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Dubia - Getting over the ick factor

Sirengarg

Sirengarg

Keeper of Iffy Creatures
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I have always fed my beardies on a cricket and veggie diet. They get mealworms, superworms, phoenix worms, etc as well. But I've never been able to get to the roaches. I have read countless websites and posts about them being a better food source, but the whole bringing roaches into our homes purposefully seems insane. And my boyfriend who HATES ALL bugs, is far less receptive to it than me. As it is, he hates the crickets, but he loves the beardies, so I have cricket duty 100%.

If I go with the roaches, what is the best way to contain them that makes it easy for me to get them out but hard for them escape. A cricket here and there getting loose is ok, but the moment I lose a roach, he'll probably throw out the whole box :p

Not much freaks me out. Scorpions, centipedes, and roaches are pretty much it. I'll pick up worms, crickets, spiders, etc. It almost feels stupid to be freaked of them, but hopefully that will go with time.
 
Dubia's Can't climb (little nymphs may attempt to, but they don't get far before gravity wins :rofl:). I keep mine in a 18gal Sterilite I picked up at wal-mart for $5. Either drill a lot of small holes in the top or cut out a section of the lid and glue in some screen/mesh. Add egg crates, food, and roaches and you're good to go. I keep two containers (right now), one for nymphs and one for juvies/adults and sort through them every month or two.

If it makes you feel better, you can always add a layer of vaseline/bug barrier to the top just in case, but as long as your egg crates aren't within a body length of the top (~3 inches), they shouldn't be able to escape.

Supposedley, they also can't live on their own because of the heat they need, but I have be unable/unwilling to test this one out.
 
I have dubias, discoides, caves, and peppereds. Dubias are, in my opinion, the "least pretty" of the group, and the smallest. Discoids are good feeders and prolific breeders and slightly larger as adults, and in my opinion are an elegant looking bug. They are a fun bug and and also great for practical jokes. They turned me into a roach enthusiast, even though I previously hated roaches due to having lived in roach infested apartments in my youth. I keep my colonies in rubbermaid rough-totes with the top cut out and replaced by aluminum screen, and egg crates for a substrate. They cant climb smooth surfaces like the sides of the plastic containers. I like them because they are fast moving and have limited flying abilities. They require warmth and a sound diet. If they escape they will die because they cant function at room temperature and cant survive on the grease and crumbs under your stove. I have accidentally knocked over the containers and had hundreds escape but they all gradually died off so they are definitely not invasive. Because of their large size they are a substantial meal for my bearded and water dragons, and work even for monitors and tegus.
 
Took me a while to get use to them also. I'd also like to discredit some myths, if I may.

  • The do have a smell (though I don't find it offensive, but guests do)
  • They do climb
  • The males can flutter
  • They will not produce 40 offspring per adult female every 30 days
  • Small nymphs shouldn't go "free-range" in your reptile enclosure because if they make it to a dark spot, they will stay there FOREVER. They can also climb the tank sealant, though this has never been a problem for me.
  • They will stick to you like velcro. I was terrified of them when I got them and now that I have sort of gotten use to them, I still don't like the feeling of a large nymph having to be peeled off me.

I keep mine like defcon222, a breeding container and a feeder container. I use clear packing tape around the top to keep the nymphs from climbing up the sides. I use the Sterilite 18 gallon tubs and the nymphs can definitely climb all the way to the top.

Dragons, leo's and the cham all love them. My cresteds don't care for them much though. The wife hates them, but like you OP, I told her of the benefits and she wants what's best for the reptiles.

Good luck!
 
i actually breed three species of roaches as a feeder, Blaptica dubia, Blatta Lateralis, and Blaberus discoidales. also use sterilite containers i think the 58 quart size because these have smooth sides and nymphs cant climb these thay just slip off. also never seen them flutter have seen my Lateralis flutter the Dubia and Discoidales just fall.

i noticed you're in Florida and i'm pretty sure there illegal there because that actually a climate that thay can live and breed in. Discoidales on the other hand are legal there because i think thay are a native species to Florida, just thought you should take them into account.
 
I totally agree with John......dont believe all you read on them...The ick factor fades with time,they do climb the sealant in aquariums and when they get on you you cant always feel them.SO LOOK OUT.I've had adults flutter up to 4 feet away and survive in a unheated dark aquarium for up to 2 months..but they do produce well,for me,but feed them well and plenty of oranges...:iagree:
 
I totally agree with John......dont believe all you read on them...The ick factor fades with time,they do climb the sealant in aquariums and when they get on you you cant always feel them.SO LOOK OUT.I've had adults flutter up to 4 feet away and survive in a unheated dark aquarium for up to 2 months..but they do produce well,for me,but feed them well and plenty of oranges...:iagree:
 
Badcompany said:
I totally agree with John......dont believe all you read on them...The ick factor fades with time,they do climb the sealant in aquariums and when they get on you you cant always feel them.SO LOOK OUT.I've had adults flutter up to 4 feet away and survive in a unheated dark aquarium for up to 2 months..but they do produce well,for me,but feed them well and plenty of oranges...:iagree:
Click to expand...

you know i have read 50/50 that you can and you can't ship to florida, i know a couple of people that sell that ship to there whom i wont mention, so what is the actual law can one like me who breeds and sells dubia's, can we ship to florida?
 
5ubias are easy to care for and easy to handle. I have had them for about 5yrs now and no complaints. Any want or need dubias let me know!
 
i wont mention names of a few people that sell roach's but i heard they ship to FL as well. What if you do ship to FL will one be arrested or fined? Or do the box's get x-rayed to check? How will they know someone shipped dubia roach's? This is good for every one to know.
 
We too are getting ready to start a dubia colony for our Crested Geckos. They have been on CGD but haven't really gained any weight (I have hatchlings who aren't gaining at all..one did gain one gram but that is over an almost 2 mo period). Some of them only eat the CGD when they are really hungry and realize nothing else is coming. Most of them were fed Dubias at their previous homes so we broke down and went against our "no bug" policy. We are starting ours in 2 weeks, so that will give us enough time to learn all we can about different housing, feeding, etc and to get over the ick factor!!
 
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