Facing your fears

[elle628]

.. for the sake of your chameleon. So I've done a lot of reading on this site and have come across that veileds enjoy a variety of insects .... like roaches. Humor me here, but when i was little I had a roach fly out of the hamper and come at me. I didn't know they could fly, to say the least i freaked. I can't stand them. But I don't feel like if I got a cham he should be deprived of a favorite snack due to my fear of the roach. I think if I wore gloves maybe I could, but then I freak about them being in my home. I can do crickets worms whatever just roaches ...ugh. any helpful tips?

 

[Olimpia]

Lol been there!
Look, dubia roaches are perfect because they don't fly, can't climb smooth surfaces, don't run very fast, and breed really easily. It's the kind of bug that you get a big plastic bin for, with a lid, drill holes in the lid so they can breathe, and you're certain that those buggers are never getting out of there.

But you can ABSOLUTELY give them a varied diet without roaches. You still have crickets, locusts, butterworms, superworms, phoenix worms, hornworms, silk worms... lots and lots of variety.

However, I would urge you to consider it at some point because roaches (although a little expensive at first), if you leave them alone to breed for 6 months you'll have several hundred roaches in no time. So in the long run it saves you a lot of money to breed your own insects. Superworms are also easily bredable, but crickets are much trickier. It's just something to keep in mind

 

[elle628]

That is so relieving to hear! I plan on giving him/her dubia no matter what! (even if that means my boyfriend has to handle them but hopefully ill be able too) thanks for the helpful advice!

 

[Matt1851]

i always thought roaches were like really big crickets

 

[Olimpia]

You're welcome!

Some people get comfortable with their dubias extremely quickly, while others (like me) never do. You might be surprised and find yourself holding them and everything within a couple weeks! lol

 

[Timorbob]

Dubias are definitely the way to go! No climbing or flying!

 

[nick barta]

When you start to feed roaches, just buy them from a member, or pet store, gut load them and feed them off. Then you won't have a breeding colony in your home, the stress is gone on maintaining a colony, escapees from the colony, and if your cham doesn't like roaches, you invest little.

Nick

 

[chamlover]

I've had roaches forever and have even "learned" to apprecite them, but i still use really big tweezers. I'm still not toucing those guys. lol.

And they don't smell half as bad as crickets do. I hate crickets. If they get loose, out of the cup or whatever, even I can catch them. lol. Dubias that is.

 

[Miss Lily]

I too have only just plucked up courage to buy dubias last week! They are only small - I couldn't bring myself to get the adults or any that were deemed 'too big'!

As owners, we become accustomed to the feeders - before I got my first cham 2 years ago I wasn't even able to pick up a tub of crix or locusts but now I hand feed locusts and don't always need my tweezers! I actually think the little dubias are cute!

 

[elle628]

I'm glad im not the only one! Lol. I like the tweezer idea alot! I'm not too big on wanting to breed them in my home but if my little guy likes them it will be the best way to go so I hope one day maybe ill be able to appreciate them! thanks everyone!

 

[tkilgour]

Just stick with B. dubia and you will be fine. I have never seen any B. dubia fly or hover. They can't climb smooth surfaces and depending on where you live they most likely wont survive the cold.

 

[hallenhe]

My first cham never had a roach; my second loved his first two and then lost interest (he was 4+ years old when he got his first, and I've heard from others that sometimes older chams are less interested in trying new things). If you don't like the thought of roaches, think of Dubias as little Trilobites, because that's what they look like!

 

[elle628]

I live in Charleston,SC so I am quite worried they might escape and breed!