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Started my dubia colony.

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
So I ordered 200 mixed dubia and they should be here Thursday or Friday! Im using a 66qt bin and cut a 7" square with wire mesh in the lid on one side. I have the egg crate stacked and ready to go. I even made my own roach food out of high protein dog food, oats, brown sugar and koi pellets.

I do have a question. I'm using a 40 watt red thermo bulb for heat and it is measuring 105 at the top of the egg crate and 96 in the middle on one side. The other is in the 80s. Is this too hot or am I okay?
 

gilliesexotics

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
833
Location
Indiana
Hi, yes that is a bit warm. Try to keep the ambient in the 80's or 90's. Some heat tape or a heat mat would be a better choice.

If i may offer a bit of a recommendation/suggestion. Gut loading with dog food and fish food isnt great for your feeders and most importantly your animal. It is ok from time to time but not recommended for everyday use. The issue is with the preformed vitamins and animal protein content. I would also stay completely away from anything with white sugar (brown sugar) or even cane.

Something to build off of and makes a lot.
Corn meal
Rye flour
Oats
Alpha alpha powder

Now the next ingredients, you will actually just put in like a cup (if you are using 1-2 lb bags of the ingredients above) . Some of these ingredients are expensive in bulk but will last a long time.
Spirulina
Bee pollen
Boab tree fruit (powder)
Tumeric (powder)
Marigold (dried)
Red pepper (powder)
Wheat Germ
Plain phosphorus free calcium
 

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
Hi, yes that is a bit warm. Try to keep the ambient in the 80's or 90's. Some heat tape or a heat mat would be a better choice.

If i may offer a bit of a recommendation/suggestion. Gut loading with dog food and fish food isnt great for your feeders and most importantly your animal. It is ok from time to time but not recommended for everyday use. The issue is with the preformed vitamins and animal protein content. I would also stay completely away from anything with white sugar (brown sugar) or even cane.

Something to build off of and makes a lot.
Corn meal
Rye flour
Oats
Alpha alpha powder

Now the next ingredients, you will actually just put in like a cup. Some of these ingredients are expensive in bulk but will last a long time.
Spirulina
Bee pollen
Boab tree fruit (powder)
Tumeric (powder)
Marigold (dried)
Red pepper (powder)
Wheat Germ


Well I'm glad I have not feed it yet. I saw a lot of people feeding this recipe so I figured I would try it. I'm glade a only made 4 cups.

Thank you.

Also for the heat tape. Will it melt the clear plastic bin? Can I use a under tank heater?
 

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
Under the tank heater would work great. Heat tape wont melt it but it should be used with a thermostat.
The tub is 16.5 gallons. The Zilla pad for 5-7 gallons is plastic safe. The 10-15 gallon heat pad says not to. Do u think the small 4 watt would be enough?
 

gilliesexotics

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
833
Location
Indiana
I would use the 10-15g or even the next size up. I have used the extra large UTH under my totes with no problems. :)
 

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
I'm only feeding one dragon. They are sending me 401/4 401/2 40 3/4 40 1- 1 1/2 " dubia. How long should I wait to start feeding out of it?
 

gunkle

Hatchling Dragon
3 Year Member
Messages
84
Location
Manchester, Ct
Hi, yes that is a bit warm. Try to keep the ambient in the 80's or 90's. Some heat tape or a heat mat would be a better choice.

If i may offer a bit of a recommendation/suggestion. Gut loading with dog food and fish food isnt great for your feeders and most importantly your animal. It is ok from time to time but not recommended for everyday use. The issue is with the preformed vitamins and animal protein content. I would also stay completely away from anything with white sugar (brown sugar) or even cane.

Something to build off of and makes a lot.
Corn meal
Rye flour
Oats
Alpha alpha powder

Now the next ingredients, you will actually just put in like a cup (if you are using 1-2 lb bags of the ingredients above) . Some of these ingredients are expensive in bulk but will last a long time.
Spirulina
Bee pollen
Boab tree fruit (powder)
Tumeric (powder)
Marigold (dried)
Red pepper (powder)
Wheat Germ
Plain phosphorus free calcium
Quick question? are you saying to use 1-2lbs each of the first 4 items or is that a pick one kinda list? What kind of shelf life / storage for this mix? I'm considering making my own since the last batch i bought smells strong of dog food.


OP. - as far as how long till you can feed off of it depends on what size you need and how many. I started with 40 adult female and 15 adult male and a couple hundred mixed sizes in August and my colony is still not ready to feed off of more than an occasional roach here or there. I have a second bin of feeders I bought online. It takes like 4 or so months for these guys to mature and at least a month before they pop out new babies after that. Think about how many your BD eats per day multiply that by 30 and you will need to see that many babies being born every month. Dont forget you need to let some grow to adulthood to keep up with reproducing. I now have about 200 babies in the colony but they are too small for my fat guy. I'm letting the few bigger ones grow to start reproducing. Hope that helped a little...

Just noticed you didn't get any adults so its gonna take like 2 months minimum before you start seeing any new babies most likely
 

gilliesexotics

Super Moderator
Staff member
Messages
833
Location
Indiana
Quick question? are you saying to use 1-2lbs each of the first 4 items or is that a pick one kinda list? What kind of shelf life / storage for this mix? I'm considering making my own since the last batch i bought smells strong of dog food.

We personally use a 1-2lb bags of each. Not sure what the shelf life is. Id suggest putting the mix in tupperware container and to even increase the self life even more keep in a cool place.
 

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
So they showed up today and the dang mail man left them in the mail box. Anyways only one died. I'm supposed to have a nice mix of 40 of each size and I hardly have any adults. I have one male and that's it. Not too impressed. But 200 for 32 bucks isn't that bad I guess. I'm going to have to wait a few months and probably order some more from a different site.
 

milo0

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
92
You can feed them the dog food mix... that plus heat is the main thing encouraging growth for these guys. You shouldn't feed them any of this however when you're about to feed some off. I always pick out the ones I'm feeding off a day or two prior to feeding, and I give them greens, veggies, and things my beardie would eat. You want a high protein food, otherwise they won't grow properly.

I used high protein dog food, oats, fish flakes, and cereal (they love sugary kind) and grounded it up. I noticed they started getting bored with it though, so last night I made a new mix of cat food, corn flakes, and fish flakes and today, most of it was gone. So I think I've found cat food is more effective overall, and they seem to love it.

Yes, 105 is a bit high especially if there's not enough ventilation. Aim for 90-95 with the cool side, almost similar to that of a BD enclosure. Make sure your humidity is proper or you'll have shedding problems- but I've never run into that problem. Supply them with oranges, veggie scraps, or water crystals and they should be fine.


If I were you, I'd let them grow large enough to be able to 'sex' them, then keep 75 females 25 males to mature into adults, and feed the other 100 off. You need a ratio of 3 females to 1 male to prevent territory problems, so taking the time to sex them properly will save you from future problems.
 

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
I've had them since Thursday and have already lost 22 bugs. The did seem lath argue when I got them. Hopefully it will stop. Unfortunately one was the male.
 

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
Ok well now I have roaches coming out of my ears and my bd doesn't seem to have much interest in the dubia. she has eaten 3 but that's it. I have 5 loose in her tank now and she hasn't touched them in 2 days. What gives? Is there a trick in switching from Crix to dubia?
 

davedragon10

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
70
Lol... no trick. Just let ur beardie know thats all thats available now.

I just saw this thread. What are u raising the roaches in
 

tj4x4fun

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
107
They are in a sterilite 66qt tub with a 40watt red heat bulb and water crystals for humidity. Feeding them blended dog food, greens, oats and fish food.
 

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