Do roaches need a source of water?

All About Arthropods

All About Arthropods

Elliptorhina
Hi everyone :)

I had a question, I wanted to know if I were to start a colony of roaches would I need a source of water like a little bowl with water in it or water crystals, or would they get enough water from eating fruits and vegetables?

Thanks!

 
I'm gonna say no. I have never given mine a water bowl, and they all are doing good. Just mist occasionally and keep the substrate moist in species that like it moist, and you should be good. :)

 
Also I forgot to ask, Eurycotis sp. roaches are supposed to be able to climb over barriers and are supposed to have a good lid, so would a steralite container lid be enough to keep them in?

 
It depends on what kind of sterilite. Some have better lids than others. Also, if you plan on breeding them, you shouldn't have to worry about lifespan because you'll basically have a constant supply of them. I'd guess they live about a year as adults. And I agree with Hisserdude, in that you don't need to provide water as long as you feed them fruits and vegetables.

 
I have some containers with the latches, and baby roaches could easily get out from the gap in between the lid and the container. Some lids are more airtight than others, get one that when the lid is closed, it is completely touching the container, not just loosely attached.

 
Has anyone had any experience with the Gasket seal Steralite containers, they seem to be the tightest I can find, it seems that even the smallest nymphs couldn't get out of this.

 
All About Insects said:
Has anyone had any experience with the Gasket seal Steralite containers, they seem to be the tightest I can find, it seems that even the smallest nymphs couldn't get out of this.
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I haven't tried them, but if you think they're snug, you're probably fine. A word of caution, never underestimate the space a roach nymph can fit through. It has to be almost air tight to keep nymphs from escaping.

 
I'm sure it's fine, it is very tight and actually designed to keep out air and moisture. Although the part on the lid that creates the seal is foam, do you think the roaches would try to chew through it?

 
All About Insects said:
I'm sure it's fine, it is very tight and actually designed to keep out air and moisture. Although the part on the lid that creates the seal is foam, do you think the roaches would try to chew through it?
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I think I have the same container, just got it recently for my hissers, it is from Ziplock, right? If it is that container, you'll be fine, ain't nothing getting out of that! :D

 
All About Insects said:
It is called 20 Quart Gasket Box, it is from steralite. You can see it on steralite.com.
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I use those same gasket boxes for all my climbing species. They work great, never had an escape. Then again, I've never seen a roach make it past the petroleum jelly. Those containers are definately airtight though, I don't think the tiniest species could squeeze through.

 
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