Dubia Roaches and breeding?

mrhellboy218

mrhellboy218

Member
Hey so on a recent trip to the pet store, I found they had Dubia roaches. Which I thought was wonderful but they were too big for my lil leo. So I thought maybe I should breed them which I've wanted to do before. So if anyone here has bred or has experience with roaches,
Are they hard to keep?
Easy to breed?
And are there any downsides to breeding them? like the smell? or anything?
Thanks :D
 
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harlemgecko

New member
When I started my colony I think it was the best investment in my reptile keeping. if you only have one herp then you should brred on a small scale. a ten gallon would be best. 20/10 females/males ratio. all you need is a heating source and the rest is eassssyyy.they breed readily but could take a while to expand your colony,took me about 2-3months to start feeding them off.no down sides but when picking out roaches to feed they sometimes tend to secrete a liquid that smells a bit but not that bad. good luck if you decide to breed you wont regret it
 
LauraMI

LauraMI

New member
Also agree with the above: wicked easy. Heat source, dark area (like a basement, need not be pitch black), and food/water source. We used oranges and apples. Biggest problem we had was the fruit flies!
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
I started a colony for my two cresties and they are super easy to care for. Just get some egg crate flats and some bug burger and of course a Rubbermaid tub and youre good to go.
 
Cymmie

Cymmie

New member
They need lot's of food when you get a big colony, and do better with a source of dry and a source of wet. They do need humidity every now and then, just a heavy misting once in a while to keep the molting going well. Heat is a must, and darkness is needed. WELL VENTILATED please make it well ventilated. Because the heat will build up and kill off your roaches, as will mold. Any mold can kill a roach colony within hours. Happy roaching ^^
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
I don't really mist my roaches and I only feed Bug Burger. If you want to induce breeding I would raise the heat but I don't have mine heated at all, even during the winter up here in CT.
 
Cymmie

Cymmie

New member
I meant heating is must only for breeding >.< sorry should've explained that better XD But with both a dry and wet food their frass is less likely to stink. Bug Burger is kind of... a gel, yes? I am not sure where it would fall under as I used to feed it but it never molded on me. It provides moisture but I don't really consider it a completely wet food item. Misting is if you have a dry climate like I do, I have realized without some humidity the molts will be harsher on the roaches.
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
Sorry didnt mean to sound like a jerk. I mix and freeze bug burger after I cut them into little squares. I've also never had it mold over on me. I'm also not sure how to classify it since when I offer it it is wet but also "spongy". I havent noticed any change in the smell of their droppings, I also use to give carrots and this dry food which I got from the roach cafe but keep forgetting to offer it to them now lol
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
I haven't tried to breed them but I believe they have bred since I got them last october but now that it's warming up in CT I'm going to keep an eye on them.
 
Cymmie

Cymmie

New member
They do breed without heat on them, it's just incredibly slow and usually depends on the air temperature then.
 
mrhellboy218

mrhellboy218

Member
Hey so here's an update, I've set up a small colony of 8 mixed dubia's.
2014-05-17 14.48.57.jpg2014-05-17 14.48.45.jpg
At the moment they have oats,cereal as dry food. And a slice of orange and carrot for moisture.
And also have a small heat pad.
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
Is that condensation or did you mist? If its condensation I would just monitor it as that will lead to mold and the death of the roaches.
 
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