How small can a dubia colony be?

[GrogStudio]

I'm so excited!! My picky veiled ate TWO dubia today. TWO!! Just when I was ready to get rid of my ever-expanding colony.

But I have a question...how small can a colony be?

I have many hundreds of roaches in a big (18 gallon?) tupperware. Can I just pick out a few large females and a male or two and maybe a handful of different-sized others and keep them in a smaller, say shoebox-sized tupperware? I feel as if there's an Alfred Hitchcock movie waiting to happen in my garage and I'm doubtful that Grog will ever become a big dubia fan. I'd just as soon go as small as possible to keep a few available each week.

I'll try to attach a photo of my little worm lover on the balcony I screened in for him.

 

[camimom]

I wouldnt try to reduce the colony, what i would do is if your colony is growing faster than you can feed off, is sell the excess here on the forum.

many people buy roaches, esp when their own colonies crash, or their colony cant keep up with the demand.

 

[GrogStudio]

I wouldnt try to reduce the colony, what i would do is if your colony is growing faster than you can feed off, is sell the excess here on the forum.

many people buy roaches, esp when their own colonies crash, or their colony cant keep up with the demand.

Thanks for the reply. I tried to find local forum members in need of roaches but my thread was removed. I also advertised on craigslist but no takers. So far my only option is a pet store that will pay by the pound, which I'll probably do as I just don't need or want all these roaches.

Is there a reason NOT to reduce the colony size?

 

[camimom]

theres no reason to not reduce it, but sometimes the colony produces fast, and sometimes, it doesnt. so you dont want to leave your self short bugged. lol.

you can try posting here on the forum, in the classifieds section.

wait. edit that. you cant post in the classifieds, youre a junior member, contact one of the mods, ask them to help, and they can get your ad moved into the classifieds.

you can also ship the bugs to people, which many of us do anyway.


heckm for the right price, ill take some off your hands.
ive got 5 adult chams to feed.

 

[sandrachameleon]

shoebox is a bit on the small size

but yes, you can quite successfully keep a small colony of say just 8 or 10 adults. Do keep a few of the medium and smaller size ones as well.

You can also slow their reproduction by reducing temperature and food.

 

[Jen0413]

GrogStudio-

Where in Colorado are you? My husband and I are thinking about maybe getting into roaches for Espio. We live in Fort Collins.

 

[GrogStudio]

theres no reason to not reduce it, but sometimes the colony produces fast, and sometimes, it doesnt. so you dont want to leave your self short bugged. lol.
....

Ha! Grog would do a happy dance if I ended up short of dubia! Maybe I'll try posting about the colony again but not sure about shipping. Yuk. I guess I share Grog's distaste for roaches.

shoebox is a bit on the small size

but yes, you can quite successfully keep a small colony of say just 8 or 10 adults. Do keep a few of the medium and smaller size ones as well.

You can also slow their reproduction by reducing temperature and food.

Super! You are always so helpful, sandrachameleon. I have reduced the temp and food and will plan on keeping a smaller colony. BTW, the two dubia Grog ate were out of his new little green feeding cup as per your suggestion. Not sure if it was the new cup or my new resolve not to give in but pleased either way!

GrogStudio-

Where in Colorado are you? My husband and I are thinking about maybe getting into roaches for Espio. We live in Fort Collins.

Hi Jen. I'm Jen, too! I live not too far-- in Boulder County-- Louisville. Feel free to PM me if you want to make a roach plan (oh the odd new sentences we find ourselves forming for the sake of these little lizards).