RyanBRZ
Avid Member
Ok cool, that makes sense. Maybe I'll pick up 2 of these and fill halfway as you do:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GJQFYJM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1WATBVVRBZ9UY&psc=1
Feeding dubia's from a colony
- Thread starter RyanBRZ
- Start date
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GJQFYJM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1WATBVVRBZ9UY&psc=1
Chameleomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
Chameleomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Depends on your gut load. Back in the day, the high vitamin/calcium gut loads would kill off a colony long term. Calcium is toxic to insects, and if you feed them enough of a concentration, it doesnt come out the other end and stuffs them. So some of us would "gut load" the night before with a high calcium recipe.
If you had a huge colony, it gets expensive to just constantly feed them the good stuff. If your daily feeder "food" is lacking something, you get less feeders, not "low nutrition" feeders. Then the chosen few could be gut loaded with the good stuff the night before.
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
This was my thought process. Keep the entire colony living off of high quality roach chow and toss in veggies/fruits here and there. Then give the cubes to those that I know will be eaten off the next day. This wasn't from a calcium concern as you mentioned, just for preserving the higher quality food to those being eaten so I am not making the good stuff every few weeks.
The trays I am buying make 63 cubes total so even if I do toss one into the colony every day, I'm ok with making the good stuff concoction every 2 months.
cham_urchin
Established Member
Ironically, my dubias won't touch my cubes. Made them from that video posted earlier. The cube molds in no time and I'm cleaning that bin a lot. I only keep a small number of dubias so not too difficult. They are growing...but not sure what they're eating. Maybe some dry Superload, bee pollen, or the fruit/veg. Hard to see a dent.
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
Before starting my colony I had a similar issue when I would purchase 200-400 nymphs/juveniles at a time. I would provide them food daily but it never appeared to get touched, they would always remain in hiding.
In my colony, within 30 seconds of filling their roach chow or throwing in real food, they swarm it and completely cover the entire area. I would be really surprised if they refuse to eat the cubes but we will see.
This is my only hesitation with starting a mini feeder colony, not sure if this stresses them out making them refuse to eat.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yea some of the people who have "pet" roaches, would have to setup "sampler platters" to figure out what they wanted to eat. Guess bugs are not much different than other animals. My tegu should be nature's garbage disposal, eating pine cones when food gets scarce, he wont eat a strawberry if his life depended on it.
cham_urchin
Established Member
So, you think the colony situation creates healthy behavior/growth? Could well be. So far I just purchase small numbers and feed off slowly. I'm down to about 8 at the moment, all different sizes, who are always hiding when I look, but are growing...I don't heat the bin either. I am a lazy dubia keeper.
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
My issue was likely due to me keeping them in a 10 gallon fish tank and not providing heat. This was when I was just starting out and did not know much about dubia roaches. I'm going to buy a smaller plastic bin and provide heating, hopefully this will keep them hungry. I also read that nymphs eat the frass of adults, not 100% sure on this one though.
Chameleomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
Then why do I clean up so much frass?
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
This is what I read somewhere when I was setting up my colony. It basically said to not clean out all of the frass since some should be left so the babies can eat it. ::shrug::
Chameleomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
RyanBRZ
Avid Member
Here it is: https://dubiaroachdepot.com/guidance/dubia-roach-care-sheet
Frass
As previously mentioned, newborn Dubia roaches eat frass. This generally applies to roaches ¼-inch or smaller. If you have roaches this size, consider leaving at least some frass in the enclosure. On the other hand, neither frass nor its absence seems to have an affect on adults.
Frass
As previously mentioned, newborn Dubia roaches eat frass. This generally applies to roaches ¼-inch or smaller. If you have roaches this size, consider leaving at least some frass in the enclosure. On the other hand, neither frass nor its absence seems to have an affect on adults.
Chameleomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
I personally don't want my feeders in crap. You do what you think is right for you
cham_urchin
Established Member
there's only so much frass you can eat, am I right?
Kristen Wilkins
Chameleon Enthusiast
I as well do too . Not really for nutritional value a little yes . All my feeders are fed very well . I do it more for Time and inconvenience , I have to be out most morning early . My son is out by 7:00 am he needs to be delivered to his destination !. All my babies have their own containers marked . I get them ready Prior night . They all eat on same schedule . Beardies , Chams , geckos , fish . Human child is allowed more feedings lol .
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Whats in your bento Billy? Uhh 2 supers, a hornworm, and 3 dubia. Meanwhile the beardies are making the best out of the fruit snacks.
Kristen Wilkins
Chameleon Enthusiast
Maybe the fish
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