Housing dubia

[Randi]

Several months ago, I purchased dubias for my veiled, but she never really took to them. I wanted to keep trying, but some of them escaped and my husband freaked out and said I had to get rid of them. I wanted to try them again, but I need a fool-proof way of keeping them so it is guaranteed that I have no escapees, because if he found out I had them again, he'd probably kick us all out. Thanks!

 

[ponders]

I use a glass fish tank with a tight fitting screen top. If you have a plastic tub, I found the babies can climb the sides, so run a strip of packing tape along the inside near the top and they can't climb over. Plus have a tight fitting lid.

 

[mcleodschams]

What about the problem of climbers in fishtanks the babies would climb the silicone in the corners

 

[stalincat]

I wanted to ask the same question about housing dubias, but in the end I decided against them.

I keep woodlice, and they somehow manage to get out of a sealed container as I keep finding dead ones in my cham's room. No idea how they do it, but now I'm sure I don't want to experiment with roaches. I don't mind a dead woodlouse or an odd cricket jumping around, can't say the same about roaches.

 

[Randi]

My husband has been patient about finding crickets, but after he found more than one roach, he put his foot down and said they all had to go. She wasn't eating them anyway, but at the same time, I would like to give them another go because of all the great things people say about them. I just want to start off with a few and see how it goes. If I do, I will probably try the fish tank and screen lid idea. Would something similar work for keeping worms?

 

[yellowlip]

container

I use a Rubbermaid 18 gal tub with snap on lid and cut a 1'x2' hole in the lid .
hot glued some fine wire screen to it and it works great!
I put a lamp reflector lid right on the screen for heat since I keep in in the garage. never had an escapee!

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

How many does your 18 gal hold?

 

[stalincat]

My husband has been patient about finding crickets, but after he found more than one roach, he put his foot down and said they all had to go. She wasn't eating them anyway, but at the same time, I would like to give them another go because of all the great things people say about them. I just want to start off with a few and see how it goes. If I do, I will probably try the fish tank and screen lid idea. Would something similar work for keeping worms?

I don't think I can handle roaches. They are proper mingin. I'm absolutely fine with all insects part from roaches. I get woodlice for my chams instead.
I keep wax, meal and calci worms in the fridge, silkworms in a tub with a lid.

 

[natureboy86]

How do you guys go about cleaning your dubia housing? Also, has anyone tried keeping them in a Cricket Keeper?

 

[Nrupaw]

How do you guys go about cleaning your dubia housing? Also, has anyone tried keeping them in a Cricket Keeper?

I keep my Dubia's in a Cricket Keeper. I don't breed them, I just pick up 20-30 mid sized ones from the local store every 2 weeks. It works out pretty well. They like their darkness so they just hide in the pipes all the time and come out in the night to eat

I actually keep my Cricket Keeper inside a plastic tub with wire mesh for ventilation. I can't have insects running around my house!

 

[natureboy86]

^Nice! I think I might try that out.. Are roaches really THAT good of escape artists?? To where they can get out of a cricket keeper? My crickets can't escape

 

[lisagr07]

What about the problem of climbers in fishtanks the babies would climb the silicone in the corners

I've been keeping dubia for over 2 years in a glass aquarium.... Give them something to hide under, they have no interest on climbing out.

 

[Nrupaw]

^Nice! I think I might try that out.. Are roaches really THAT good of escape artists?? To where they can get out of a cricket keeper? My crickets can't escape

Well Dubia Roaches aren't known to be good escapees (unlike Hissers, that can supposedly climb out of everything). But if a $5 Sterelite tub gives me peace of mind, then so be it.

I have the same setup for the Cricket Keeper in which I house my crickets. 0 escapees so far (atleast from what I knwo)

 

[Branman]

I use a Rubbermaid container with clear packaging tale around the top. I also use weather stripping under the lid to seal it even more, to prevent any escapees.

 

[Randi]

I must have had some genius Dubias... I put them in a rubbermaid container with no lid, but I put slick tape across the inside, and they still got out! I almost wonder, though, if I have a small hole in the screen on my cage somewhere... hmm...

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

No lid? Perhaps they just got across the tape?

 

[Raphael1047]

I use a 18 gallon sterilite bin, i cut most of the top of the lid and then hot glue aluminum screen to the lid. I have only had a couple of escapes due to too many male in one bin. I think they got territtorial or the female:male ratio was wrong or something and a small gap in the screen. Anyway once i fix the seperated the feeders from the breeders the escapes dropped to 0 just make sure you have a lid with no gaps and you sould be fine. If you are really worried put some petroleum jelly along the top sides on the inner bin, i find ths works better then tape. Yeah, here are some pictures of my feeder bin with over a Thousand roachesIf you have any questions about my set up just ask.

 

[ataraxia]

Honestly i have only had males escape and very limited over the years. You can solve this by putting packing tape along the inner top/sides of the bin. I have tried oils, vaseline and since using tape i have yet to see a escapee.

 

[Raphael1047]

Honestly i have only had males escape and very limited over the years. You can solve this by putting packing tape along the inner top/sides of the bin. I have tried oils, vaseline and since using tape i have yet to see a escapee.

Have you tried roach Barrier just asking. It is better then vaseline here is a link http://www.gregsexoticinverts.com/supplies.htm scroll down to the bottom of the page. I use it for my hisser colony works great!

 

[ataraxia]

I have not.