Want to start my own colony

[OzzysMom32]

Hi all!!

I am not sure if this has been posted before if so im sorry! My husband and I are going nuts with the trips back and forth to get crickets and or waiting for our money to come in so we can get feeders online. We want to start our own dubia colony. Could anyone give us pointers on how to start, Like where to get the starters, and all the supplies.. How long it will take to get it going to the point it will sustain our beardie. We only have one baby so we definitely dont need a huge population. Any tips would help!!

Thank you!

 

[ButterflyGirl89]

Most people buy their dubias online from breeders here in the "for sale" section like dubideli, critterfeeders, or hammerhead. Or try craigslist.

Get a big rubbermaid tub with a lid from walmart, lowe's, wherever. around 20+ gallons. cut a large hole in the top of the lid and hot glue screen door or window mesh over the hole. this is for ventilation so the dubia can breathe. use either a human heat pad without "auto shut off" or a ceramic heat emitter bulb for a heat source since for breeding you want it around 84-90.
you probably wanna get at least 30 females and like 15 males plus other sizes (med-large and small) to start off with. the more you can get the better off you'll be. it'll take about 4 months before you can feed out of the colony. there's lots of youtube videos, posts, and sites you can find on google with step by step directions, tips, and even recipes for the food you wanna give them. (most people crush up cat/dog food with fish flakes, oatmeal, and cheerios etc)

Good luck!!