Question about Dubia Roaches

[minguela]

Today I received my first batch of Dubia Roaches. 5 females and 5 males. Plus 40 nymphs. All is already set, water, carrots, carton eggs, etc. I read somewhere that you do not have to put substrate in the tub, but I feel that the bottom of the tub is too slippery for them. Every time I open the lid, the Dubias start to run like crazy and I don't want to stress the females. What substrate is good for them? I use with my crickets a bed of oatmeal and is fantastic. Almost no odor and the crickets have an extra food. Could I use that with the roaches too? What other cheap substrate I could use? Thanks for your help.:main_thumbsup:

 

[gothra]

I don't use any substrate for my roaches. They'll do fine without it.

 

[Tanga]

There's really no need to put any substrate down for Dubia roaches. Within a month or so they will create their own with their substrate/frass (their poop, don't worry it doesn't smell), the baby dubias will eat the frass and they also like to bury themselves in it.

 

[ang3l3s]

There's really no need to put any substrate down for Dubia roaches. Within a month or so they will create their own with their substrate/frass (their poop, don't worry it doesn't smell), the baby dubias will eat the frass and they also like to bury themselves in it.

+1

 

[BlackDiamondGeckos]

Ya. I just put the feed on the bottom towards the back and as they break it down and move it around and poop everywhere it becomes their own substrate. Plus the nymphs eat the frass. So ya. They do their own thing. It works.

 

[LizMarie]

Like everyone else said no need for substrate.. In the nexy month or two you'll have enough substrate from the frass and the fact that they find it necessary to spill the contents out of their feeding dish on to the floor. Leave the bin alone for like a month and you'll see the floor covered soon enough.

 

[clear]

Substrate makes life hard, I hate sifting through tons of frass to get tiny nymphs, I couldnt imagine doing it with substrate.

 

[minguela]

Thanks guys for recommendations! No substrate then. Also one last question. I read also that the cat chow is good for gutloading. Is this true? I already give them carrots but I thing that they need some proteins too. Since is very hard to find here commercial gut loading meal, is Cat Chow good for them? I have a bag of Purina Cat Chow that my cat could share with them. Thanks again.

 

[GeckoNub]

My dubias love dry cat food And yeah they tend to throw it all over :main_yes:

I give them carrot and they seem to like it but anything leafy like lettuce/cabbage they dont seem to touch I cant believe that not only do i have spoiled leos, but even their food are picky eaters :main_rolleyes:

 

[minguela]

My dubias love dry cat food And yeah they tend to throw it all over :main_yes:

I give them carrot and they seem to like it but anything leafy like lettuce/cabbage they dont seem to touch I cant believe that not only do i have spoiled leos, but even their food are picky eaters :main_rolleyes:

Excellent, I'm going to give them grinded cat chow and see what happen. Thanks.:main_thumbsup:

 

[osbain]

I give them carrot and they seem to like it but anything leafy like lettuce/cabbage they dont seem to touch I cant believe that not only do i have spoiled leos, but even their food are picky eaters :main_rolleyes:

Strange, my dubias love lettuce!
As far as substrate goes, i put a paper towel down on the section where i toss in there food and stuff, seemed like a good idea at the time. Gives them something to grip too and if they drag veggies and fruit around it keeps down on mess that may cause a stink.

 

[minguela]

Strange, my dubias love lettuce!
As far as substrate goes, i put a paper towel down on the section where i toss in there food and stuff, seemed like a good idea at the time. Gives them something to grip too and if they drag veggies and fruit around it keeps down on mess that may cause a stink.

The paper towel in the food section sounds like a very good idea. Here are very humid/hot and the food rot very easily. The papel towel could help in the cleaning day.