Male Dubias Fly!

[spykerherps]

I thought Dubias did not fly that is what the literature says then I herd from someone that if you keep them hot enough the males will fly. which i am finding true. i keep finding males around the reptile room and the other day I found a female I have no idea how she got out.

I normally keep the breeding colony at 88-90 degrees so I could see that being hot enough for them to fly.
But with the move they have been off heat for almost a week and I still found a male the other day.
no way they could have crawled out.

 

[gothra]

Yes, the males can jump and fly short distances. If you don't want them to get out, you can lower the height of the egg-cartons, so you have at least 30-40cm above. I also put a laundry net on top for more security. I've seen the males trying to fly out many times!

 

[Grinning Geckos]

Yea, they don't fly well, but if the top is open and the edge is close enough they will get out.

 

[hoppslover]

Do you not have a top on your colony?? It took alot for me to even decide to keep these guys. I am glad that I do keep them now. The leos love them, but I dont think I would keep them in a container without a lid. I would never want these guys free to roam the house.

 

[nats]

I read somewhere that if you keep them well fed and the right temp (around 85F) they wont try to fly away. :main_huh:
I always keep the screen lid on just in case.

 

[spykerherps]

I have not been keeping a top on them. I keep them in a Contico flip top storage container, with heat on the bottom and a couple layers of egg crate at the bottom so that leaves about 12" for them to jump or flutter out.

 

[Alusdra]

Yeah they fly like turkeys... I was really dubious about the whole roach thing, too, no way I would have not had a top. It seems they sometimes do it when other males are around- a sexual display?

I had a dream last night actually that I came in my room and the top was off and the roaches were everywhere- I kept trying to get them back in but they were scurrying around... :shocked: