@HS. The crickets im getting does look in bad shape at the moment. I use crickets from crickets from africa. Usually if I feed them some apple they will stay alive for a month, but these days they dont even make a week. And when they die they turn all black.

Ive got a lobster roach colony, but its still small and dont want to destroy it before I gets going.

@ Gemini: Yes its the variables that makes it difficult. One tries one's best to keep everything constant, but unless you have a temperature and humidity controlled T room like RobC its basically impossible. And even he gets unexplained deaths. Its just part of life and the hobby that we cant change.

And just for interest sake. Masta splinta you were correct bud. It was a female. Checked last nite through the scope.

Thanks Wynster. Sorry that you lost her though...

But as you say, it is a part of the hobby that we must accept if we choose to keep T's. All we can do is to provide the best environments possible and keep our T's healthy in the best ways we know how. Nature has it's own rules at times, and there are certainly many things we still do not understand about T's.

wynser, I know mealworms are not as nutritious as crickets or roaches but have u tried feeding that for awhile? I vary mine, I feed only once a week.. so this week it will be worms, next crickets then roaches.. it saves on the pocket and adds variety. The worms also eat carrots, apples etc.. Just a thought...

pls remember this is only what I do personally...

Think Ill give it a try. Ive got a colony I use for my leoprd geckos.
I feed mine twice a week, but will only feed worms once a week

Sorry to hear that. So many losses lately...

I think we have to keep humidity in the enclosures a lot higher in this cold weather. That's what I do now after losing my young female P. striata. Difficult to quantify but I'd say about double the amount of water compared to summer conditions per enclosure.

As an alternative to crix I can offer small roaches for slings, if anybody wants. I raise all my slings on these and they're doing fine.

50 matchhead size roaches for 30-00. PM me it you're interested.

What type of roaches is it?