starting a Dubia Colony

[Melody]

I just brought home a new bearded dragon (about 3 months old) from the Sacramento Reptile Show. I also brought home 22 adult Dubia (8 males and 14 females) and 200 mixed juveniles. I have the Dubia in a 10 gallon tank with some water crystals and some veggies. there is a heat pad on the tank. what else do I need to do to get the colony breeding? I have a bunch of crunched up paper towels for them to hide in until i find more egg cartons. What is the best temp for breeding? what should I be feeding them? how much of the water crystals should I have in there? just loose on the floor or in a dish?

There is so much info here on bearded dragon care that I feel all my questions so far have been asked and answered, but i'm still looking for some advice on how to get my Dubia breeding! I just need a colony that can sustain my one Bearded Dragon.
Thanks! Melody

 

[renich]

Hi, Melody and welcome to our forum. I'm glad you have found it useful to you so far.

Here are some links to forum posts regarding dubia care and breeding. Hope this helps. We have a number of members who breed dubias, so I'm sure you're questions will be answered:

Roach Heating Ideas:
http://mybeardie.com/bearded-dragon-forum/index.php/topic,327.msg1635.html#msg1635

Starting a Colony:
http://mybeardie.com/bearded-dragon-forum/index.php/topic,887.0.html

 

[DragonMom]

:-X

 

[zebraflavencs]

The dubia males do have wings, though those wings are not large enough to support their weight in flight.. so no worries there... Also the dubias don't really act like roaches... more like beetles...
Oh, and to support one dragon, from infancy you will need to be able to provide around 75 correctly sized roaches daily...
I tend to buy mine in the thousands
Janie.

 

[DragonMom]

:-X

 

[DragonMom]

:-X

 

[zebraflavencs]

Yes I do indeed keep mine in rubber maid or sterlite containers... and since they don't climb or fly... no lids
I have hardly any losses.. say 1-2 every month, and lots of babies !
I also keep my bins on the tops of my enclosures, the ones that have the MVBs, this keeps the roaches warm enough, and with the oranges and greens, happy!
Janie.

 

[DragonMom]

:-X

 

[zebraflavencs]

Jason formulated his own Chow. Use it... it's good stuff
The oranges stimulate the sex drive of the roaches... Viaaagra
Janie.

 

[DragonMom]

:-X

 

[zebraflavencs]

Then inundate him with information... Show him all the good things that come from feeding and housing these beetles
All in all, you just can't find a better solid feeder insect than dubias
Janie

 

[DragonMom]

:-X

 

[zebraflavencs]

ImHo.... Dat works
Janie

 

[Pinky]

I just need a colony that can sustain my one Bearded Dragon.
Thanks! Melody

Lol..I'm doing the same thing, and have my adults in a tank, with heat, soft lighting, soft music, orange scented candles.....sorry I'm getting carried away ;D!!! Anyway how many roaches (and what size roaches!) should an adult beardie eat a day?? :-\ Jethro has put on a fair bit of weight in the few weeks I have had him, He happily crunches about 8-10 20mm roaches a day, and every week he has a tub of large locusts too, plus greens. Is that enough!?