Dubia gutloading?? (Plus any opinions/breeding advice appreciated)

[KatCham]

Been thinking of breeding a feeder as a staple for Simba.
With baby on the way if I can save a bit of money on feeders then great!!

As these critters (Dubia) seem the easiest to breed, and the most nutritious in relation to locusts after gutloading, I've decided I might give it a go?

My main question:

Do you gutload roaches the same as locusts?

Here's what I use for the locusts (this batch):

Bug Grub
Water Gel
Bee pollen
Orange
Rocket
Cabbage
Spinach
Tomato
Sweet Bell Pepper

He'll obviously still get a variety of feeders. At the moment he's on (gutloaded):

Locusts - current staple
Mealworms
Butterworms
Fruit beetle grubs
Plus recently bought
silkworms
dubia roaches

Like I said tho, I want to have a nutritious staple feeder for him that are cheap to breed and maintain.

Dubia seem to be the way to go?? Then I can buy a tub of locusts every now and again to vary his diet further.

What do you think?

Any advice appreciated, especially on the feeding of them.

Thanks in advance

 

[sandrachameleon]

Dubia are indeed a good feeder choice. Though I personally disuade anyone from having a "Staple" - its good that you intend to continue to provide variety.

I recommend you not use much spinnach (Oxalics )or tomatoe (acidic)

how to gutload roaches:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/ferretinmyshoes/446-basics-gutloading.html

info on breeding dubia can be found within:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

 

[KatCham]

Oh thanks so much Sandra.

Yes, I do intend to continue giving him a variety of feeders (all gutloaded) just locusts don't seem easy to breed so I looked at the dubia, which seem to pretty much need very little in the way of maintenance. Like I said, if I can save a bit of money then it's worth doing right?

Thanks for the veg advice too, but I made sure I only used a little bit of the spinach and tomato, because of the reasons you said. I read ur gutloading blogs before I made those batches of gutload
I also made a list of what I can use as staple ingredients, and what to only use a little of too, in relation to what is easy for me to source over here or what I normally have in the house anyway, for ease of reference in future

Thanks for the links on the dubia, I'll read through those now.

Thanks again.

 

[sandrachameleon]

... just locusts don't seem easy to breed so I looked at the dubia, which seem to pretty much need very little in the way of maintenance. Like I said, if I can save a bit of money then it's worth doing right?

absolutely!

 

[pigglett79]

Dubias will eat just about anything. Ihave fed therm many fruits and veggies and they eat them all. Right now I am using arugula, carrot, red bell pepper, apple, orange, Dino fuel, sunflower seed and oats.

 

[KatCham]

I've read that they aren't supposed to be disturbed.

How does that work for feeding them fruit/veg (Watergel and bug grub would last longer than the fresh stuff I know so wouldn't be an issue as long as plenty in there.)

Do you not give them fruit/veg daily? How often should they be gutloaded with f/v if this is the case? Once or twice a week?

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Little trick: feed them a few orange slices to boost reproduction.

 

[DavidBuchan]

I never read that, mine cope very easily with the disturbance of daily or almost daily feedings

 

[A1forall]

There are many pluses with breeding and feeding DUBIA, but there seems to be one big minus. They have very sharp legs. Be very careful not to feed too big a roach with all its legs intact to one of your prized Chams, speaking from experience. They are great feeders just be cautious of those legs. Rip them off by hand before feeding. Best of luck to you...

 

[pigglett79]

I've read that they aren't supposed to be disturbed.

How does that work for feeding them fruit/veg (Watergel and bug grub would last longer than the fresh stuff I know so wouldn't be an issue as long as plenty in there.)

Do you not give them fruit/veg daily? How often should they be gutloaded with f/v if this is the case? Once or twice a week?

I have never heard this. I disturb the crap out of them every other day to feed and clean them. They seem to be just fine. I feed them the same fruit/veg, dry gut load as all my feeders daily or every other day. I dont feed my feeders anything other than fruits, veggies, nuts, oats and dry gut load.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Disturbance doesnt seem to be an issue.

 

[KatCham]

Oh OK.

That's great thank you. I'll feed them every other day then

On the legs thing - is that just the back legs??

 

[DavidBuchan]

Oh OK.

That's great thank you. I'll feed them every other day then

On the legs thing - is that just the back legs??

Personally I never saw an issue. I tend to feed the smaller sizes of insects that the chams will go for to minimise any chance of feeder-related injury. Removing legs is for suckers. Here's an informative film which doesn't really illustrate my point but I'm in quite a silly mood right now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc

 

[KatCham]

PMSL!!!!! ROTFL

That was so unrelated David!!! SOOOOO funny though!!!

Don't make me laugh this early in the morning!!!! OR this late in pregnancy for that matter!!!! I'll end up having this baby early!!!

EEEEEE so funny!! LOL

 

[DavidBuchan]

PMSL!!!!! ROTFL

That was so unrelated David!!! SOOOOO funny though!!!

Don't make me laugh this early in the morning!!!! OR this late in pregnancy for that matter!!!! I'll end up having this baby early!!!

EEEEEE so funny!! LOL

Hahaha, glad you liked it. I posted it up on this forum maybe a year ago when it was possibly slightly more relevant......got sort of an awkward reply
Is that baby not done yet? Come on get it sorted already........

 

[KatCham]

LOL!

Don't get me started!

Oh, wait a minute, actually, DO get me started!!! I'm more than ready for baby to be here believe me!!!

Then I can reply to your posts without having to sit on a birthing ball, with the laptop on the sofa in front of me, to ease the pain of Braxton hicks!!!LOL

 

[DavidBuchan]

LOL!

Don't get me started!

Oh, wait a minute, actually, DO get me started!!! I'm more than ready for baby to be here believe me!!!

Then I can reply to your posts without having to sit on a birthing ball, with the laptop on the sofa in front of me, to ease the pain of Braxton hicks!!!LOL

I just had to Google Braxton Hicks........I'm sick of doing everything myself
You want me to get you started then use the search function. Click on my profile then find posts by DavidBuchan.....see what I've been up to this past few days - if you laugh enough to pop then I win ok? hahaha

 

[KatCham]

WOOOOHAAHAHAHAHA!!!

I can't believe you just googled Braxtion hicks!!! PMSL!!

You crack me up!!

I think I will have a look at ur posts! Got a feeling there'll deffo be some laughs in there.

If it results in me going into labour, I'll let you know!

BTW what do you win exactly??? LOL

 

[DavidBuchan]

Double post....... Aiming to get to 5000 before bed now.......lolz

 

[DavidBuchan]

BTW what do you win exactly??? LOL

I don't know, it's never actually happened before........