Got my Dubia colony today! (pics)

[LeapinLizards]

I ordered my start up kit from www.theroachguy.com, and received them today!! I was really excited. The kit comes with everything you need to get started except for the tote (super cheap at Walmart!): Food, dried water crystals, a 10"x10" screen to glue to the top of the tote, instructions, and of course either 145 or 160 count mixed sized roaches. I set it all up in the tote, with a heat pad under the side with the egg crates.

The roaches arrived very healthy looking, active, and ready to get into their new home I have to admit I am a bit thrown by the HUGE size of the adults (the mixed kit doesn't come with adults, I ordered them separately), but I just keep telling myself that the babies are Potato Bugs and all is fine :main_laugh:

I really would recommend www.theroachguy.com to anyone else wanting to get a Dubia colony started. Jason was MORE than helpful, and exchanged numerous emails with me answering my million questions before I decided to make the plunge into breeding them.

Here are some quick pics!

 

[Nigel4less]

Looks like you have a great setup going!

 

[LeapinLizards]

I just followed Jason's guidelines and they seem to be happy already. I just checked on them, and they are chowing down, and all over the water crystals. They are in the warmest room in our house (gecko room) so I'm hopeful that they start breeding ASAP!

 

[sciteacher]

My experience with those opaque grey plastic totes is that they have just enough texture to allow the smaller dubias to climb. I put a couple of strips of packing tape around the top of mine to stop them. I now use tubs that are very smooth sided and they can't even begin to climb up.

Gary

 

[nats]

My experience with those opaque grey plastic totes is that they have just enough texture to allow the smaller dubias to climb. I put a couple of strips of packing tape around the top of mine to stop them. I now use tubs that are very smooth sided and they can't even begin to climb up.

Gary

What kind of tubs are you using Gary?

I found that only the clear ones are slick and dont have texture.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Thats odd because all of the times I've checked on them, none have been even 1/2" climbed up on the sides. They all are sticking to their food bowls and egg crates.

 

[nats]

Thats odd because all of the times I've checked on them, none have been even 1/2" climbed up on the sides. They all are sticking to their food bowls and egg crates.

What temp do you keep them at?

Because if it's on the cool side, that may make them lathargic.
Not a bad thing, unless you want them to breed!

 

[LeapinLizards]

What temp do you keep them at?

Because if it's on the cool side, that may make them lathargic.
Not a bad thing, unless you want them to breed!

Oh they are more than warm enough. My gecko room stays about 80-85 degrees as it is, and they have a heat pad under half of their tub. The sides of the tub are pretty smooth, I honestly do not know how they would be able to climb it. I see some of the trying to, but they slide back down before even getting their back legs off the ground.

 

[hoppslover]

Heather I have the a tub pretty close to the tub you have and I have seen two of them climb the side. I dont think they would be able to squeeze through the lid, but I have seen them climb.

 

[LeapinLizards]

That's so weird! I can handle a few of them occasionally scaling it, but if every time I open up the tub I get a handful of them all over the place...it's got to go!

 

[HepCatMoe]

i have mine in a grey tub like yours, and i keep em in the garage where its usually about 95 - 100.

ive never seen any of em even try to climb.

 

[clear]

I have seen them climb those colored ones, i now use the clear ones and not a single problem! Dubia's are great!!!!!!!!

 

[LeapinLizards]

Well I checked on them last night, and even when they were all out and about, not one on the walls. I dunno!

I am worried that I'm doing something wrong though. I have the heat pad on the underside of the housing side of their tub. Is there anything else I should be doing to promote breeding? I want to get them going as quickly as possible. I'm so tired of crickets!

 

[nats]

Well I checked on them last night, and even when they were all out and about, not one on the walls. I dunno!

I am worried that I'm doing something wrong though. I have the heat pad on the underside of the housing side of their tub. Is there anything else I should be doing to promote breeding? I want to get them going as quickly as possible. I'm so tired of crickets!

As long as its dark, the temp is about 92F, there are enough places to hide (egge flats) and they are fed, you will have little roaches. This is what I'm told anyway, I havent seen any little roaches yet. So, like you, I'm hoping this works so I can get away from crix.

 

[thekooliest]

Well I checked on them last night, and even when they were all out and about, not one on the walls. I dunno!

I am worried that I'm doing something wrong though. I have the heat pad on the underside of the housing side of their tub. Is there anything else I should be doing to promote breeding? I want to get them going as quickly as possible. I'm so tired of crickets!

If you are worried that something is wrong because they weren't on the walls. It is because they can't climb.

As long as its dark, the temp is about 92F, there are enough places to hide (egge flats) and they are fed, you will have little roaches. This is what I'm told anyway, I havent seen any little roaches yet. So, like you, I'm hoping this works so I can get away from crix.

It will don't worry about it.

 

[fOOlsgOld]

I got my starter of dubia from www.bestroach.com on Sept.25th and by the first there were little roaches running around in there too (about 1/2 as wide as a pencil eraser and a little longer). I got 2 breeding pair and I already have 4 more males with wings and I keep checking for new females.
I'm curious, can you tell the males from females before they become adults? I think they are all really cool imho but then again none of my family (except my little brother) can understand why I want geckos either lol:main_laugh:

 

[LeapinLizards]

Lol I know the feeling fOOlsgOld! I actually am starting out with 5 adult pairs, so I was told they should start producing for me rather quickly. Plus, quite a few of the others I got were older juveniles. I just cant wait! I'm a rather impatient person

 

[Hayabusa]

Are these pretty nutritious for geckos then?

Or have i got the wrong end of the stick and are people keeping roaches as pets now!?!?!

 

[LeapinLizards]

Haha, although people DO keep Madagascar Hissing Roaches for a pet, these are different

I found this nutritional fact sheet on the website I ordered my dubia from, www.theroachguy.com, who in turn got the information from this website - www.feedersinc.com:

BLAPTICA DUBIA
Moisture: 61 %
Protein: 36 %
Fat: 7 %
Ash 2 %

CRICKETS
Moisture: 74%
Protein: 18%
Fat: 6%
Ash: 1%

MEALWORMS
Moisture: 59 %
Protein: 10 %
Fat: 13 %
Ash: 1 %

 

[Hayabusa]

Iiiiiinteresting, im gonna get started looking for a place in the uk that sells them now!

Do you think they'd get out of a bowl like this:

If not they could definitely replace mealworms, due to them being as easy to feed.

Also do they have the same downsides as crickets? (i.e. eating faeces, biting geckos etc..)?

Thanks