Wanting to start a dubia colony

[kingkung]

I want to start a dubia colony and was wondering what is a good amount to start with for a small colony? I was thinking. 20 females and 15 males and 300 baby nymphs? I am planning on getting 5 geckos. Thanks

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[LepoInc]

I'd get yourself 50+ large nymphs so you get the most out of your money. Usually when you buy adults from someone, they're older and close to being dead and usually don't breed well.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

^ True to that, I'd go with large dubias so they grow into breeding adults. That way you know you have plenty of mileage out of thetm. When buying breeding adults you don't know how long they've got before they die off. About 50-75 large dubias to let them grow into adults, and plenty of small/medium for feeding purposes for now, you should be fine.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I'd go with fewer males. I keep mine at a 1 male : 3-4 female ratio or the males fight and chew each others wings up. I would get some medium sized ones instead of nymphs unless you want to feed them off while you're waiting for the adults to start producing.

 

[kingkung]

How long would it take for a large nymph to grow to an adult?

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[kingkung]

What kind of heating mats/pads do you use for your dubia set up? Also, where do you mount your heating source? On the bottom of the tub or on the back of the tub?

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[kingkung]

I had this sterile lite tub laying around the house . its a 15 quart tub. Is this big enough for a small colony?

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[OnlineGeckos]

15qt might be too small, but it depends on the size of the colony you're going for. They should be tall enough for you to place egg-crates inside and having enough clearance so they can't climb out. I use 56qt sterilite tubs from target, they're tall enough for me to sit the egg-crates up on the sides. If you are looking to breed and grow your colony then you're likely need something larger than 15qt.

Where you live, you probably don't need extra heating. But if you want to, you could place a small heat pad either on the side or on the bottom.

 

[kingkung]

I hear that temps have to be 90+ or they will not breed. Temps get to maybe only 80 without heating pads.

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[kingkung]

15qt might be too small, but it depends on the size of the colony you're going for. They should be tall enough for you to place egg-crates inside and having enough clearance so they can't climb out. I use 56qt sterilite tubs from target, they're tall enough for me to sit the egg-crates up on the sides. If you are looking to breed and grow your colony then you're likely need something larger than 15qt.

Where you live, you probably don't need extra heating. But if you want to, you could place a small heat pad either on the side or on the bottom.

Do you use a heating pad with your colony?

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[OnlineGeckos]

I don't, never have and they've thrived just fine.

 

[kingkung]

Hmmm. Maybe I'll stop with the heading pad then. I'll save in electricity a little

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[OnlineGeckos]

Just find a place in your home that won't have cold air running through all the time, they should do fine. Away from air conditioning and windows. Southern California just doesn't get cold enough to really have to worry about heat pads for dubias.

 

[Phantom240]

I've got like two hundred "medium" dubia, and another three hundred smalls I'm raising to start my colony. My roommate's chameleons love Dubia, so I've got four hungry mouths to feed. lol

 

[kingkung]

I've got like two hundred "medium" dubia, and another three hundred smalls I'm raising to start my colony. My roommate's chameleons love Dubia, so I've got four hungry mouths to feed. lol

That's awesome. I would never of thought that I would ever raise/breed roaches in my life, but now I that I have some, is not too bad and I'm glad I started it, even though I only have 4 and soon to be 5 mouths to feed.

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[Phantom240]

Same here. I really couldn't see myself raising roaches a couple years ago... I actually think they're quite fascinating, now that I've had experience with them.

 

[kingkung]

Yea, I used to think roaches were the dirtiest of the dirty because I would only see them in the trash, but after observing them, they aren't exactly dirty at all.

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[OnlineGeckos]

My g/f said they're actually quite cute... While I'm used to them, I don't think I can call them cute...but um.. ok!

I fought the idea of having roaches for quite awhile initially. But after having dealt with crickets, roaches are so much more clean, odorless, quiet, and easier to care for.

 

[Phantom240]

Crickets are a disaster, man. I'll only buy up to like two dozen at a time... enough for two feedings for each gecko.