Dubia Roach

[BKFritz]

Debating on whether or not to start a dubia colony. I have a few questions though.

1. What temperature do they need to be kept at? I've read if they are kept at the cooler end of the spectrum they will breed slower...
   
2. What do you use to keep the tub at that temperature? I've seen those heating pads...do they keep the bottom of the tub too hot? Is it better to use a basic heat lamp?
   
3. I'm guessing the breeders don't need to be gut loaded since they probably won't become bait anytime soon, so what is a good roach diet?
   
4. What do you do with all the roach poo? I've heard it is good for the garden.

 

[jmwhitel]

These two vids will answer all your questions...

Breeding
http://youtu.be/nedCYxxfd5g

Separating nymphs
http://youtu.be/sXJKrN6KSbU

I have been breeding my own colony since Xmas. Love them! I hate crickets now

 

[nick barta]

Make sure your chameleons will eat them before you start a colony….

Nick

 

[Defianceofexistence]

I keep mine in a large blue Rubbermaid with a small square hole cut out of the lid on one end. I put egg cartons on the end that is under the hole and their food in dishes on the other side.

I have a normal lamp that has a red light bulb in it because they don't like light, I put the lamp on the Rubbermaid and point it through the hole onto the egg cartons and they all cluster on top under the heat. I also mist them a few times a week.

I feed them dry gut load and I put a few cubes of wet gut load in that's just made out of different fruits and veggies blended together and then I freeze it in ice cube trays. I pull a few out and toss them in and it covers food and water.

I was only gut loading the feeders but now I have them all in the same tub again and so I just feed them as if I was going to feed them, that way every now and then if I grab a few out to toss into the terrariums I know they are full of goodness. My colony isn't established enough to feed from it yet.

Good luck

 

[BKFritz]

Thank you! Thank you! I'm a big fan of research and you folks have helped me out a bunch! Much appreciated!

 

[Big Gulp]

Make sure your chameleons will eat them before you start a colony….

Nick

This.

I have thousands of dubias, and Milo won't even touch them.

 

[xraygirl]

Yes, I would buy some to feed off to see if your cham likes them. I have one of those 'under the tank' heat mats wrapped in a towel enough times to get the temperature I want, which is about 83*, on one side of the box. Since November I think I've had 6 sets of babies, and they do grow kinda slow. But I will probably end up selling some off since I only have one reptile.

 

[Montium]

If they will eat them you have found the perfect food. Minimal smell and rapid reproduction. For colder climates you can use a heat pad under the container.