Dubia feeder question?

[AmandaB1982]

I recently switched from feeding crickets to dubias. I have them in a 5 gal rubbermaid tub, everything is set up properly. I will eventually look into starting a colony but right now we are just purchasing in bulk. My question is about cleaning the tub. How often should this be cleaned? It seems like everything I can find refers to cleaning these large colonies and I wonder if there is a different recommendation if I am only using them as feeders? What is your cleaning regimen for just a feeder bin? I appreciate the feedback.

 

[Progrmor]

I recently switched from feeding crickets to dubias. I have them in a 5 gal rubbermaid tub, everything is set up properly. I will eventually look into starting a colony but right now we are just purchasing in bulk. My question is about cleaning the tub. How often should this be cleaned? It seems like everything I can find refers to cleaning these large colonies and I wonder if there is a different recommendation if I am only using them as feeders? What is your cleaning regimen for just a feeder bin? I appreciate the feedback.

Some say you are not suppose to clean their bins too often since their poo is a good substrate. Im not in to that. I clean mine from poo cut of legs and stuff like twice a month. I found that to be the perfect formula to not have to deal with lots of funky smells

 

[MSAquatics]

Just stand up egg cartons vertically, and provide a dry food mix, and some water crystals. As long as everything stays dry, and there is no mold, you'll only have to clean it every few months or so. To clean it, just remove the eggcrates, and dump out all the frass, wash the container with soap and water, and dry it, then put the egg crates back in or replace them if they became wet or soiled. There's some very informative videos on youtube for cleaning the containers and caring for dubia.

Leland

 

[melble68]

J dump out all the frass,

I love this place. I learned a new word today. "Frass", I can't wait to use it later. Everybody under this roof is going to look at me like I'm crazy and say "what did you say????"

Here's me: "Holy Frass, did you see that touchdown in all that snow?"

 

[AmandaB1982]

Thanks

Awesome, thanks for the quick replies. Super helpful info.

 

[AmandaB1982]

gutload?

Some say you are not suppose to clean their bins too often since their poo is a good substrate. Im not in to that. I clean mine from poo cut of legs and stuff like twice a month. I found that to be the perfect formula to not have to deal with lots of funky smells

Can I ask you if you remove and gutload those you plan to feed at next feeding in a separate container until feeding time or do you gutload inside the tub feeding all the roaches? I seem to read people doing both, so I'm not sure which is best?

 

[Andee]

I gutload at all times, because it keeps healthy roaches and you can always use any roach at all times if need be.

 

[AmandaB1982]

I gutload at all times, because it keeps healthy roaches and you can always use any roach at all times if need be.

Thanks! I will continue doing it that way.

 

[Progrmor]

Can I ask you if you remove and gutload those you plan to feed at next feeding in a separate container until feeding time or do you gutload inside the tub feeding all the roaches? I seem to read people doing both, so I'm not sure which is best?

I do kind of. My cham is really small so I house dubias in two different bins, one with adults (Wich she cant eat) and one with nymfs. Im making sure the nymfs are well gutloaded all the time and with the adults I just toss whatever left-overs I got in there Along with fresh veggies ofc.

 

[BoDiddley]

I personally just feed my entire colony, with different fruit and a commercial gut load(tiki tiki) has a very good one IMO and my beardies and 2 chameleons seem to like the roaches. As for cleaning it's about once a month where I clean the whole tub with soap and water and the replace he egg crate(you can buy the square ones online in bulk for relatively cheap).