Dubia Roach Colony Setup Suggestions Needed

[Cricket]

OK, I have decided to try my hand at raising a colony of Blaptica Dubia roaches. Been doing some reading, and I think I have the right ideas as how to keep them. I already have a large vented Sterilite container set up with heat rope and a rheostat to keep the temperature around 90 degrees. I plan on giving them some sort of dry food with occasionally giving them a piece of fruit or vegetable (will watch for mold). For water I will be using water crystals that I have for my feeder crickets. Will not be using substrate but will have egg crate for hides. I have 100 adults on order to start the colony.

Do any of you that are already raising roaches have any advice or suggestions for a roach newbie? Could I expect to start being able to get feeders out of this colony in, say, 6 months? Maybe sooner?

 

[HepCatMoe]

blaptica dubia colony setup

 

[ledhead]

my understanding is you can use actual water for roaches. unlike crickets they are smart enough to not sit in the water till they drown...

 

[HepCatMoe]

ive been keeping discoids and all i do is keep them with some fresh fruit. no need for standing water or crystals or sponges or any of that.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

ive been keeping discoids and all i do is keep them with some fresh fruit. no need for standing water or crystals or sponges or any of that.

I have the exact same experience with B. discoidales, but I'm not sure about B. dubia.

 

[Haroldo]

Dubia need more protein in their diet than most fruit provides (which is why I give them dog food in addition). If you don't give them enough, they will result to cannabilism fairly readily...

 

[HepCatMoe]

i also give mine cat food in addition to the fruit. i just meant that i use fruit to water them.

 

[sacredcreatures]

I raise three types, Lobster roaches, Dubia and Hissers. All like different foods but one thing is for sure I give mine Dog/cat food ground up, fish food, oranges, apples, carrots and greens. Sometimes if I have other fruits avail I add that too. I give them cricket water with calcium and also spray water every couple of days. They live in 80 degrees. I do not think 90 is good for them because last summer I had alot of deaths to my orange heads and the roach guy said that 85 was too hot for them. I have had my colonies now for about a year and finally I am getting alot of Dubia I feed Lobsters until my Dubia colony gets enough to feed. My hissers are pets but I have feed some young males before. Anyways, good luck, Deb

 

[Cricket]

Thanks for all the replys, and tips, I will put the information to good use

 

[debest]

My first set of Roach Babies!!!!