About keeping Dubias and crickets

[Ceycham]

Other than heat requirements, Is there anything different between the keeping of these two critters?

I'm seeing both require a slick surfaced bin or tank, good ventilation, egg flats to hide in, gut load (same stuff?) and water source if not using fresh foods. I've noted that dubias require a heating pad. Is this only for breeding purposes? or necessary to keep the critters alive?

I'm more interested in extending time before reordering to a month or two as opposed to managing breeding self sustaining colonies. I have limited space if I'm to keep them indoors and my climate won't be hospitable even in the garage come winter.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Andee]

Crickets will die in too cold of conditions and their ranges tolerated are rather limited. Dubia are more forgiving... do you live where natural disasters are regular or snow is an issue?

 

[MSMorgan]

Ceycham,

Welcome to the site. You will find an invaluable plethora of information here. You may be interested in some of these posts:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/search/902287/?q=dubia&o=relevance

https://www.chameleonforums.com/search/902336/?q=keeping+crickets&o=relevance

There are similarities and differences between keeping the two different species. Two keepers here that come to mind are @Andee and @nick barta, among others who are bug gurus. Get on the above search engine in this site and read away. There's literally a TON of info here on keeping both species.

 

[Ceycham]

Crickets will die in too cold of conditions and their ranges tolerated are rather limited. Dubia are more forgiving... do you live where natural disasters are regular or snow is an issue?

In winters yes, where I live snow and very cold temps are a thing

 

[Andee]

I really recommend breeding at least one colony of your own feeders.

 

[NickTide]

I have dubias living in a bucket in my 68 degree basement with no heat. living, not breeding.

Dubias can also go along time with no food or drink and they won't prosper but majority will live. The same is not true for crickets.

You can't get much easier than dubias. A ten gallon with a heat pad and egg crate.l could probably produce... maybe 50 nymphs a day. You could probably raise 5 a day or so to adulthood in a ten.... thats a very rough estimate. Very worth while.

 

[jamest0o0]

I really think dubias are a waste many times. Most chams disapprove of them at best it seems. I would get orange heads to start with. Sure having both is great, but if you only want 1 roach species, get the OH's. They are more active, meatier, and chams tend to like them. They are also just as easy to care for as Dubia and dont climb/fly

 

[Tattersb]

Crickets will die in too cold of conditions and their ranges tolerated are rather limited. Dubia are more forgiving... do you live where natural disasters are regular or snow is an issue?

What is the low end of their cold tolerance? I've been wondering about that since I have my crickets outside and it's going to start getting cooler soon. It only gets into the 40's here in the winter for the most part, with occasional dips into the 30's.

 

[NickTide]

I really think dubias are a waste many times. Most chams disapprove of them at best it seems. I would get orange heads to start with. Sure having both is great, but if you only want 1 roach species, get the OH's. They are more active, meatier, and chams tend to like them. They are also just as easy to care for as Dubia and dont climb/fly

Funny you say that, I'm thinking orange heads will replace dubias as the number one feeder. Just as dubias replaced lobsters . I just started my O Hs though.

So far my young Panthers love dubias but that will likely change.

 

[jamest0o0]

Yeah my young chams would eat about anything, now they have to go over a week without eating to consider dubias. They like crickets the best, but seem to accept a large orange head if I don't have crickets. I'm considering cutting down how much I feed crickets and make the entire switch to roaches. They've been fine accepting orange heads.

I think many just hear about Dubia first, they're everywhere now... even pet stores have them more often than not. Orange heads can be a little more Intimidating too for someone new to roaches. They kinda freaked me out with their bold attitudes and faster movement at first. Now that's why I like them! They roam my substrate in my cages as well lol

 

[NickTide]

Yeah my young chams would eat about anything, now they have to go over a week without eating to consider dubias. They like crickets the best, but seem to accept a large orange head if I don't have crickets. I'm considering cutting down how much I feed crickets and make the entire switch to roaches. They've been fine accepting orange heads.

I think many just hear about Dubia first, they're everywhere now... even pet stores have them more often than not. Orange heads can be a little more Intimidating too for someone new to roaches. They kinda freaked me out with their bold attitudes and faster movement at first. Now that's why I like them! They roam my substrate in my cages as well lol

I'm not using crickets much. I hate cleaning their cage and they die. I plan to add green bananas to my menu to prevent boredom and to mix it up blue bottle flies and black soldier flies. I also started stick bugs and giant canyon isopods (both from andee).

O.P. blue bottle flies may be an option for you. Keep the spikes (larvea) in the fridge until needed then let them pupate and feed.

 

[jamest0o0]

I use BSFL and the flies along with bottleflies. All great feeders. I keep the Giant canyons as well, but they're a little too small for adult chams. Can still be an occasional snack though. I use them in my substrate mostly

 

[Andee]

How old are your Giant canyons James? I can't remember when sold to You? Sorry this morning is weird for me.

 

[jamest0o0]

No worries, weird morning for me too! Honestly I can't remember... I think I got them around april?

 

[Andee]

Lol they will get bigger, I am pretty sure I didn't send you any full grown ones. As long as you keep them correctly and with enough space etc, they will grow to the size of a 3/4 to full grown cricket in length.

 

[jamest0o0]

Some of them are a decent size, all of my cages are crawling with them. If I throw a carrot on my Cham floor it disappears within a week from all of the critters. I rarely see poop even..

 

[Andee]

Yeah but they can breed and won't be full size until at least a year old of not more.