Flying Dubia?

[desultadox]

So I'm thinking about replacing crickets with roaches as a staple feeder. We all know the problems with crickets... noise, stench, jumping, etc. Blaptica Dubia seem to be one of the most popular roach choices for chameleons. They supposedly don't stink, make noise, or jump. It seems to be a common belief that they are non-climbing, non-FLYING... but from what I hear now, the males actually CAN fly; quite clumsily (which might make it worse for me), but they still move about through the air.

Does anybody have any experience with flying Dubias? Are there similar alternatives which really don't fly/climb? I'll take gross jumping bugs over gross flying bugs any day...

 

[dodolah]

So I'm thinking about replacing crickets with roaches as a staple feeder. We all know the problems with crickets... noise, stench, jumping, etc. Blaptica Dubia seem to be one of the most popular roach choices for chameleons. They supposedly don't stink, make noise, or jump. It seems to be a common belief that they are non-climbing, non-FLYING... but from what I hear now, the males actually CAN fly; quite clumsily (which might make it worse for me), but they still move about through the air.

Does anybody have any experience with flying Dubias? Are there similar alternatives which really don't fly/climb? I'll take gross jumping bugs over gross flying bugs any day...

Dubia will fly if you literally took the male and throw it in the air.
They glide. But, they don't jump and start flying like a bee.

 

[AndrewH]

Dubia will fly if you literally took the male and throw it in the air.
They glide. But, they don't jump and start flying like a bee.

You know, im probably just saying this becasue i am not used to, or comfortable with roaches....but id rather deal with jumping chirping crickets rather than flying roaches in your face! !

 

[desultadox]

You know, im probably just saying this becasue i am not used to, or comfortable with roaches....but id rather deal with jumping chirping crickets rather than flying roaches in your face! !

That's exactly my issue. If these things are gonna be flying around, well, I can't imagine many things worse than that in our world!

 

[JoshCrane1]

i havent used them, but ive seen peeps use them, they dont want to fly, i guess if you bother them or shake em up in your hand they might wanna do whatever they can to get away, wouldnt you. i dont see them ever wanting to use their impotent wings.lol

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Dubia will fly if you literally took the male and throw it in the air.
They glide. But, they don't jump and start flying like a bee.

HA!
Yes they do!
Although they usually like to be at a high start off point.
Night time and heat are the things that get the boys "active"
Still not a big deal ... and they are totally harmless.

-Brad

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

The male Dubia don't jump or fly. They can flutter and safely land if they fall, but they don't fly. There is no way you'll have any escapees in a nice rubbermaid bin as long as you don't clean the sides with any abrasive cleaning tools.

 

[dodolah]

Just like chicken don't fly. but if you throw them in the air, they can flap their wings so they land slowly to the ground.

Unless you are planning to grab a bucket filled with male dubia and throw them in the air, i don't think you'll have a problem seeing them flying on your face.
Trust me, you love the roaches more than crix.

I used to absolutely hate hate hate roaches..
Until some of the other senior members convinced me to try it (Plus, mr Weldon gave some of his roaches for me).
they are ugly but clean animals + so easy to care.

Now, i'm sold! it is just a shame that after all that my cham decided not to eat them
but, i'm getting an ambanja baby this july.. i will start introducing him to baby roaches.

 

[dodolah]

HA!
Yes they do!
Although they usually like to be at a high start off point.
Night time and heat are the things that get the boys "active"
Still not a big deal ... and they are totally harmless.

-Brad

that's the key word.
so far, i've personally never seen one that just start flying and take off the ground.
that's from almost a year experience of keeping close to 150 adult male and female dubias. I guess i'm insanely lucky to never seen one flew off the ground.
They will always flying down across... never up like a bee or butterfly.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from using/keeping roaches ... but I won't lie either.
15 to 20 feet across the bedroom (took off by himself) ... this is flying.


-Brad

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from using/keeping roaches ... but I won't lie either.
15 to 20 feet across the bedroom (took off by himself) ... this is flying.


-Brad

Maybe that one instance was a strain of a cross bred roach? I've kept massive amounts of Dubia and never seen a roach jump out of the bin and fly.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Nope.
dubia

-Brad

 

[Vibrant Chameleons]

Nope.
dubia

-Brad

You have a crazy bunch of Dubia then

 

[desultadox]

I've read online about Dubias "fluttering" all over a room... maybe if I get 'em fat enough gravity will stop them ;p