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Dubia roaches...

4riscorn

4riscorn

ACR#774 NevaeH Reptiles
Okay, so some of you know we have expanded our reptile collection into crested geckos. We have been feeding them exclusively Repashy's CGD. Some of them eat it, but a few won't touch it until they are so hungry and nothing else is there. The thing is, most of them were eating Dubia Roaches along with the CGD before we got them. We knew in the beginning we would not do crickets. They smell, die off quickly, bite the geckos and jump all over the place. The noise wouldn't have bothered me because I love that sound! It is how I go to sleep at night now that we have moved to the "mountains so to speak" we have the sounds and it is awesome. Anyway, after MUCH and I mean much debate and speaking with other breeders about supplementation with Dubias, we have decided to start our own colony...I know ewe right? But they are higher in protein, don't bite, can't fly (even though they have wings) and can't climb most surfaces, expect the egg crates you put in their containers. The only bad thing is that they multiple very fast. We are starting with 200. So I imagine we'll have thousands rather quickly.
My question is how to maintain them and set-up suggestions. I know about the egg crates and water gel crystals and how to feed them, but I have seen so many different things about their heat, where to put the food and water gels, and how to set up the egg crates.
Thanks guys!! Any tips will be helpful :)
 
Not all that "ew" actually. Much less "ew" than crickets, even, at least to me... lol.

I keep mine with a heat pad underneath. As long as it doesn't get over 100-ish, it should be fine. I've even gone with a completely unregulated Ultratherm heat pad when short on thermostats/thermometers... Though those are much lower wattage (read: stay cooler) than standard reptile heat pads (i.e. zoomed), and it was on a wire shelf so there was plenty of airflow underneath. Didn't experience any downfalls to this method. No die-off, and the roaches even spent most their time right on the bottom above the heat pad.

I've kept my food and water crystals on the ground in shallow dishes, but on top would probably work--maybe even work better since it would keep it up out of the poop and general ruckus of the bottom, and make them easier to clean/change out. I'll probably try that myself once I have the tub back in order (just moved cross-country; still sorting out where in the world to even put them).

One thing to keep in mind is to give the colony a rest to settle in and start producing before you start feeding out of it. I killed off my entire first colony and have almost done the same to the second by just not waiting long enough for them to establish. Of course, I was/am using them to feed beardies. Using them to supplement cresty diets, you'll use a lot fewer roaches than I do feeding a single beardie (let alone 3, lol), so it may not even be much of a worry for you.

On setting up the egg crates, the best advice I've seen on that is to stack them vertically. Maybe glued together at the corners so they don't fall and "cup" each other (ruining the cell effect that is so desired). Stacking them vertically allows the poop to fall straight to the floor instead of getting trapped in the egg crate. Makes the egg crates stay much cleaner and last much longer, too.

Also, they seem to like paper towel rolls (kind of like snakes, lol). Giving them paper towel rolls also makes them easier to get out if you don't want to risk touching them, since you can just take a full paper towel roll, shake it into a cup, and flick the undesired roaches (i.e. adults) back into the tub with tongs or something.

Anyway, there's my $.02. Granted, I haven't had a whole lot of experience and can't follow my own advice on letting the colony establish itself... lol. Good luck with your colony. I bet the cresties will absolutely love it. :)
 
Hey 4riscorn,

I would go over to Fauna Classifields and look in "Feed, Caging, Supplies & Services" for more info on the roaches.

Love the Fatman
 
I wish I could help, but I've only photographed them.

If you'd like, shoot a call to Aaron Pauling. We did his logo, and his previous website look. He seems pretty knowledge-able on roaches and roach care.

www.aaronpauling.com
 
I have raised crickets and they have a very definite Ewe factor. I quit raising Chameleons because of crickets. I would definitely look into roaches. My wife has a different opinion.
 
Thanks for all the links and info..been a great help. One question I forgot to ask is if they have to be dusted prior to feeding to cresties like crickets do??
 
AndrewH said:
I wish I could help, but I've only photographed them.

If you'd like, shoot a call to Aaron Pauling. We did his logo, and his previous website look. He seems pretty knowledge-able on roaches and roach care.

www.aaronpauling.com
Click to expand...
I can vouch for this guy! He sold me my dubia nymphs and a G.pulchripes at my last reptile show, he's a really great guy.
 
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