaches are and have been a pest so far the only feeder roaches I recommend is "(1) Turkistan Roaches - Blatta lateralis (2) Orange spotted dubai - Blaptica Dubia (3) Madagascar hissing cockroaches - Gromphadorhina portentosa "to freak people out" or to feed to your larger Tarantulas. **Note** when feeding a hisser just remember to remove the head like helmet part .

Other feeders I feed to my Tarantulas are:
- Super worm pupae "so I have super worms all over the show"|
- Wax worm moths "just as hard to catch than the Cape Red Heads and they need a special diet and are in a incubator in winter through the entire winter. I also get free superworm stock from a beekeeper friend as most beekeepers kill all wax moths and wax worms, however this keeper likes to keep things simple and I have a huge supply when it comes to wax moths.

I feel in nature they have access to more foods to eat and I will feed them a super worm pupae or wax moth every now and then as a treat. I also alternate between roaches. Will have more different feeders available. But because of all the people wanting to steal all my Roaches I will have to wait for my colonies to recover.

PS: I will have a few new feeders which I will include to the hobby later on. Just remember to say thank you

I know alot of people feed their roaches just on pure veggies and fruits, and I would like to know how regularly do you have to replace all the egg cartons because of all the mold? I would rather suggest a high protein diet "dry mix" but would like most people in the hobby, remove the roaches which you are going to feed in two days and place them in a "last meal container filled with fresh veg and fruits" the problem I stress with veg and fruits are some veggies or fruits might have been sprayed with poison. But if it works why change the diet ?

Lastly while I am at it, is there enough interested people who would like me to order water/food and treat food bowls all in one to include in their enclosure? It is a Big Long deep dish divided into 2 with a 3rd bowl that could stack onto the bottom two square bowls. This is for people who have a big colony going? The bowls also have a stone rock texture like you would find on most reptile sites but is designed for roaches only. So nymphs can also climb in and eat and drink and all be merry