My "pet" dubia roaches LOL

XoVictoryXo

XoVictoryXo

New member
roaches.jpg
I have had 5 "pet" roaches since March. LOL
aka- They will not breed. :(
They got too big for my leos to eat so they kind of just sat there.
Then I forgot to feed them for a month or two and I thought they were dead and my silly fear wouldn't even allow me to lift up the egg carton, WELL to my surprise they are now mature adults. And whats crazy is I learned how long roaches can go without food and water lol. I used to hate roaches, but now I feel bad I was cruel and starved them! lol
So, now I feed them and care for them and anxiously await them to have some kids so I can actually feed my geckos!

I have to laugh at my initial fear of them, because I used to be scared they would escape and rampantly breed. :coverlaugh:


come on roaches!! live up to your scandal and breed!! what am I doing wrong? 10G tank, they eat chicken feed, have a water dish with a sponge.
Do I really need to have a heat lamp on them 24-7 if my house is around 75?
Am I able to put a heat mat?
 
XoVictoryXo

XoVictoryXo

New member
OK I will add cocodirt substrate; and Ill put a lamp tonight.
I was trying to get by on bare minimum but now i SEE roach breeding is serious business. I thought the summer heat was enough heat for them to breed, but NADA. & now that fall is here there is really no bypassing the lamp.
 
Geckologist.tj

Geckologist.tj

Member
I don't use coco dirt, and mine breed fine. I think keeping them between 85 and 95 is a must for breeding though. The closer to 95 the more babies. It's the magic number I guess.
 
C

CrestedRick

Active member
Humidity and about 93℉ should do the trick to get them to breed. I ordered 100 roaches about 3weeks ago and they are thriving, don't want to feed them until I can sex them properly.
 
C

CrestedRick

Active member
I'd also add that substrate just makes it harder to clean, mine are in a 10g sterilite tube with just egg flats. Easy clean up and easy to find nymphs and smaller roaches when cleaning. Also try a heating mat under one side of the tank.
 
OliviaThegecko

OliviaThegecko

New member
I had the same problem. I ended up buying rubber maids ( they hold the heat better) i put one down and got an old towel in it and then i put an under the tank heat mat on that. I made sure the towel went up the sides. then i put the other rubber maid in ( make sure it fits inside the first when you buy it) then i load it with my food ( in a dish..its ground up good quality cat food) then I put cucumbers on the otherside. this provides out moisture they really need. then i get the egg cartons ( card board) and lay them in vertically ( whatever you prefer) and i dump in my roaches. I started with about 50 adults, the boys have wings the girls dont.You want more girls than boys obviously...also dubias cant climb slippery stuff, i put vaseline on the inside of the box towards the top so they slip, others use clear packing tape. The top of the container should shut pretty snug, for air i decided to take my blow torch and heat my knife, i cut a big hole at the top in a square, then i took metal screen and hot glued it on both sides :) ...and thats that.

cleaning is easy i take the tank, the heater, the towel out. i take the roaches and the egg cartons out and put them in the outer container, then i rinse and dump the old crap in the main tank for them, i dry it and re-assemble with new food. The veggies will have to be checked, dont over do it..cause you dont want mold.

this is just what works for me...Have fun!
 
C

CrestedRick

Active member
Personally, I would avoid the cat food and pick up some repashy bug burger and feed that with carrots, oranges, celery tops, carrot tops (the greens). O would avoid lettuces and leafy greens since they are mostly just water and down have much in the way of nutrition for the roaches. Hopefully this helps.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
CrestedRick said:
Personally, I would avoid the cat food and pick up some repashy bug burger and feed that with carrots, oranges, celery tops, carrot tops (the greens). O would avoid lettuces and leafy greens since they are mostly just water and down have much in the way of nutrition for the roaches. Hopefully this helps.
Click to expand...

Definitely avoid cat food, dog food, fish flakes.

Collard greens and dandelion flowers/greens are excellent foods for Blaptica dubia.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
OliviaThegecko said:
I had the same problem. I ended up buying rubber maids ( they hold the heat better) i put one down and got an old towel in it and then i put an under the tank heat mat on that. I made sure the towel went up the sides. then i put the other rubber maid in ( make sure it fits inside the first when you buy it) then i load it with my food ( in a dish..its ground up good quality cat food) then I put cucumbers on the otherside. this provides out moisture they really need. then i get the egg cartons ( card board) and lay them in vertically ( whatever you prefer) and i dump in my roaches. I started with about 50 adults, the boys have wings the girls dont.You want more girls than boys obviously...also dubias cant climb slippery stuff, i put vaseline on the inside of the box towards the top so they slip, others use clear packing tape. The top of the container should shut pretty snug, for air i decided to take my blow torch and heat my knife, i cut a big hole at the top in a square, then i took metal screen and hot glued it on both sides :) ...and thats that.

cleaning is easy i take the tank, the heater, the towel out. i take the roaches and the egg cartons out and put them in the outer container, then i rinse and dump the old crap in the main tank for them, i dry it and re-assemble with new food. The veggies will have to be checked, dont over do it..cause you dont want mold.

this is just what works for me...Have fun!
Click to expand...

How are you ventilating your UTH?
 
Geckologist.tj

Geckologist.tj

Member
I have grown quite fond of using zoo med adult bearded dragon food to feed my roaches. I also use fruits and veggies, but it's easy to keep the bearded dragon food supplied, as it doesn't mold or rot. Also, it is about 5-6$ and available at my local pet store so I don't have to pay for shipping. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and has (IMHO) just the right amount of protein at 16%. Unlike dog food, cat food, and fish flakes, it is made for reptiles to ingest. I don't think there is any one food that can be a complete diet, but I like this as an easy nutritious staple.
 
OliviaThegecko

OliviaThegecko

New member
I ventilate because i took a heated knife and cut holes out of the top and side, and covered with screen ( hot glued in), I use all grain free for my cats so its totaly fine for the roaches, however now that i know there is something better out there I will go for that.

I like the lettuce because it provides hydration which is a must for breeding of roaches, Ive also done apple, pears, kale, collard,mustars...pretty much anything i would feed my animals ( of which i have many)

again its all personal preference but it seems to work well!
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Geckologist.tj said:
I have grown quite fond of using zoo med adult bearded dragon food to feed my roaches. I also use fruits and veggies, but it's easy to keep the bearded dragon food supplied, as it doesn't mold or rot. Also, it is about 5-6$ and available at my local pet store so I don't have to pay for shipping. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and has (IMHO) just the right amount of protein at 16%. Unlike dog food, cat food, and fish flakes, it is made for reptiles to ingest. I don't think there is any one food that can be a complete diet, but I like this as an easy nutritious staple.
Click to expand...

How does this ZM Adult Bearded Dragon food rate as far as fat content? Does it contain vitamin A in some form?
 
A

Astral Wench

New member
I use a small UTH stuck to the back of my sterilite container for heat. Instead of egg cartons which I never have extras of because my boss gives me eggs fresh from her farm I use the separators from the twelve packs of bottled beer set vertically but squished so its more diamond shaped and less square, my boyfriend is a microbrew snob so its all local and stuff lol. My boss was also nice enough to give me some of her layer pellets chicken feed after I started inquiring where she purchased it and so they have a 16% protein source with lots of good minerals and nutrients. I also offer up fresh fruits and veggies, I almost always have an apple core and some carrots thrown in and the occasional romaine or spinach with the ever more scarce cucumber slice or bell pepper chunk (they have to fight me for some of these lol).
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Astral Wench said:
......My boss was also nice enough to give me some of her layer pellets chicken feed after I started inquiring where she purchased it and so they have a 16% protein source with lots of good minerals and nutrients. I also offer up fresh fruits and veggies, I almost always have an apple core and some carrots thrown in and the occasional romaine or spinach with the ever more scarce cucumber slice or bell pepper chunk (they have to fight me for some of these lol).
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have access to Albers All Purpose Poultry food. Good stuff!! I buy mine at a feed store near Portland, Oregon in 5 pound bags. :)
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
OliviaThegecko said:
....... I ended up buying rubber maids ( they hold the heat better) i put one down and got an old towel in it and then i put an under the tank heat mat on that. I made sure the towel went up the sides. then i put the other rubber maid in ( make sure it fits inside the first when you buy it) ......
Click to expand...

Elizabeth Freer said:
How are you ventilating your Under Tank Heat Mat?
Click to expand...

OliviaThegecko said:
I ventilate because i took a heated knife and cut holes out of the top and side, and covered with screen ( hot glued in), I use all grain free for my cats so its totaly fine for the roaches, however now that i know there is something better out there I will go for that......
Click to expand...

Though OT, it's quite important: Are you using your under tank heat mat underneath the Rubbermaid bins? Have you any ventilation space (~1/4 inch-1/2 inch) between the base of the bins and the stand on which you keep the bins?

Such ventilation is extremely important to prevent heat build up that could lead to fires. :yikes:

Oftentimes cat food (dog food) has way more protein than crickets/geckos require.
 
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