Product Features
- High Nutrition: Red Runners are high in protein (approx. 37% dry weight) and low in fat, with a soft exoskeleton that makes them easy for pets to digest.
- Active Prey: Due to their fast-moving nature, they are excellent for stimulating feeding responses in reptiles like bearded dragons, geckos, and chameleons.
- Non-Climbing/Non-Burrowing: These roaches generally cannot climb smooth glass or plastic surfaces, reducing escape risks.
- Hardy Feeders: They have a long lifespan compared to crickets and are low-maintenance, requiring only a dry, warm container, hides, and food.
- Sizes Available: Typically sold in sizes ranging from pinhead/small nymphs (1/8″) to medium (1/4″-3/8″) and large/adult (1/2″ to 1″+).
Benefits Over Other Feeders
- Versus Crickets: Red Runners do not have the noise, odor, or short lifespan associated with crickets.
- Versus Dubia Roaches: They are much faster and more active, which is better for engaging hunting reptiles, and they breed faster, making them ideal for setting up self-sustaining colonies.
- Nutritional Value: They are rich in vitamin B12 and provide high protein content.
Care and Storage
- Housing: A dark bin with egg crates and good ventilation.
- Temperature: They thrive and breed quickly at temperatures between 85-90°F, but can be kept at room temperature to slow growth.
- Diet: They can be gut-loaded with fruits, vegetables, grains, and commercial roach chow.
- Hydration: They need moisture, but it should be provided via water crystals or safe gel to prevent drowning.
Identification
- Males: Brownish-orange or red, slender, with long wings (cannot fly but can glide).
- Females: Dark brown to black with cream-colored markings on their wings; they are broader and do not fly.
Caution: While they rarely infest homes because they prefer high heat and specific conditions, they are considered an invasive species in some regions, and some people may develop allergies to them with frequent handling.
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