RecoveryColonies
Red runner roaches care guide
Shelfordella lateralis
A smooth-sided, well ventilated bin with vertical egg-crate stacks and a dry diet — moisture comes from produce, not from a wet substrate.
Terrestrial — floor space first
Red runner roaches enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult red runner roaches should live in at least 16" L × 11" W × 8" H; we build toward 24" L × 16" W × 12" H (2 × 1.3 × 1 ft, roughly 2.7 sq ft of floor and about a 20-gallon glass equivalent).
A 6–16 qt bin per producing colony; keep a backup bin so one crash never ends the line.
- Starter culture
- 8" L × 6" W × 5" H recommended · min 6" L × 4" W × 4" H
- Establishing
- 14" L × 10" W × 8" H recommended · min 12" L × 8" W × 6" H
- Producing
- 24" L × 16" W × 12" H recommended · min 16" L × 11" W × 8" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 40–55% ambient. Keep the substrate bone dry and offer a full water dish; overflow it only if the species tolerates a damp corner.
Substrate and depth
Bare bottom or a thin bran/oat layer with egg-crate stacks. Depth: 0.5–1 in.
- Ventilation: Two large mesh vents; dry and airy or the colony molds.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Vertical egg-crate or cardboard stacks for surface area
- Dry feed dish (grain-based chow) plus fresh produce for water
- Smooth or petroleum-jelly rim so nothing walks out
Build list
- Ventilated plastic bin with a mesh-panel lid — Ventilation prevents the mite and mold blooms that crash colonies.
- Hardwood leaf litter or grain-based feeder chow — Colony output is a direct function of diet quality — this is what your animals eat next.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
Red runner roaches FAQ
How big should an adult Red runner roaches enclosure be?
At least 16" L × 11" W × 8" H, and we recommend building to 24" L × 16" W × 12" H — about 2 × 1.3 × 1 ft, or a 20-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Red runner roaches need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does a Red runner roaches need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does a Red runner roaches need?
40–55% ambient. Keep the substrate bone dry and offer a full water dish; overflow it only if the species tolerates a damp corner.
What substrate is best for a Red runner roaches?
Bare bottom or a thin bran/oat layer with egg-crate stacks, at a depth of 0.5–1 in.
How big does a Red runner roaches enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Starter culture: 8" L × 6" W × 5" H recommended, minimum 6" L × 4" W × 4" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping a Red runner roaches?
Fast, climbs briefly and breeds explosively — a taped smooth rim and a tight lid are not optional.
How much ventilation does a Red runner roaches enclosure need?
Two large mesh vents; dry and airy or the colony molds.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own red runner roaches record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.