Insect feeders raising guide | D colony

Summary

In this informative video, the host discusses the art of raising a healthy ant colony with a focus on Platylateralis, a fast-breeding species of cockroach used as feeders. The tutorial covers the setup of a feeder enclosure, the advantages of using Platylateralis over crickets, and the maintenance process, including egg harvesting and hatchling care. The host also shares tips on maintaining a thriving colony and the importance of cleanliness to prevent disease, ensuring a sustainable food source for the ants.

Takeaways

• 🐜 The video discusses the importance of feeders for ant colonies and the process of raising a healthy colony.
• 🍎 Ants are omnivorous and can eat a variety of foods, including rice, meat, and snacks.
• 📈 The speaker's youngest ant colony grew rapidly, producing alates in less than three months.
• 🦗 The video focuses on Platylateralis, a fast-breeding species of cockroach used as feeders for ants.
• 🔪 The enclosure for the cockroach feeders is made by cutting ventilation holes and covering them with mosquito screen to prevent predators.
• 🔨 Advantages of using Platylateralis over crickets include being quieter, less smelly, and easier to maintain.
• 🚰 A water source for the cockroaches is created using test tubes or a water feeder designed for bee colonies.
• 🍽️ The main food source for the cockroaches is dog food, supplemented with chicken feed.
• 🥚 The speaker harvests eggs from the cockroach colony weekly and discusses methods to speed up hatching.
• 🧹 Regular maintenance of the cockroach enclosure is necessary to prevent disease and ensure a thriving colony.
• 🔄 The process of transferring newly hatched roaches to the main feeder box and sorting them by size is explained for feeding different pets.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about raising and maintaining a healthy colony of Platylatelis, a species of cockroach, which are used as feeders for ant colonies.

Why are Platylatelis considered a good choice for ant feeders?

Platylatelis are considered a good choice for ant feeders because they breed fast, are noiseless, have less odor compared to crickets, and are easy to maintain.

What are some alternative feeders mentioned in the video besides Platylatelis?

Some alternative feeders mentioned in the video include fruit flies, worms, crickets, and super worms.

What is the advantage of using a test tube setup for the water source of the Platylatelis?

The advantage of using a test tube setup for the water source is to avoid the need to purchase water crystals and to prevent the roaches from drowning.

What is the main food source for the Platylatelis mentioned in the video?

The main food source for the Platylatelis mentioned in the video is dog food, with chicken feed being used sometimes as a supplement.

How often should the Platylatelis enclosure be cleaned and eggs harvested according to the video?

In the new and bigger enclosure, the video suggests cleaning and harvesting eggs once every two weeks due to the increased space for waste accumulation.

What is the recommended ratio of males to females in the Platylatelis colony?

The recommended ratio of males to females in the Platylatelis colony is 30 males to 70 females to prevent fighting among males and ensure a healthy breeding population.

How are the newly hatched roaches transferred to the feeders box in the video?

The newly hatched roaches are transferred to the feeders box using a paper cup, which makes the transfer process easier and prevents the small roaches from being eaten by larger ones until they are big enough.

What is the purpose of the wet tissue inside the container with the hatching eggs?

The wet tissue inside the container with the hatching eggs provides humidity necessary for the eggs to hatch and also serves as a source of moisture for the newly hatched roaches to drink from.

Why is it important to regularly clean the Platylatelis enclosure?

Regular cleaning of the Platylatelis enclosure is important to prevent the buildup of waste, which can lead to disease and death among the roaches, ultimately affecting the sustainability of the ant colonies they feed.

What is the role of the egg trays in the Platylatelis breeding box?

The egg trays in the Platylatelis breeding box provide a place for the female roaches to lay their eggs and also make it easier to collect and separate the eggs from the adult roaches.

Outlines

00:00

🐜 Introduction to Ant Feeders and Colony Care

The video script begins with a greeting and an introduction to the topic of ant feeders, specifically focusing on how to house, care for, and successfully raise a healthy colony. The speaker discusses various options for feeders, including fruit flies and worms, and shares personal experiences with their 'payroll ants' which are not picky eaters. The rapid growth of one of the speaker's youngest ant colonies is highlighted, mentioning the production of alates in under three months. The main feeder of interest in this script is the Platylateralis cockroach, a fast-breeding species, and the video promises to compare this with crickets as feeders, noting some advantages of using Platylateralis.

05:01

🔨 Building a Feeder Enclosure for Platylateralis

The script continues with a tutorial on creating an enclosure for Platylateralis, a type of cockroach used as feeders. The process involves cutting ventilation holes in the cover of a bin, using a mosquito screen to prevent entry from larger predators, and securing the mesh with hot glue. The enclosure is designed to house a large number of Platylateralis to meet the demand of the speaker's fire ant colony. The benefits of using Platylateralis over crickets are outlined, including their noiseless nature, less offensive smell, and ease of maintenance. The video then shows the transfer of the cockroach colony to the new enclosure and introduces other feeder insects and pets kept by the speaker.

10:02

📦 Maintenance and Breeding of Platylateralis Feeders

This section of the script details the maintenance and breeding process of the Platylateralis cockroaches. The speaker describes the setup for water and food sources, using dog food and chicken feed as the main food sources. The process of transferring the cockroaches to a new enclosure is explained, emphasizing the ease of moving them compared to crickets. The importance of maintaining a balanced sex ratio for breeding is discussed, with the speaker aiming for 70% females and 30% males. The video also covers the collection of eggs, which are hatched in a separate container with controlled humidity. The newly hatched roaches are kept separately until they reach a suitable size for transfer to the main feeder box. The script concludes with a demonstration of the cleaning and maintenance routine for the feeder colony, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness to prevent disease and maintain a thriving colony.

Keywords

💡Feeders

In the context of the video, 'feeders' refers to insects such as fruit flies, worms, and particularly roaches that are used to feed ant colonies. The term is central to the video's theme of maintaining a healthy colony of ants by raising and caring for these feeder insects. The script mentions that 'some ants will really eat anything you give them,' highlighting the importance of feeders in the diet of ant colonies.

💡Ant Colonies

Ant colonies are the focus of the video, with the script discussing how to raise a healthy colony by using feeders. The term is integral to the video's educational message about ant care and management. The script provides an example of a colony that has 'boomed in numbers,' indicating the success of the feeder strategy.

💡Platylateralis

Platylateralis, also known as the Blatta lateralis, is a species of cockroach mentioned in the script as the fastest breeding species of cockroaches. The video emphasizes this species as an ideal feeder due to its rapid reproduction rate, which is crucial for sustaining a large ant colony.

💡Feeder Farms

The term 'feeder farms' is used to describe the setups where the feeder insects are bred and maintained. The video script mentions having 'feeder farms' for crickets and super worms, indicating the variety of feeders used and the infrastructure needed for their care.

💡Ventilation

Ventilation is a key concept in the video related to the enclosure design for the feeders. The script describes cutting a ventilation hole in the enclosure cover to prevent moisture buildup, which is essential for maintaining a healthy environment for the feeders.

💡Mosquito Screen

A mosquito screen is used in the video to cover the ventilation hole in the enclosure. The script specifies that it is used not to prevent mosquitoes but to block larger predators, showcasing the practical application of such screens in insect husbandry.

💡Maintenance

Maintenance is a recurring theme in the video, detailing the necessary steps to keep the feeder colony healthy. The script discusses the process of cleaning the enclosures, replacing food and water sources, and harvesting eggs, all of which are part of the regular maintenance routine.

💡Egg Trays

Egg trays are used in the video as a method for organizing and collecting roach eggs. The script mentions tapping the egg trays to remove roaches and replacing them, which is part of the egg harvesting process.

💡Water Source

The water source for the feeders is an important aspect of their care. The script describes using test tubes and a water feeder designed for bee colonies to provide water to the roaches, emphasizing the need for a safe and accessible water source to prevent drowning.

💡Dog Food

Dog food is mentioned in the script as the main food source for the roaches. It serves as an example of the type of food that can be provided to feeders, indicating the diversity of diet that can be suitable for insect colonies.

💡Harvesting Eggs

Harvesting eggs is a critical process described in the video for managing the roach colony's growth. The script explains how to collect eggs from the egg trays and the importance of this process in ensuring a continuous supply of feeders for the ant colonies.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of ant feeders and their importance in raising a healthy ant colony.

Discussion on the variety of feeders available, including fruit flies and worms, and the adaptability of ants to different food sources.

Personal experience sharing on the rapid growth of an ant colony fed with a diverse diet, including everyday meals.

Introduction of Platylateralis, the fastest breeding species of cockroaches used as feeders.

Comparison between Platylateralis (Lats) and crickets as feeders, highlighting the advantages of Lats.

Demonstration of creating a feeder enclosure with proper ventilation to prevent moisture buildup.

Use of mosquito screen and hot glue for securing ventilation holes to protect feeders from predators.

Advantages of using Lats over crickets, including noise level, smell, and ease of maintenance.

Transfer of the Lats colony to a new, larger enclosure to increase production for the ant colony's consumption.

Description of the current setup for Lats breeding, including the use of test tubes for water and dog food as a food source.

Process of egg harvesting from the Lats and the importance of maintaining a clean environment for egg development.

Technique for hatching eggs using a wet tissue to provide necessary humidity and a paper cup for housing newborn roaches.

Rationale for transferring newly hatched roaches to a separate container before introducing them to the main feeder box.

Explanation of the sorting method for different sizes of roaches to cater to various feeding needs of pets and ant colonies.

Demonstration of the maintenance process for a healthy Blatta lateralis feeder colony, including cleaning and feeding routines.

Importance of preventing disease in the roach colony to ensure a sustainable food source for ant colonies.

Conclusion summarizing the key points of the video and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content.

Transcripts

[Music]

good day buddies

i hope you and your family are doing

fine and safe out there

today we will be talking about feeders

for our ant colonies

on how to house and take care of them

and how to be successful in raising a

healthy feeders colony

welcome to d colony

when we're talking about ant feeders we

got a lot of options to choose from

from fruit flies to worms cause some

ants will really

eat anything you gave them just like my

payroll ants

these guys are really eating everything

i offer to them

i almost try feeding them my everyday

meals like rice

meat and snacks they're not picky in

terms of food

and they're really booming in numbers

now maybe

with a thousand workers more or less in

just 11 weeks

as one of my youngest ant colony they

are now producing alates

they matured so fast in less than three

months

going back to our topic me myself

aside from having ant farms i also have

some feeder farms like

crickets culture super worms farm

but for today we will be focusing on

roach specie named platylateralis

the fastest breeding specie of the

cockroaches

shout out to the some of you who

requested for these feeder raising video

and some also asked what's the better

feeder between lats and crickets

for me they're both great and feeders

they breed fast

but lats had some advantages in some way

that we will discuss later

[Music]

for now let's make our feeders enclosure

first

we got a two large bins here cause i

just decided to upgrade my feeders

production recently

cause my main fire ant colony are really

eating a lot of them

like my fire ants that's consuming a

dozen of lats a day

anyway we are going to cut a ventilation

on the cover to avoid moist inside the

enclosure

and i will also use a drill to make the

starting point of our cutting tool

[Music]

i'm using a coping saw here but we can

also used a cutter or sharp knife

for cutting the vent

we are using a mosquito screen to cover

the hole

not for preventing mosquitoes but to

block

large predators like lizards cause

they're also interested in consuming our

feeders

we will just used a hot glue in

attaching the mesh to the cover

and now guys going back on wallets is

better than crickets in my opinion

first crickets buddies are noisy

especially at night while lats are just

noiseless all day

[Music]

second laps have smell but crickets are

way way evil smelling

in fact i'm using substrate on my

crickets but they still smell extremely

bad than the lats

i should know buddies cause i keep them

both

and third lats are easy to maintain

cause while doing the maintenance on

crickets

they will be jumping everywhere if

you're not so careful on moving them to

another setup

to clean their container about the lats

maintenance

i will discuss it later on this video

buddies

and our feeders upgraded enclosure is

done

we can now transfer my lats colony here

they're on the backyard buddies so let

me just take

them we also have my other feeder

insects here

and i also have a pet skink buddies but

she's not visible right now

sorry for the messy glass we have here

cause i haven't clean it for a while

anyway let me lure her for us to have a

look

here she is guys say hello

to the fat skink i named ally

we also have my super worms cultures

here

my springtails and isopods breeding

boxes

the darkling beetles over here

and our lats at the top and this small

container beside them is some baby

native roaches that im trying to culture

anyway let's get the lats inside

so here's my current lats breeding box

there's a lot of them here so i decided

to make a bigger enclosure for them

and also for them to provide more eggs

cause my ants really love them

and i just recently add more breeders

here from my adult feeders

and planning to add more soon

i used a test tube set up for their

water source

so i will not spend money on water

crystals

and i feed them dog food as their main

food source

and chicken feed sometimes i just

add food and water every time they fully

consume

their meals looks like someone wants to

join us on the video

buddies meet my dog will

he's the eldest of them so we call him

kuya will

[Music]

[Applause]

anyway

[Applause]

we only need to tap the egg tray here to

remove all the roaches hiding in them

in replacing their trays now cause they

will be using whole

egg trays on their new and bigger setup

here they are the females are the dark

brown to black in color

and the males are the orange wood wings

actually

we have too many males here so i started

feeding them to ali recently

cause male acts used to fight when

there's too many of them in one

enclosure

the ratio i want here is 30 male and 70

female and i believe to achieve that

in the upcoming days we only need to do

this and

they will be the one jumping to their

new enclosure

this way their waste and eggs will be

left here

for us to collect and here we are with

the last roach

[Music]

let's put the trays inside

[Music]

now that we have a bigger enclosure for

the roaches

we can now use a bigger water feeder

anyway

this one is made for bee colonies but we

can also use it to avoid drowning of the

feeders

or we can still use test tubes but

we can also use a small basin for their

water source

but consider putting rocks inside so

that the riches will have something to

walk through to also avoid them drowning

we can now offer them some food and

put them in place

and here are the eggs that we will

collect buddies

but unfortunately i can't find the

strainer amusing to collect them

faster maybe we'll play on it again

i don't have a choice but to pick it up

one by one

anyway buddies i'm harvesting eggs every

week

and i'm doing it every time i clean

their setup

cause as you can see there's so much

waste in just a week

but in their new and bigger enclosure i

will only clean

and harvest eggs once every two weeks

cause there's more room now for their

waste inside

that will also lessen my workload on

maintaining the feeders colony

so guys after an eternity we have

successfully harvested all the eggs

and this is their average eggs

production in a single week 15 to 30

roaches will hatched

with each of these eggs buddies that

will be so much feeders for my ants

and they will hatch in 30 or more days

but can be faster if you provide the

best condition what i do here buddies to

make them hatch in just few weeks

is let me show you the other cos i

collected

last week or last last week they need a

little humidity to hatch

so what i do is put a wet tissue inside

just wet buddies no water dripping on it

that white ball there is the tissue

after hatching

the baby roaches will also drink on it

and i

also put this paper cup inside that will

be housing the newly hatched roaches

look buddies there's so many of them

here already

anyway the main purpose of this paper

cup is for easier transfer of this newly

hatched babies to your feeders box

or to another container cause what i do

buddies is i'm not transferring them

straight to my feeders box

if they're still this tiny i just keep

them here

until they grow bigger and ready to be

transferred to the feeders box

[Music]

here's the roaches that i transferred

last week

as you can see they groaned so fast

because there's no big roaches around

that will out compete them on food

and here's the other batch transferred

last last week

and another one here transferred three

weeks ago

[Music]

and another one container here four

weeks ago

and these guys are ready to be

transferred to my feed feeders box

buddies

to compete with the adult roaches there

but

i'm just letting them consume their food

left here before transferring them

anyway buddies i'm doing this sorting

thing

cause i also have small pets like

jumping spiders

who feds on these small roaches and my

small and starting ant colonies

also feeds on small roaches so it's

really more convenient to get to feeder

with a certain size with

this method than searching a small roach

on a feeders box full of adult roaches

[Music]

using my two feeders box at the back

i will show you how i do the simple

maintenance needed

to have a healthy bladder lateralis

feeders colony

aside from feeding them we also need to

do some cleaning for our feeders

in order to have a thriving colony of

them the eggs harvesting part was done

earlier in the lats breeding box

here we will not be harvesting a lot

because we don't have so much eggs

production in this container

cause most of the adult roaches here are

being fed to my ant colonies

this is a feeders box anyway so what i

will show you is how i clean their setup

you can transfer your roaches on a

temporary container

while you're washing and drying their

enclosure but the best thing i do is

i transfer them to another feeders box

cause i have extra box for each of them

then you can wash their used setup later

with soap and water

then let it dry for it to be ready on

the next maintenance

time in transferring your roach colony

we just need to move this egg trays in a

temporary

or on your extra feeders box like mine

it's as easy as this cause they don't

jump like crickets

and we will just again let the remaining

roaches here drop themselves to their

new enclosure

if you will used to small containers

like this buddies

you really need to do a weekly cleaning

maintenance

because they really produce so much

waste

you don't want them end up dying just

because of too much waste inside

cause we need them to sustain our ant

colonies

if one of your oats die because of a

disease all of them will follow in no

time

cause roaches eats their dead comrade

causing a domino effect until no roach

is left for your ants

so this is it for our blata later alice

feeders guide buddies

i wish i covered all your questions in

this video

i will make an updated and another type

of feeder guides

in the future i just hope you have

learned something from this

video guys be a genie for the first time

by granting my wish in tapping the like

and share button

that would help a lot this is d colony

saying goodbye for now but hoping to see

you on my next videos