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Starting a Dubia colony and need help

R

rpma806

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Hello im am starting a dubia colony i was woundering what to do to kept them from excapeing i have a 58 qt plastic container and i was going to put vasaline around the top but excapees will end my colony. I was also woundering what people use for there dry food? thanks for any input you can offer.
 
you can go on line and buy the stuff around the cage. i use cricket food. but you can also use dog food. its really not that hard to keep them. just keep them humid and hot.
 
Dubias can't climb, so as long as you keep the lid on the tub and the tub is high enough that the egg crate can't reach the top, you shouldn't have any problems with escapees. I can't recall the size tub I use, but it's about 24" tall. I found it easiest to maintain heat with a heat lamp instead of heat tape, so I cut out a section of the lid and attached 1/4" screening (aka hardware cloth) with washers and nuts until everything was flush, and put the heat lamp on that. I haven't had a single escapee with this setup in the 2 years I've had the colony.
 
My dubia nymphs can climb my sterilite tubs. I use clear packing tape around the top, they reach that and fall back to the floor. The adults are no problem though. I don't know if there is any difference between the clear tubs and the brown/blue tubs. They may not be able to climb the clear tubs.

Good luck on your colony.
 
John, I think the blue tubs have more texture than the clear ones. I only use the dark tubs, and while the really small nymphs (1/8") can climb the walls to a degree, I've never had them actually get out. I don't think they'd be able to climb the clear tubs, but I don't think the Dubias would feel secure in them, not to mention the shock value of visitors seeing a tub full of roaches.
 
I've bought from blaberus before there reasonable and I received live insects from them with no casualties. Dubias normally don't climb so the Vaseline around the top won't really make much difference in controling them just need to make sure there is at least a couple inches of absolutely smooth area between the top of the cage or any holes they can escape from and the egg crates or whatever you use for them to hide in. I recommend dry cat food over dry dog food because it contains higher levels of protein. Dubias need to have fresh fruit in there diet and being sprayed with water in order to reproduce properly or it will be at a very reduced rate
 
Put a strip of clear tape like 2-3inchs from the top all the way around & if they get to it they will slide off like crickets do. & I onlt feed my dubia stuff Id feed to my dragons. Dog food dosent sound very healthy for a reptile just my opinion.
 
I disagree about them reproducing well with low humidity. They do better than most species with lower humidity but they still do a lot better if you spray them at least twice a week but if its to humid they fail too I have 2 colonies to that proved it one with high humidity and one with lower humidity. You just need to keep it from getting to humid and stagnant or the colony will dye from that.
 
The humidity is more for healthy molting, the heat is for breeding. Dubia roaches have a more difficult time molting in low humidity. Improper molts can cause casualties in your colony. These are tropical South American roaches, that are usually found in a humid, warm environment.

I use clear tubs and have found the roaches cannot climb them at all, the surface is too slick. I do not use the "cut the top and glue a piece of screen" method, too much heat and humidity escapes. I use a dremel to drill about 2-3 dozen 1/16" holes in the lid. This allows for plenty of airflow, while retaining heat and humidity. I keep the temps at 90-95 (I store the bins on top of my Critter Condos for constant heat). I feed the roaches dry dog or cat food for protein and I vary the vegetables from week to week. What I have found works great, and is a great way to recycle, is to use the hard stalks from the greens you are feeding your dragons, collard greens, kale and mustard green stalks are great. I throw them in the food processor with carrots and make sort of a mash that I store in the fridge and feed the roaches daily. The constant heat, mixed with the moisture from the veggies keeps the humidity constant at around 80-85%.

I started with maybe 200 roaches a year ago and now have well over 5,000.
 
5000 in a year from 200 and you a bragging your advice?


200 roaches half become females=100 females.
100 females*20 offspring per month=2000 offspring per month
Times 6 months=12,000 offspring on the low side.
 
Follow normal care instructions

Vent the tub
No substrate
Low humidity
Egg carton flats
Water source
Plenty of heat
Plenty of food
Let them alone.

I produce over 30k a month like this.
 
Thanks for the words of wisdom suzuki. I didn't say I produced 5k in a year, I said I have 5,000 right now. What I neglected to mention is that I am feeding 6 adult dragons and 6 juvies, 2 geckos, 2 frogs and 4 chickens. I also supply a friend and a local pet shop with roaches, so yah...
 
Dragonscalestudios said:
Thanks for the words of wisdom suzuki. I didn't say I produced 5k in a year, I said I have 5,000 right now. What I neglected to mention is that I am feeding 6 adult dragons and 6 juvies, 2 geckos, 2 frogs and 4 chickens. I also supply a friend and a local pet shop with roaches, so yah...
Click to expand...

Righttttttt!!!!

6 adult beardies alone would have kept your colony under control most likely.


Sounds like you are omitting tons of facts.
 
No wonder I normally don't say anything in these forums everything gets pulled into so much drama and turns into a fight. Can't anything be said without it becoming a war among people with personal attacks on each other.

Why not everyone just agree that dubias need at least moderate humidity, warmth, fresh fruit every few days, and a supply of dry food, such as cat or dog food, and they will reproduce and create a nice colony inside a container with egg crates.
 
roysjungle said:
No wonder I normally don't say anything in these forums everything gets pulled into so much drama and turns into a fight. Can't anything be said without it becoming a war among people with personal attacks on each other.

Why not everyone just agree that dubias need at least moderate humidity, warmth, fresh fruit every few days, and a supply of dry food, such as cat or dog food, and they will reproduce and create a nice colony inside a container with egg crates.
Click to expand...



Wipe the tears, no one attacked you Roy.:dgrin:

However, many people will call you out when they see :icon_bs:

Dubia need:

Vent the tub
No substrate
Low humidity
Egg carton flats
Water source
Plenty of heat
Plenty of food
Let them alone.

Dubia in a colony make plenty of humidity through their bodily fluid exchange alone.

Many people use water gel and chicken mash and their dubia never see dog/cat food or veggies with success.
 
I have two groups from one tub at 1year and the other 8 months. I have noticed ever week full adult dubia dead. They are not old but i due notice a few that are just laying on there backs kicking . The humidity is around 35% - 40% i wondered if there unable to shed ?
 
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