Dubia Beetles

[lindawaz]

I am thinking of trying these with Lily but I have questions. How do you keep them? Is it like the crickets feed same way, gutload same?

I hear some say the adults are huge! How fast do they become huge and what do you do with those?

If she likes them are they easy to breed?

here are 2 recent pictures of Lily can you judge how big I can let her eat Dubias. Can Veild Chams ever eat adult ones?

Thank you! Please remember they are Beetles- it took a lot of to even consider these feeders...But the crickets are down right nasty, smelly,noisey,and the list can go on

 

[emilybier]

They are roaches specifically. From what I've heard they are easier to breed and less smelly than crickets. They do get pretty big so you will have to be used to that. I know a lot of people who breed dubias and they prefer them to any other feeder on the market and they make wonderful staples. Even if she can't eat adult dubias, if you breed them they start out pretty small so you can grow them to a suitable size for her.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

All I've heard are they are less smelly, quiet, breed easy, can't climb glass, more nutricious than crickets, etc.

 

[clarkrw3]

They are great!! They take care of themselves, breed etc. You just add food and a water source and your done. Once the colony is established it doesn't matter how fast they grow because you always have any size you want (they have live birth) and if you get too many sell them. They are beetles here too They eat the same as crickets. The only minor complaint is they don't move in a cup unless you have something to bug them. In the light the sit still or try and find the dark so to get some movement so that your cham is interested you have to put a bug in there to disturb them. I usually just hand feed them, and my chams prefer the larger ones that they can barely eat...don't ask me why LOL.

 

[lindawaz]

Thank you for the responses so far! Tow of them are still up n the air
1. can a veild eat a full grown Dubia BEETLE
2. How fast do they grow to size the veild can not it if this is possible.

oh and a 3rd.

What if she can not eat them because of the size- How would I get rid of them if to few to sell or give away

 

[Maurer3D]

Thank you for the responses so far! Tow of them are still up n the air
1. can a veild eat a full grown Dubia BEETLE
2. How fast do they grow to size the veild can not it if this is possible.

oh and a 3rd.

What if she can not eat them because of the size- How would I get rid of them if to few to sell or give away

Depends on the genetics of the chameleon (I've seen some huge Veileds).

Dubias take several months to grow. They start at about 1/4rth inch and grow about 1/4rth inch a month. My adult female Veiled can only eat the m up to about an inch.

 

[emilybier]

Lol I'm not trying to be snarky or anything but are you calling them beetles in all caps because you don't like the thought of roaches?

 

[lindawaz]

Give emilybier a PRIZE!!

 

[lindawaz]

They are roaches specifically. From what I've heard they are easier to breed and less smelly than crickets. They do get pretty big so you will have to be used to that. I know a lot of people who breed dubias and they prefer them to any other feeder on the market and they make wonderful staples. Even if she can't eat adult dubias, if you breed them they start out pretty small so you can grow them to a suitable size for her.

Thank you!

 

[chachilla]

Dubia "Beetles" makes me smile. Once you have an established colony where you can feed the roaches off, they are wonderful. Until then, you have to wait till they can get to a point where you can feed them off and the colony can still keep up with you feeding them off. ( Unless you don't mind buying them all the time) I think of them as a small investment which works out great in the long run if your chameleons like them. All of mine do so it is great. I usually only feed med size dubia or the full grown males so that i can still have females producing all the time under the right environment so there are many sizes to choose from for many various size chameleons that are growing. ( I only have panther chameleons....) You still should feed your chameleons other bugs to eat other than just dubias only.

 

[emilybier]

Lol okay well whether you call it a roach or not doesn't matter, they still freak me out hardcore. Calling them beetles wouldn't help me. I would suggest you go check some out in person before buying a colony cause it can be a little pricey to start out a good group.

 

[lindawaz]

thank you! I use a paper towel on the bottom of the drawer for the crickets- I would do the same for my BEETLES? I have toliet paper and paper towel tubes for them to hide in. My daughter has a 4 room suite at college and four girls use a lot of TP!

I have the crickets in a plastic 3 drawer chest. Top Drawer Crickets, middle for cleaning - transfer the bugs into it while cleaning the one they live in. Bottom drawer super worms. They also have slik, horn and butter. I have bearded Dragons too but they will be going done for winter months any day now
I was thinking i could put my BEETLES in the middle drawer!

Think that would work?

 

[Supergirl]

I found this website very helpful when I set up my dubia colony... http://www.theroachhut.co.uk/
As far as your veiled eating full grown adults, it depends on the cham. My Veiled female LOVES them, she will eat huge ones without a problem... however my Veiled male is not crazy about them at all, he is a picky eater and barely likes crickets (I swear he is vegetarian! the only thing he seems to chow down on is pothos lol) My Ambilobe likes them but they aren't his favorite, he'll eat 1 or 2 and then he's done. The Veiled girl is a piggy and will eat anything you put in front of her lol. So I would say that it depends on your cham. I think in general (especially in comparison to crickets) Dubias are awesome... they don't smell funky, don't make noise, don't jump! And much easier to keep and feed off in my opinion.

 

[lindawaz]

Thank you! It does sound easier than crickets- would still give crickets to vary feeders along with the horned, slks, and butter but if she likes those BEETLES- they would be the main feeder. Of course it will depend on how well I am convinced they are BEETLES.