Dubia Babies.. What to look for?

[LizMarie]

Well I've had my Dubias for exactly one month today ...

At the moment they are in a 10gallon tank that is covered with paper and kept in my closet so it can be as dark as possible. The last time I checked the heater it was at 94-95 degrees F and that was on a cooler day so I would imagine that now that the temperature is warmer it might have went up a few degrees. They are feed a mixture or dry dog and cat food that has been grinded up a little, a little fruit/veggie salad (Whatever I can find, cantalope, carrots, Honey Dew Melon, Apples, etc) and of course they have a petri-dish stacked up with water crystals. I also have roughly 4-5 adult pairs so I think they should be breeding!

Are they being kept in conditions that they would breed? How soon should I be seeing babies if they are? What exactly do baby dubias look like? When should I clean out their enclosure because I'm planning to move them into a wider rubbermaid so it's easier to get into to but decided to just do it on the cleaning day..

 

[LizMarie]

Also do you think it would be a good idea to give them wheat grass too?? I bought some Organic Wheat Grass from the petshop for my cat and dog, they seem to really enjoy and when I was reading the back it said for cats, dogs, small animals and reptiles..

 

[gothra]

Its usually slow to get started, but once they start breeding, the babies will keep on coming. The babies are pretty small, about 4-5mm length. With the wheat grass, I tried offering to my roaches and mealworms before, but none of them will eat it.

Here's a picture of my colony:

 

[jakemyster44]

I'd move them to the rubbermaid soon, just beacuse it will be a pain to pick out all the little babies. Mine took a while to start, but now that thewy have began breeding they seem to be going steeady. Its best not to desturb them, only open up their tub when you have to will up hte food/water dishes. If disturbed the females can abort their egg sacks, meaning no babies.

 

[LizMarie]

Do you think I should separate my Breeders from my feeders? I have around 100+ dubias but don't plan to breed them all since i plan to only have 2-3geckos in the future and don't need like a gazillion roaches because I supplement with worms too so should I separate them so I don't bug the breeders because I plan to move them today.

 

[Ciprion]

OKay so......I cant remember when I got my little skuttlers but it took about a month or 2 to go through almost the ENTIRE 150!!!! Thats including supplementing with the other stupid feeders! My Leos are little PIGS! 5 good sized dubias per gecko daily adds up quite rapidly...At least WAY faster than the dubia will reproduce...so after the disaster that will hereafter be called the "test-run" I am planning on getting WAY more adult or adult sized roaches to keep the baby population booming...Silkies are looking like more of an option as well....expencive tho!

But to answer your question: No, dont seperate. I do, however, think that you should move them to a rubbermaid. Its easier to move and clean (when the time comes) and will be harder to damage....Unless you almost melt the bottom with too much heat....personal experience....I've made LOTS and LOTS of mistakes with my feeders in the past few months....any need of horror stories of just plain old funny ones just ask!

 

[osbain]

].I've made LOTS and LOTS of mistakes with my feeders in the past few months....any need of horror stories of just plain old funny ones just ask!

Please do tell, in order for people like me who are about to buy dubias to prevent the same mistakes

 

[fOOlsgOld]

I got an order of 150 back in Oct of last year, they were breeding but doing it slowly so in Feb I ordered 500 more and I've now got so many that I'm going to have to start selling/giving some away. In all honesty other then just making sure they have food and water I would leave them alone for at least another 2 months. By that time you should have a LOT of babies and enough to feed off of.