heating dubia roaches

[Andyurgay]

So I tried my hand at a dubia colony. I bought 30 "medium" roaches. Turns out, they were still super young, hardly an half an inch on the largest. I expected that and tried to raise them to breeder size. I fed off the ones not growing and ended up with six 3 inch roaches. No wings. So I assume all female? Its been three months so I was hoping for at least one obvious male. I just decided to feed them off. Lané loved them haha

So I have to wonder if I was given all female, if I didn't wait long enough or I just did not heat it correctly. I know they need high heat but some people have said just leave them in the dark, keep it clean, feed them and they will breed, since Texas is high heat and high humidity. Other places say, pitch dark, super high humidity and around 95 degrees.

So what's up? My roaches shedded wonderfully, grew huge, but never bred. I kept a heat pad on and when I tested the temps, it reached around 90 when the pad was on high. But i don't feel safe leaving a heating pad on all the time. So that leaves a heat lamp or heat tape? If they need darkness to breed, would a basking light ruin that?

 

[Mushuandcricket]

I am having the same problem but I have adult males & females. I think my problem is the humidity. I didn't want to spray daily because I did not want disturb them. I am guessing that is my problem.

 

[cody]

I have a heat pad under the bin thier in. I just finally saw some babies. But I put some papers under the bin to raise it but I'm still getting some areas 100+ measured with a temp gun. I also never see a roach on tha water crystals, but after a wile they dissapear. Idk if their acTully drinking from it

 

[Toni17]

I'm trying to establish a dubia colony and after months of waiting, the little buggers have finally shed. I think have about 5 males and 3 females and still waiting for the others with the final shed.

 

[Mushuandcricket]

I am still waiting too. I purchased adults over a month ago and no babies yet. They are alive and active though.

 

[Toni17]

How long does it take for adults to breed? I have about 7 males now and five females and still waiting for some of the sub-adults to do their final shed.

 

[Andyurgay]

Well I went back to the place I got my last roaches from and they only had tiny ones so I ordered a breeding kit from California Roaches (also phoenix worms, cause why not?) still waiting on it to get here. 100 mixed, 5 male, 5 female. ill be getting some heat tape so we will see.

For humidity I've read that you can put a cup of water in the tank with them, under a heat source, cover the top and let the water evaporate to great humidity that works. But I've never tried it. I'll give it a shot and see. Before I was wetting a paper towel to help them molt and it seemed to help, I found roaches in it all the time and newly molted roaches constantly, but no babies.

This little dragon is eating me out of house and home though so hopefully this kit works. He looooves his roaches. Hopefully I can avoiding feeding them off too since he knows there are roaches in the bin and he gives a look that rivals a begging puppy.

 

[PatsyB]

Yes, little ones eat A LOT! The good thing is that they start to taper off on there own and not eat as much. Also, as they get older, the bugs get bigger so you don't have to feed as many.

 

[Mushuandcricket]

Yes, little ones eat A LOT! The good thing is that they start to taper off on there own and not eat as much. Also, as they get older, the bugs get bigger so you don't have to feed as many.

That is good to know.

 

[PsycoMenace]

I wanna start my dubia colony soon. I think I will buy a Breeeding kit from a online site, And then build myself a nice tubbywear tank for them. I just leave my Smalls right now in ambient temp and spray the tubbywear once or twice a day. I have not had 1 die on me yet. Apocolypse will eat about 100-150 a day. I cant keep up with him so I need to do some breeding and get some babies starting.

 

[Andyurgay]

the kit I bought is working great. The 10 adults did not make it in the shipment, so I'm hoping the other 100 get moving along. I'll Probably go buy another 100 or so from our local supplier to kind of boost my chances. Still havnt gotten heat tape but now that its hot out, and my room gets little to no a/c, I'm hoping it will heat up enough on its own. And having the window open allows the natural Texas humidity to build up in the enclosure as well. No babies so far but I am seeing a lot of molted shells and they seem to be growing a bit.

 

[Toni17]

After months of waiting and adjusting temp and humidity, the Dubias have started to breed. I noticed babies when I sprayed the inside of the tank with water.

 

[Augie]

And having the window open allows the natural Texas humidity to build up in the enclosure as well.

Be careful. You can develop a gnat or fruit fly problem very quickly using that strategy in Texas, especially if you are using water crystals or fruits or veggies. The little buggers can get through some screen windows, and definitely get through the mesh if that's what you are using for ventilation on your bin.

Just wanted to give you some advice; I know how disastrous a fruit fly problem can be from personal experience.