Why are dubias so expensive?
- Thread starter VanessaS
- Start date
pssh
Avid Member
If they are $1 each you are paying too much (unless its and adult female/pair of adults.) they are expensive because people usually buy them to breed them. Chaneleons do tend to eat less of them because they are bigger/meatier than crickets. The most you should pay for a quality roach group is about $20 per 100 mixed sizes in the US.
Try to stay away from a staple. A varied diet is best.
Try to stay away from a staple. A varied diet is best.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
You have to take size and time into consideration. if you are paying a buck for an adult female dubia, thats close to a dozen crickets in weight, and 2x the nutrition.
On the other hand it also depends who you buy from. prices for the same thing can be over 4x diff in cost. Ive been burned and made out like a bandit on 4 purchases over the past 6 months.
Best deal: 100 adult pair (like 4lbs) $50 shipped
worst deal: 500 med nymphs $85 shipped (1lbs)
good deal: 1000 small nymphs $45 shipped (took 2 months to reach above adult cricket size)
On the other hand it also depends who you buy from. prices for the same thing can be over 4x diff in cost. Ive been burned and made out like a bandit on 4 purchases over the past 6 months.
Best deal: 100 adult pair (like 4lbs) $50 shipped
worst deal: 500 med nymphs $85 shipped (1lbs)
good deal: 1000 small nymphs $45 shipped (took 2 months to reach above adult cricket size)
Psychobunny
Avid Member
Yeah, I have seen places charge outragous prices for them, and mixed sizes too!!
Lots more ppl selling them nowadays
Lots more ppl selling them nowadays
pigglett79
Avid Member
Maybe you need to shop around. I have gotten them pretty cheap from the forum classifieds and also from west coast roaches.
buddy912
Member
from what i have heard you r not suppose to have any one kinda incect for a feeder. it is better to have a vararity of bugs for them so they dont get bored. you should try to breed ur own roaches its pretty easy but i would make sure ur guys likes them first it would stink to get them to breed n they dont even like them
i just got some breeders from this forum not too long ago n there doing great! saves $$$$. good luck! 
Zen Reptiles
Avid Member
Several years ago when roaches first became really popular they were $100 for 100 mixed sized dubia here in Canada. It took them 3 or 4 years to go down to $80, now they are about $40-60 still.
I bought all mine for $20/100 though from friends.
They are more expensive because you are only paying for them once. If you think about it, a .10c cricket will end up being more expensive because you ALWAYS have to buy that .10c cricket over and over again.
With a $1 dubia that is an investment because you will never have to spend that $1 again if you are breeding them.
Dubia = asset
Cricket = liability
I mean you could breed crickets too but that's Hell.
As a general rule 1x dubia is = to 3 or 4 crickets (depending on size of dubia). All my guys are usually full after only 2 or 3 large dubia.
If you ever feed adult dubia to your chams, make sure you snip the legs off cause they have sharp spikes on them. I always feed one size down from adult.
Also they don't need as much protein as commonly believed, there is enough protein in the veggies and fruits you gutload with to keep them happy. The protein in dogfood, cat food, and ferret food causes uric acid buildup in the roaches (especially males) and this can harm your cham.
Variety is the spice of life, try to make 5 different bugs your staple feeders throughout the month and have a big variety of gutload items.....this variety can include a few different types of roaches such as green banana roach & hissing roach, so there's 3 right there and then add 2 types of worms.
Silkworms, phoenix worms, and hornworms are great.
I bought all mine for $20/100 though from friends.
They are more expensive because you are only paying for them once. If you think about it, a .10c cricket will end up being more expensive because you ALWAYS have to buy that .10c cricket over and over again.
With a $1 dubia that is an investment because you will never have to spend that $1 again if you are breeding them.
Dubia = asset
Cricket = liability
I mean you could breed crickets too but that's Hell.
As a general rule 1x dubia is = to 3 or 4 crickets (depending on size of dubia). All my guys are usually full after only 2 or 3 large dubia.
If you ever feed adult dubia to your chams, make sure you snip the legs off cause they have sharp spikes on them. I always feed one size down from adult.
Also they don't need as much protein as commonly believed, there is enough protein in the veggies and fruits you gutload with to keep them happy. The protein in dogfood, cat food, and ferret food causes uric acid buildup in the roaches (especially males) and this can harm your cham.
Variety is the spice of life, try to make 5 different bugs your staple feeders throughout the month and have a big variety of gutload items.....this variety can include a few different types of roaches such as green banana roach & hissing roach, so there's 3 right there and then add 2 types of worms.
Silkworms, phoenix worms, and hornworms are great.
pssh
Avid Member
Here is my blog about breeding them and using them as feeders:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/pssh/577-blaptica-dubia-roach-keeping-breeding-feeding.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/pssh/577-blaptica-dubia-roach-keeping-breeding-feeding.html
VanessaS
New Member
Great thanks! I will check it out!
VanessaS
New Member
Amazing!!! I don't want to bash the guys online that are selling smalls for $1 ea but West Coast Roaches hands down has my business!!! Placed an order a few hours ago! Can't wait!!! Thx for the tip ; )
