S. lateralis is probably one of the most commonly used prey species in the reptile world, and for very good reasons. They are prolific, grow quickly, and are eagerly accepted by most insectivorous species.
In the case of microgeckos, however, the true value of lateralis lies not in the adults but in the newly hatched nymphs.
Newly hatched nymphs are the ideal size for many microgeckos and represent one of the best prey options available in terms of size, convenience, and nutritional value; for this reason, I always maintain at least one active colony of about a hundred adults.
Lateralis require good ventilation, plenty of hiding places, almost no moisture, and high temperatures.
I usually use plastic boxes with egg cartons to increase the available surface area.
WARNING: These cockroaches have a nasty habit of chewing through the covers of ventilation holes if they’re made of mosquito netting or fiberglass mesh. If the holes are accessible to the insects, it’s a good idea to cover them with fine metal mesh that they can’t chew through. Alternatively, since these cockroaches can’t climb smooth surfaces, you can leave the container uncovered.
Production increases significantly above 28°C and slows down until it stops around 20°C. In winter, you can get around this problem by placing a heating pad on one side of the container; otherwise, let the insects “rest.” They will eat less and won’t reproduce, but they’ll be back in full swing during the warmer months.
Personally, I get the best results around 30°C.
As per the other insects I use my dry feed mix supplemented with fresh vegetables.
I use my watering system that ensures an always available water source without adding the risk of drowning.
Over time, I’ve discovered that the easiest way to produce large quantities of very small nymphs is to regularly collect the egg cases that are laid each week. I transfer them to a separate, well-ventilated container without any substrate, kept at about 32°C.
Under these conditions, hatching generally occurs within two weeks. Inside the container, I always place a small egg carton so that the nymphs have something to climb onto, which I can then grab and transfer to a container dedicated to micro lateralis.
This system allows me to obtain groups of nymphs of the same age and, above all, to always have tiny prey available for baby microgeckos and particularly small species.
Managing these insects is virtually identical to managing other species raised on egg cartons:
cleaning and disinfecting the container (weekly or every two weeks; the larger the colony, the more frequently cleaning should be done)
periodically replacing the egg cartons
collecting and incubating egg cases
providing food and water
Absolutely yes—for those who breed microgeckos, they are one of the most versatile and productive prey sources available. However, there are a couple of downsides to breeding lateralis that you need to keep in mind:
Large colonies tend to be smelly: to avoid unpleasant odors, choose slightly oversized containers and clean them weekly.
This species has the potential to become a pest. Individuals can go months without food or water and still manage to reproduce, so you must be very careful when handling the colonies and ensure that the geckos’ enclosures are escape-proof.