Ordered 100 1/4"-1/2" Dubias. Was wondering how long would have to wait till they started breeding and I got more dubias? Also what would you recommend me keeping them in, I've got a makeshift bin(shown in picts) and a 10 gallon aquarium with screened lid? Was going to feed them with sliced up oranges and kale. If you have any suggestions from prior experience, I would appreciate it. Thanks
Starting a Dubia Colony
- Thread starter Albula
- Start date
kgallego
Member
A couple things. Dubia's like dark and hot. You're container is clear, so I would recommend putting it in the closet with a heat pad underneath is.
With Dubia's that small, it's going to be 4-6 months at least before they start reproducing. They usually morph into adults at about 5 months old, and than about 6 weeks later they'll start having babies.
There are tons of youtube videos on caring for dubia's.
Thanks for the help, well I've at least got alot of testers to find out if my reptiles will eat them or not. Maybe I'll contact the seller before he ships them out and find out if he can lighten the load of the smalls and throw in some large male and females in there. Thanks again
ridgebax1
Avid Member
Search on You Tube for the Roach Hut. They have some good videos on Dubia set-up, sorting and care. I noticed they use clear containers too, they put in a lot of egg crates which give the roaches plenty of places to hide so I think your clear container should be OK. If you decide to continue keeping a colony and need a bigger container then get a dark one. I just asked about making my own gutload for them and was referred to Sandrachameleon's blog which has great info. But they do like the heat so make sure you keep them at the proper temp. If it is cooler they will survive but not breed and babies are really what you want.
kgallego
Member
It's almost stupid to buy them because everyone who sells them have jacked the prices up. You can find tons of them at local restuarants that serve breakfast. Or you can do what I did, just start buying eggs by the crate and eat alot of eggs until you have enough. I ended up losing weight in the process also, lol. And eggs are just delicious!
I save the cardboard drink containers that I get at fast food places. I also use toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls.
Shaunny
Member
For less maintenance egg flats stood up is so much better because all the frass falls to the bottom plus if you do it like the roach hut videos you can house more than 8000 adults in a 80lt tub.
My colony has been going for 6-7 months with full fledged adults and I have only just started feeding off 10mm roaches, which my guys hate so I have a colony of about 300 adults and 2-3000 babies and nothing eats them so try before you do it. Not even my bearded dragons eat them
My colony has been going for 6-7 months with full fledged adults and I have only just started feeding off 10mm roaches, which my guys hate so I have a colony of about 300 adults and 2-3000 babies and nothing eats them so try before you do it. Not even my bearded dragons eat them
junglefries
Avid Member
They are pretty cheap online. go to amazon and do a search. there is a place eggcarton.com or something similiar. i get 150-180 for like $30 shipping included. they start off pretty expensive, but once you up to 150+ they get cheap. if you can't find it, pm me and i will look up the actual prices and company. I am using my phone right now.
Shaunny
Member
As far as I'm aware they will breed but it will be very very slow. It already takes long enough to give birth and the 90ish degrees makes a huge difference
ridgebax1
Avid Member
I don't really know for sure about the screening but it looks like it is just on the lid and since they cannot climb the plastic to get access to it I think you should be OK. I know they will eat just about anything. I have found holes in the cardboard egg carton that is in my container and I assume it is from the roaches. I do know they need heat to breed and my colony had been kept at room temperatures over the summer in my house which were never above 80 degrees and I have plenty of babies. I did get a heat source for them since the cold weather is coming and my house is old and drafty.
Beautiful4Ever
New Member
Okay so I have looked at MANY sites for egg flats and all I have seen are expensive, except http://www.enasco.com/product/C15756N
That is the exact one I use...$30 roughly with shipping. They are very good, your clear bin is fine, I would just recommend you place the bin in a dark place. A temp around 90 is ideal for breeding and I personally blend my own mix of food...costs a bit at first, but will last forever and end up saving a TON...I only gutload every other day. My blend is dog food (some people use cat food) turtle food and fish flakes all mixed by using my blender. Final result is a fine powder
Also when you have adults, try to keep the ratio at 1 male for every 4-5 females because the males can get aggressive.
I use water crystals to keep them hydrated, best thing really.
If you have any other questions, you can pm if you want
That is the exact one I use...$30 roughly with shipping. They are very good, your clear bin is fine, I would just recommend you place the bin in a dark place. A temp around 90 is ideal for breeding and I personally blend my own mix of food...costs a bit at first, but will last forever and end up saving a TON...I only gutload every other day. My blend is dog food (some people use cat food) turtle food and fish flakes all mixed by using my blender. Final result is a fine powder
Also when you have adults, try to keep the ratio at 1 male for every 4-5 females because the males can get aggressive.
I use water crystals to keep them hydrated, best thing really.
If you have any other questions, you can pm if you want
ridgebax1
Avid Member
I was at Ikea yesterday and scored a whole bunch of thingies that were made of the same material as egg cartons. They must have been for packaging glasses or something cause they have a similar shaped bumps as egg flats only bigger and spread out. I got at least 30 of them and they are about twice as long as the roach bin so I just cut them down and packed them in and voila, new roach digs! Won't have to worry about egg cartons for a while which will give me a chance to stock up!
Dropped in the backdoor of a breakfast joint and tried to score some egg crates. No score. Got the girl at the petshop to give me some of the eggcrates that were in their cricket bin when I bought some crickets. So I've got those, empty tape rolls, and empty toilet paper rolls in there. Used some metal tape to tape up the screen that was on the one side of the bin. It is made of metal and not plastic.
Will dubia eat dog food kibble without it being put in a blender? Are orange slices the next best thing to water crystals? Thanks
Will dubia eat dog food kibble without it being put in a blender? Are orange slices the next best thing to water crystals? Thanks
Rottsko
Avid Member
don't feed your dubias dog or cat food. i would feed them the same gutload you feed your crickets. as far egg crates, you can order them here for a very cheap price.
http://www.enasco.com/product/9716631J
Ninkylou
New Member
I read someone in another post saying they just asked for the egg flats at a Walmart bakery. I work in a hospital and I got two this AM from the kitchen and the staff are now going to try and remember to keep them for me. Told me to come around 10 AM and they usually have a few every day. They are a stupid price online, I noticed the grocery stores around here use the foams ones a lot...
I bought 10 M & 10 F adults at a reptile show last week. I had quite a few small ones but those are gone, I have some that are too big for my chams too. I just got mediums from one of our new sponsors Dubiaroach.com and they are great, everyone seems to like them I ordered 100 smalls for my 3 month old panther today. I am sure I am going to be overrun with them in a few months LOL.
I bought 10 M & 10 F adults at a reptile show last week. I had quite a few small ones but those are gone, I have some that are too big for my chams too. I just got mediums from one of our new sponsors Dubiaroach.com and they are great, everyone seems to like them I ordered 100 smalls for my 3 month old panther today. I am sure I am going to be overrun with them in a few months LOL.
