Dubia roach substitutes? I live in Florida...
- Thread starter maggie311
- Start date
ToastyCham
Established Member
Hi! I believe some people who live in Florida use discoid roaches. Welcome to the forum
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hi. I’m in Florida and there are a few varieties of roaches we can use legally. However, the easiest to keep and closest to dubia is discoids. There’s a few different places you can buy them. http://www.lindasgonebuggie.com/page/397479218 https://www.thecritterdepot.com/products/discoid-roaches-for-sale https://joshsfrogs.com/c/live_insects/feeders/roaches/discoid-roaches
I would suggest starting a small colony as they’re super easy and it’s true peace of mind knowing you’ll never be without feeders. I started mine after seeing how hard it was after a tropical storm to get some feeders.
I would suggest starting a small colony as they’re super easy and it’s true peace of mind knowing you’ll never be without feeders. I started mine after seeing how hard it was after a tropical storm to get some feeders.
janjan20
Chameleon Enthusiast
I live in FL and I have been purchasing from https://www.lunaroaches.com/ on and off for years now. They are also located in FL.
maggie311
Member
Thank you! I will check them out!
maggie311
Member
Yikes! It's going to cost $40 for 50 discoid roaches. Anybody know of a cheap place to order them?
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
That’s another reason why it’s good to start your own colony.
They are super easy to breed your own and takes only a couple of months to start producing babies. The small investment to get started will pay for itself repeatedly.
maggie311
Member
I found some that were a lot cheaper. I'll see if my guy likes them, then maybe grow my own. I'm a Florida girl. My whole life has been trying to keep roaches OUT of the houseThat’s another reason why it’s good to start your own colony.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
I’m a transplanted Yankee and roaches freak me out! However, there are my roaches and the nasty wild roaches.I found some that were a lot cheaper. I'll see if my guy likes them, then maybe grow my own. I'm a Florida girl. My whole life has been trying to keep roaches OUT of the house
maggie311
Member
Good point! I'm so desperate to figure out a way for my guy to eat that I actually HELD a waxworm, hoping he'd take it. Roaches are nothing compared to that!I’m a transplanted Yankee and roaches freak me out! However, there are my roaches and the nasty wild roaches.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Is your chameleon not eating well?
maggie311
Member
He's eating crickets. I want to give him some extra calories and nutrients. And the worms are easier to put the calcium powder on. Just trying things out.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Oh, ok. Have you tried silkworms yet? Those are also super nutritious and hydrating too, plus they are just the sweetest of all of the bugs. If you’re in Brevard, I should have some silkies reaching eating size in a couple of weeks or so. Those too are expensive, so to save a few pennies, some of us hatch from eggs and/or breed our own (or at least try to). Incredible Pets in Melbourne http://www.incrediblepets.com/ surprisingly was selling silkies the last time I went there (last autumn)
maggie311
Member
Haven't tried silkworms. Today starts day three since he's been with me. I have been researching and setting up non-stop. I've gotten advice that I should get him a fecal check before moving him to his new cage. Is that routine or would he be showing signs of having parasites? I've spent sooo much money in the last couple of days, I want to do only what is absolutely necessary.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Chameleons can be little green money pits.
I have been stupid and failed to get totally clear fecals on an animal treated for a parasite and then and set him up in a double sized bioactive enclosure. Well, he wasn’t clear and I had to take everything down and toss it. In the end it pays to spend for the fecal.
maggie311
Member
Yes! He has been a money pit! I literally just put in my order for the Dragon Strand ledgesChameleons can be little green money pits.
I didn't want to take him to the vet just yet. He's been through a lot the last couple of days and seems a little stressed. Not sure how he'd handle a vet visit. I wonder if they'd do the check without him there. Maybe a tele-visit? I'll give them a call today.
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
I’m afraid it’s by law that the vet will need to see any animal that they treat, which includes fecal checks. Do you have a good vet? You are in Florida, yes? Best in central Florida is Dr Bogoslavsky https://myavho.com/ and his fees are reasonable. He’s well worth the 45 minute drive to Orlando for me.Yes! He has been a money pit! I literally just put in my order for the Dragon Strand ledges
I didn't want to take him to the vet just yet. He's been through a lot the last couple of days and seems a little stressed. Not sure how he'd handle a vet visit. I wonder if they'd do the check without him there. Maybe a tele-visit? I'll give them a call today.
maggie311
Member
Thanks for the referral! I'll check him out. Orlando is about an hour and a half away for me
I'm in Ocala. Know anyone around here?
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Here’s the relevant section of the vet list. Many of the vets near you are from old referrals. I did see one post that cautioned against going to UF vets.
maggie311
Member
Thank you! I made an appointment for him on Thursday with a vet in Dunnellon - Rainbow River Animal Hospital. They specialize in exotics! The doctor listed from Ocala practices there now. Fingers crossed for a healthy visit!
