Cleaning feeder colonies in minutes

[Silverback]

This is how I keep my lobster colony (and all my feeder colonies) the pics show the fixed tray bar to keep the egg trays from moving I also use the suspended wire floor then finally egg trays and plastic dividers in-between on top of the wire floor

To clean frass and bodies I simply remove food dishes etc then tip the tub and bang a few times this allows all the waste to slide from under the trays to the open end where I leave it for a while for all the live roaches to make there way back into the trays then simply remove the waste by scoop or Hoover (biddy only Hoover not the household one )

So to fully clean out from start to finish literally takes me about two minutes plus whatever time I wait for the roaches to get back to the trays (but I usually clean all my feeder colony's at the same time so I don't have any actual waiting time as by the time I've banged the last one the first ones ready for any Roach free waste to be removed) 6 very large colonies (84+ litre tubs 1000s of roaches) get done in about 15 minutes 

Thought I'd post my methods as it saves me A LOT of time 

I don't use a lid as the barrier I designed stops any escapes (all species)

 

[Bhjjr]

Butternut squash! Awesome setup for feeders

 

[Silverback]

Thanks it certainly works for me and squash is a staple because pretty much everything seems to like it and it's quality nutrition but all my Roach colonies always have my own dry food available or I use the gel version I've made for a change and they always have fruit and/or veg available which involves more work tho the bigger roaches like blaberus etc I feed probably 2/3 x week but the smaller ones like lobsters/runners probably every other day and as I have twenty something colonies I guess it's a lot of work but they're all thriving so I'm obviously doing something right 

SB

 

[dogpack]

I use lids to keep them in that are supposed to be in and to keep out what does not belong.  I like your idea, many thanks.

 

[Silverback]

Your welcome mate and I know what you mean I do use lids/Voile screen on some of my tubs but the lobsters and a few others eat anything/everything so nothing stands a chance to infest or cause an issue hence I don't use lids with those

I've also found with the faster metabolism roaches eg lobsters and runners that produce tons of waste (frass/moults/bodies etc) no lid allows more air circulation and keeps everything nice and dry which stops any potential smell mould etc and discourages unwanted invaders but the slower metabolism roaches blaberus etc I always use lids/Voile screen as I always have fruit and/or veg available so flies etc can be a big issue but I also keep a fruit fly trap in each colony which I find gets any invaders so I really don't have many issues 

SB 

 

[Silverback]

Several people have asked what the smaller pieces of egg tray are at the front right on the floor 

It's simply an egg tray cut into quarters and placed on the floor then when I need some feeders I simply lift them out and tap then into my small roach separator I've made with some 5.8 litre bra plast tubs (I have several different size options depending what I'm feeding) it only takes me seconds and I have as many feeders of whatever size I need 

SB

 

[Silverback]

Been asked about fixing the tube in place and some other stuff so posting a few more pics 



SB