I don't know if I'm one of those statistic in life or just have bad luck, it has been 2 years and 6 months since I first experienced the destruction that rats can cause, found in this thread Rats got my blood PSI Sky hi

After a little warfare I wiped out most of the rats and have not had issues with the rats and my colony, until early this evening, I was in the process of feeding my roaches.

As I pulled the container out from under the table I noticed some wings and some shells on the top of the lid. That all ready sounded some warning bells on inspecting the colony, lights went on, with a couple of choice words towards the 4 legged bast@*

3 days before this evening I saw a rat run from under the table where my colonies are housed and went behind the cupboard, not thinking to check on my colony I tried too chase down the intruder. he got away. :igiveup:

Ok, so Back to this evening of feeding, I had cooked some chicken scraps for my roaches with some grated butternut. I thought something was funny the other day when feeding my roaches they seemed to be less but I did not give that much thought.

I'm in total disbelief, frustrated, angry, pissed off and a couple of other words one could use to describe how I'm feeling as the rat or rats wiped out my colony within 5days

The reason for this, I had over 6500 roaches and counting (I counted my roaches for the fun of it noob ) I had even started a 3rd colony with gravid females.
Needless to say, from 6500 roaches down to 100 odd is a massive loss for me as I was feeding from my colony and have not bought crickets for over 6 months, basically self sustaining.

I have a lid on my B, dubia colony but it has a massive hole on the inside I like giving them plenty ventilation as they are on peat and it makes feeding and collecting so much easier, just never thought the rats would come into the house on the ground floor where the cats and dogs walk.

So this is what my 6500 weak colony looks like!

The start


Remains under the cupboard



My once great colony, reduced to a husk

Thats real crappy mate, sad indeed...

Wow Jake, that must be one fat rat now. You will have to take drastic action quickly, but you already know that. I would suggest you do not move the tub away, just put it back where it was and place traps at the place they entered the food source. You can get the glue traps sold at the local hardware suppliers. When a rat gets trapped in these, they yell out and that way call other rats to come and investigate and get stuck too. Hope you win this round.

Removed

Hi Jake

Sorry to hear about your loss, I know the feeling also had the same problem with my superworms
My whole breeding colony was wiped out by fish moths and then by rats!

My thoughts are with you, and good luck with the new colony!