Dubias are not dubia'ing

[nightanole]

So my 4 year old ingress of dubias (seeded with new blood once a year for the last 3 years) is not bouncing back this year after winter. I got the little buggers in a 30 gallon tote with a heating pad on low with the top off, and a room temp of 75f 24/7. They have been nook nooking for the past 2 months but no one has fired out any kids yet. Its to the point now were I only have 50-100 females left, and almost no juveniles. They are not dying off, i just went to the well too much thanks to a new beardy that eats 10-20 a week for the past year.

I guess ill buy 500-1000 supers for the next 1-2 months till its silky season kicks in. Im hoping 4 months of almost no picking is enough to replenish my supply. The lone cham only eats 2-3 a week.

 

[Virgil1972]

Maybe there some kind of roach virus in your colony. It is odd for a colony that is well established to just stop when there are no changes in keeping.

 

[kiwilulu]

Something is off. I have around 30 females and I pick 60-70 per week for my chams. Your colony seems to be very low production overall.
A single roach will give you around 30 babies! What are you feeding them?

 

[gotwqqd]

Do females lose their producing abilities with age or previous number of broods?

 

[d3s5]

I agree - something is off. I have had my Dubia colony for over 5 years and they are kept similar to yours, except I have never added "new blood" - they are consistently producing WAY more than I need.

Deb

 

[nightanole]

Well they are not dying. I never find shells at the bottom of the tub ( i have some micro mealworms for cleaner crews).
Diet is this + left over salad veggies:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/i-think-i-invented-dubia-crack.95938/

ambient air temp is 75, and i have additional heat from a heating pad on low under the tub.

Could low 80's just not be enough? They are mating and i occationally see a female sticking the egg thing out to rotate it.

 

[d3s5]

Maybe it's too hot? Or not enough humidity? I only have my heating pad on in the winter months. . .

Just throwing out some ideas - I really don't know!

Deb

 

[tjdeerslayer37]

Maybe play them some barry white?

 

[Chachi]

I wish I could get my chams to eat them that we'll. I have only of my 4 that eats them and she will eat anything I put in my fingers.

 

[gotwqqd]

Low 80's is possibly too low for prolific breeding

 

[Andee]

Low 80's is usually too low, they do better at higher 80's and as females get older they do lose the ability to produce well. However after seeding with new females it should be fine. Do you know your female to male ratio, at least generally?

 

[mvad]

I add no heat and my colony is growing pretty fast. I only have one adult chameleon so I feed dubias once or twice a week. Heat and food make a colony grow rapidly.

 

[radstusky]

What are you feeding them? I've had my colony for years and about once a year I get rid of half the colony. Usually I sell them off to a pet store, or sell them to someone. I feed mine mostly dandelions from the grocery store, and butternut squash.