New Dubia Roach Colony!

[PoppyDear]

After many failed attempts at breeding crickets I have made the transition to Roaches! I picked up 100 nymphs as feeders and 20 mature females and 10 males for $40. A few were already carrying babies and I just had some born as you can see in the photo!



I want to make sure I will have success at continuing to breed by telling you my setup, I am open to any advice! I currently have a ten gallon tank with a UTH and a bit of paper towel above it so I don't cook the roaches until I get a thermostat. The food stays opposite the UTH with a variety of fruit, grains and water crystals. I use a bunch of fast food drink holders that I just come in and pick up as well as the cardboard inside paper towel rolls and toilet paper for hides. Here is the setup!





So far my Crestie and Leos love them! I also cleaned out the cage today and noticed one dubia who wasn't moving much, very lethargic but looks fine. I know some die offs are normal but this dubia was exhibiting odd behavior by raising her rear end and shimying her back legs. I care for all my animals, including my feeders, I seperated her from the rest and put her in a little critter keeper (With a hide, food and water crystals) in hopes that she will perk up soon. So I wanted to know what you guys do with sick dubia, if anything?

I feel bad leaving her in there so if she does die at least she's comfortable.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi PoppyDear ~

Good for you!

Are you using one of those IntelliTemp heat mats? What are the instructions for ventilation?

The Zoo Med heat mats always say to elevate the tank a little at the corners (with 1-2 small tiles) to prevent heat build up which could be dangerous.

but this dubia was exhibiting odd behavior by raising her rear end and shimying her back legs.

:idea:: She could be prepping to have babies!

I keep my dubia in a 10 gallon at basically a little over room temp. Right now I'm using a 15 watt bulb overhead on 24/7.

Kyle Holtmeyer created a self cleaning roach bin: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...dubia-roach-set.html?highlight=cleaning+dubia

Click here for more ideas: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...ckets-blaptica-dubia-hornworms-silkworms.html

 

[PoppyDear]

I bought a Zoo Med heat mat, so far it is working well! It came with some little feet which I have attatched, though I find that they don't stick on very well! I hope that witb the tank resting on them that they will adhere better soon. If not I plan on making a custom 1/2" stand or just using tile.

The colony is doing well, much better now with the heat! Unfortinately the female died, I supect it was just the natural die off a colony has as the rest are fine.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Cymmie]

You need a lot more egg cartons or cardboard whatever you want to use with the amount of roaches you have to make plenty of territory for the males to claim. I would usually recommend a larger enclosure and an opaque storage bin because they do better with complete darkness and will show more stress symptoms in the set up you have them in now. As far as emergency care for sick roaches, feed sugary fruits, like orange and I recommend smearing a tiny/thin layer of local unpasturized honey on it to give them a quick pick me up. I do it with my sick females and sometimes roughed up males.

 

[PoppyDear]

Thanks for the reply!

I keep them in the basement in a closet where it is pitch black, I know the light stresses them! The room with the closet usualy has the lights off all day, if we ever turn them on no light can get into the closet anyways. I just turned the lights on to get a good photo. I will add more cardboard, I am looking to get some egg crates, I just need to find a bakery or something of the like to pick some up.

How much die off do you get per month/week that is normal? Next time I have a sick roach I will try your idea! I have some unpasturized honey I originallu bought for my crestie!

 

[Cymmie]

Ummm as far as adults, none die on a monthly basis... they die maybe on a yearly basis if they are from an older generation and then I will have about 20 or so die, but I have thousands of roaches in my colony. If you can't find anything like bakery etc to pick up the egg flats you can buy them on ebay but don't pay more than .10 for a single egg flat.

Adult females can live to be 2 years old as long as they are being fed well and stress is low, males live around 1-1.5 years. This is when they reach adulthood.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Another free egg flat resource is a restaurant that serves lots of breakfasts.

For a 10 gallon take 5 flats. Trim them a little so they fit "standing" vertically. That allows feces to fall to the ground. Then position them front-to-front, back-to-back, front-to-front, et cetera. This gives dubia many nooks and crannies in which to hide.

Layer a paper towel on top of the egg flats for moisture. I spray the paper towel just about once a day.