Baby beardie & Dubia roaches

[nvielbig]

Hi All,

I purchased my Beardie approx 3 weeks ago. Up until now, I have fed him/her crickets and mustard greens.

The crickets are now getting to the point where they smell, are dead and just all around annoying.

After doing some research, it sounds like the Dubia Roaches are the preferred feeder insect among many owners, and I was wanting to gets some answers for a few things before I change from crickets to roaches.

1. Baby beardies can only eat the baby roaches, the ones that have grown up too much are too large for a baby beardie to consume. If I buy roaches, will there always be enough of a supply of babies for me to feed my beardie? Basically a question of their reproduction rate versus my beardie's consumption rate.
2. Is there any reason I would not want to transition to roaches are this moment, instead of Crickets?
3. Can I use my existing cricket keeper for the roaches?

Any other information you provide is also appreciated as I am pretty much brand new to beardies, and roaches.

Thanks!

 

[Candybugs]

I think the rule is as long as the bug is smaller than the space between the eyes of the dragon. Nutritionally I don't know a reason why you would need to wait. If your buying dubias in person you can be sure of the size. If your ordering online you may get some bigger ones that aren't an option for food but could be used to build a colony. They are so clean and quiet compared to crickets. And no runaways.

 

[nvielbig]

Right, that does sound like the golden rule from what I have read.

I am wondering if the roaches will immediately be able to sustain my beardie, or if I will need to wait for them to produce some babies.

Several websites offer "starting kits", typically containing 2-5 adult females/males. I would then need to buy some extra small roaches for him to start eating right away.

 

[Candybugs]

You'll need to know how long the breeding cycle takes to produce and buy little ones in the meantime.

 

[Candybugs]

Post a pic of your little guy.

 

[Candybugs]

This is Hef he just got done with brumation he didn't eat from mid October until 1 week ago. And this blew my mind when I found out they have a 3rd eye on top of their heads it's like a lens to know if they're being sneaked up on. You should look up brumation too. They need a fecal test before they go down for winter. I didn't know but got lucky this time. Just a little random info and a fun fact.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Right, that does sound like the golden rule from what I have read.

I am wondering if the roaches will immediately be able to sustain my beardie, or if I will need to wait for them to produce some babies.

Several websites offer "starting kits", typically containing 2-5 adult females/males. I would then need to buy some extra small roaches for him to start eating right away.

How big is your little one??
Yep roaches are edible thru their entire lifespan only the adults have a small amount of shell but it is still edible. Yes the rule of thumb is correct and is best for reducing the chance of choking..
You want to your main colony and you really need to leave them be for 6-8 weeks for them to settle and start producing. so having enough to span that time so not to disturb the breeding colony. An adult female will have 20-30 nymphs a month. So once they are producing you will be fine and they should be self sustaining... and they are soo nutritious 1 dubia = 5 crickets! and you can gut load them easier as their gi tract is long so the nutrients stay in them longer.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Right, that does sound like the golden rule from what I have read.

I am wondering if the roaches will immediately be able to sustain my beardie, or if I will need to wait for them to produce some babies.

Several websites offer "starting kits", typically containing 2-5 adult females/males. I would then need to buy some extra small roaches for him to start eating right away.

Yes you want a 3:1 ratio female to male a small colony that should be fine as it will take 6 months for a female to become of age. so make sure when you feed from your colony spread it throughout the sizes..

 

[firehawk0285]

1. They stay small for at least a couple of months. Unless you buy several month's worth, they should be good.
2. You like smelly crickets that escape all the time, make tons of noise, and die quickly. Lol. Seriously, dubias are great.
3. A cricket carrier is fine for an appropriate quantity. If they die mid-molt, then you need more humidity.

Check out discountdubias.com for great prices on dubias.