Regarding Dubia's

[LepoInc]

So my colony hasn't been thriving very well. I admit I need 1-3 more males, but I have plenty of new females but they aren't breeding very well. So I finally got some oranges and put them in there. I know you are supposed to just let them be, but how often can I check them without disturbing them too much? I want to check and see if they're eating the oranges but I don't want to contradict myself

 

[unkempt1]

So my colony hasn't been thriving very well. I admit I need 1-3 more males, but I have plenty of new females but they aren't breeding very well. So I finally got some oranges and put them in there. I know you are supposed to just let them be, but how often can I check them without disturbing them too much? I want to check and see if they're eating the oranges but I don't want to contradict myself

i know how you feel! Right now mine are acting a little weird. I think it's because my male:female ratio is way off; it's almost 1:1. My luck for raising females from nymphs really stinks! But on to your questions! :nice:

If they aren't breeding very well, it's usually because of one of a few things: lack of hydration, temperature, poor male:female ratio, or lack of food. I check in on mine once every two days or so. Usually by then the water crystals are almost out and the food is all gone. How many are in your colony? And what are you feeding?

 

[Busterboy]

I don't have much experience with dubias but I can tell you a few things... (I breed discoid roaches which are much harder)

1) Make sure you have a good source of food and hydration in the enclosure
2) You can check up on them at least once every other day. I do and they breed just fine.
3) My discoids which I am sure is the same with your dubias (are nocturnal) so they won't be breeding during the day. SO if you check on them during the day, you won't be interrupting anything important. At night is when the breeding occurs.
4) I started off with about 10 discoids (3 females and the rest males) and now have over 100 nymphs. I haven't touched them or fed them off for a good 4 1/2 months, but like I said, discoids are harder to breed.
5) Oranges are fine but try adding more nutritional foods like carrots or kale. Some good vitamins and stuff in those.
6) I fed oranges to my discoids and there were thousands of flies by the next morning lol (fruit flies) so i stay away from oranges.
7) In due time they will breed. I know how you feel, wanting them to breed right away, but sometimes it just doesnt happen that fast.