Dubias - the right roaches this time!

[kokom05lb]

So my awesome husband surprised me and ordered a mixed group of dubias for me. Right out of the blue completely wasn't expecting it. Anyways we went out and bought a new container had to fit on the shelf under the new cage so it's a little small. Will upgrade when the colony grows.

Anyways I have 2 egg flats I put in the container and i don't know what i can put on the bottom. Would paper towels be ok? Also i don't have a heat pad and probably won't for awhile. Think the colony will be ok outside in the 95+ degree weather during the day?

 

[maxttu]

I would leave the bottom bare. They will be fine outside, but keep them in the shade.

 

[kokom05lb]

Awesome thank you... Oh yea cage is coming along pretty nicely. waiting to get the drainage shelf up then I'll get the screen put on. A little nervous about putting the wheels on

 

[nightanole]

I put a thin layer of vermiculite on the bottom of mine to help with mold,humidity, and the fact all the babies kept flipping over and couldnt right themselves

 

[JonRich]

I put a thin layer of vermiculite on the bottom of mine to help with mold,humidity, and the fact all the babies kept flipping over and couldnt right themselves

I would stay away from the vermiculite. Its gonna be a pain to sift the babies from it when cleaning the bin. Within a few weeks the bottom will be covered in frass (poop) anyway and that helps with the babies uprighting themselves.

 

[spawn]

As the previous people have said koko, the frass (poop) from the roches is medium enough for them. I made the mistake of having damp dirt in the bottom of my dubia bin and now it's overly humid and roaches are dying. It was okay for a couple months but now that it's exploding it's simply too much humidity. The babies are impossible to separate from the dirt.

Toilet paper rolls and egg crates and you're good to go. You're lucky you have 95 degree weather. It's barely 80 here in NY so mine reproduce slowwwwwwwwww.

 

[JonRich]

As the previous people have said koko, the frass (poop) from the roches is medium enough for them. I made the mistake of having damp dirt in the bottom of my dubia bin and now it's overly humid and roaches are dying. It was okay for a couple months but now that it's exploding it's simply too much humidity. The babies are impossible to separate from the dirt.

Toilet paper rolls and egg crates and you're good to go. You're lucky you have 95 degree weather. It's barely 80 here in NY so mine reproduce slowwwwwwwwww.

I run a under tank (bin) heat pad and it's a nice and toasty 94* and 70% huidity (when not feeding). When i feed the humidity goes up into the high 80's%

I had to tank the heat pad off during the warmer summer months.(when it was 100* outside)

Breeding is still going strong

 

[kokom05lb]

Well I know I'm suppose to use a heat pad but since the container is plastic I was afraid it was going to melt the bottom.

 

[JonRich]

Well I know I'm suppose to use a heat pad but since the container is plastic I was afraid it was going to melt the bottom.

I use a Rubbermaid bin (plastic). It's been on a heat pad for about 8 months without issue.

 

[deadhd5]

Well I know I'm suppose to use a heat pad but since the container is plastic I was afraid it was going to melt the bottom.

Get a thermostat for safety and piece of mind...

 

[kokom05lb]

Ok awesome.... They should be here sometime tomorrow

 

[kokom05lb]

Oh yeah... I made a fresh gutload of carrots, apples, sweet potato, and collard greens the other day for my crickets. I should still be able to use this gutload for the dubias right?

 

[kokom05lb]

Roaches arrived yay

Roaches arrived with 2 dead. Which isnt too bad. But I dont know how they handle only with 2 dead. But anyways, they are in the roach container I guess happy to be out of the bags.

 

[kokom05lb]

So I checked in on my dubias this morning. Gutload was completely gone! moved the egg crates and one of the adults is extremely FAT! I dont know if its a female or not (guessing that it is). Still havent touched the rouach chow though

 

[kokom05lb]

House Gecko!

Well this evening I went out to check on the dubias. Their doing fine. But when my husband and I looked in on them, we found a little house gecko trying to get into the container He ran off when he seen us.

 

[JonRich]

So I checked in on my dubias this morning. Gutload was completely gone! moved the egg crates and one of the adults is extremely FAT! I dont know if its a female or not (guessing that it is). Still havent touched the rouach chow though

Females don't have wings..

 

[kokom05lb]

Females don't have wings..[/QUOTE

None of them have wings though =(

 

[JonRich]

Females don't have wings..[/QUOTE

None of them have wings though =(

Either all girls or young males that have yet to molt to Adult form. And they glossy?

Nymphs look a bit dull, like this

Adults are "Glossy". Like this, with Males having long wings.