dubia setup

[MEPOKEU]

My first attempt at breeding dubias.

Im lacking on a few things (egg crates, and water crystals or pads)...

Right now i have dry cat food in one corner, piece of bread underneath the egg crate, carrots and a wet paper towel for water.


Am i on the right track?
Any pointers?



thanks brandon

 

[MEPOKEU]

On a second note,

i thought dubias couldnt climb? They can climb this plastic cage pretty well

 

[ponders]

If it is a textured surface they can climb it, especially babies. Can't climb glass though. Just run a wide strip of packing tape around the top of the inside of your box.

 

[DJnSoCal]

It's a good start. Why not be patient and set it up with everything you mentioned you are missing? Oh... I see you already have some roaches in there. You are right. You need some egg-crates (or even more egg holders like you have) and stack them perpendicular to the bottom, so any waste falls to the bottom of the habitat. Put a lot in there. You want to propagate a colony. As long as they are warm, have water, and food, they will grow for you. Try a tub with vertical sides, not tapered. I have a colony in a plastic tub and they can't climb the sides. I'm sure they will grow in your setup. Keep everyone up to date on your progress!

 

[MEPOKEU]

It's a good start. Why not be patient and set it up with everything you mentioned you are missing? Oh... I see you already have some roaches in there. You are right. You need some egg-crates (or even more egg holders like you have) and stack them perpendicular to the bottom, so any waste falls to the bottom of the habitat. Put a lot in there. You want to propagate a colony. As long as they are warm, have water, and food, they will grow for you. Try a tub with vertical sides, not tapered. I have a colony in a plastic tub and they can't climb the sides. I'm sure they will grow in your setup. Keep everyone up to date on your progress!

Im stuck at my house with strep throat for the next 24 hours, but im going to head to walmart and buy the missing items as soon as i can.

 

[lampshade]

second thing you're lacking. More than two roaches. I would build that up. Why not just buy 100 roaches for the 30 bucks and throw in some egg cartons along the way. There's no way that those will ever produce a sustainable colony. I feel like all the panda bears died and you're trying to repopulate them with the two last remaining pairs. Sad scene in your roach motel

 

[AJA]

If you put in "juicy" foods like apple slices, orange slices, lettuce, you won't have to put in any papertowels. My colony doesn't have any water and get it from their food. I also don't use any processed food because it isn't 'pure' and you don't know what it is in (melanine anyone) but that is my preference.

I go to restaurants and get the free egg cartons there.


I also use an UTH and keep a lid on my bin to prevent escapes and the stupid cat from wreaking havoc.

 

[jojackson]

I second Amy about juicy foods. No need for water crystals and the like, Keep those raw carrots happening.
Boyseargent is also on the money, start with lots more roaches! (may be many more not seen in the pic?)
UTH is probly a better choice, lamp is a fire hazard!

 

[Chameleonboy]

I would recommend using a heat pad instead of a light. It is a lot better. I always have a source of water crystals for them just in case I forget to give them some veggies (They are very inexpensive I think Ryan Jerosak sells them still). Every couple of days I feed them my roach feed and throw in a couple of fruits before they start to rot. Warning!!!!! Keep your eye out when you put a banana in there they go crazy and my colony will eat a whole banana in about 30 min.

If you want your colony to BOOOOM I would get the heat pad or heat tape and a thermostat.

Edit: Try putting less and see how long it takes for them to Finnish it. Then you will know about how much your colony eats. For a HUGE colony more is better but for your colony I would say less is better. LOOSE THE PAPER TOWEL!

-Clemonde

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

I have had greater success with water crystals than without. Juicy veggies and fruits are a must but I still have much more reproduction using the crystals. They devour the crystals along with the veggies.

I also agree with the under the tank heater vs the light.

Ryan

 

[veiledchamguy]

My first attempt at breeding dubias.

Im lacking on a few things (egg crates, and water crystals or pads)...

Right now i have dry cat food in one corner, piece of bread underneath the egg crate, carrots and a wet paper towel for water.

Am i on the right track?
Any pointers?

thanks brandon

I would get a 10 gallon glass aquarium put a heating pad under it. Build a roach motel for them keep wet veggies and dry food daily or everyother day and I cover my glass aquariums with a black sheet and mist the inside with water couple times a week to stimulate breeding and soon things will get out of control with the breeding and you can unplug the heat pads and feed them off for a week or two cause soon things will get overcrowded and you will need another glass tank hope this help good luck

 

[MEPOKEU]

update:

I have been using water crystals. One red light and one heater pad under the tank.

I have hundreds of babies and only 1 death in two weeks.


so i think im doing it right

 

[Heika]

Do you have a lid for the container? The males will pop up and may be able to get out of the cage when they are excited..

I am currently keeping my dubias without heat in the hopes that they will slow down on production. Doesn't seem to have much affect, though. Every time I look there are more new nymphs.

 

[dodolah]

Get a sturdier bin so you can put a heat tape instead of light.
Dubia loves darkness. I am not sure if they can see red light or not..
On top of it, with the light absent, you will be able to cover the lid.
Seriously, those dubias can fly if they want to.

 

[Heika]

I have always used red lights with mine.. never had a problem with production. I just cut out a dome-sized hole in the container I am using.. and then tape the dome and all to the container. Works out fine for me.

This is the first dubia setup that I ever made.. I still use it today, minus the bedding. I have added additional bins, all similar to this one.

Production has never been a problem.. over production has been, though.