Dubia roach colony

Mflav · Mar 5, 2020

I recently started to grow my own colony I have them in a dark 20gallon rubber made container. Have 2 reptile heating pads underneath. I need 85-90 degrees in order for breading to happen. My issue is my temps are always fluctuating. One hr it’s 78 and can go as high as 106 which is NOT good waaaay to hot!!! How do I manage to keep constant temps. And yes I am using a digital probe temp gauge

Claudiusx · Mar 5, 2020

Moved by Moderator from General to Feeders

Claudiusx · Mar 5, 2020

Hi there,

is that temperature the bottom of the tub, or the ambient air temp?

I use this for my heating pads:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IDQD32Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The thermostat on it has been very accurate.

-Brandon

Mflav · Mar 5, 2020

I would say ambient temperature the probe is in the middle of my 10 egg crates about halfway down on the hot end of the container

Mflav · Mar 5, 2020

But do you have it stuck on plastic the wattage can’t be too strong otherwise it will melt

Claudiusx · Mar 5, 2020

Yes I have the plastic tub sitting ontop of the heat mat. The heat mat, by the way, is encased in plastic too. A flexible plastic, but it's still plastic. It's only 17 watts.
It's specifically made to have items placed ontop of it.

-Brandon

Claudiusx · Mar 5, 2020

What I'm getting at is it sounds like your setup or your specific heat mats aren't keeping a constant temp. Maybe they have internal circuitry that shuts them on and off. I'd look into a different method of heating, such as what I have used with success.

-Brandon

Mflav · Mar 5, 2020

They are the stock on zoo med ones can u please post again what to order(what u use)

Claudiusx · Mar 5, 2020

This is what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IDQD32Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And I put the thermostat probe just slightly above the bottom, and I have it set to 94. This gets the floor to be around 96 or so, and then there is a gradient up to around 80 higher up the egg crates.

-Brandon

MrSpectrum · Mar 5, 2020

claudiusx":1xkkqwwy said:
I'd look into a different method of heating, such as what I have used with success.

...Or a different method of thermostatic control. I've got a thermostatically-controlled muffin fan w/ probe keeping my enclosure at the correct ambient. It turns on @90°F and off @ 88°F (but it could be set at any temps). A similar control could turn heating mats on & off (instead of a fan). I got the system at https://www.coolerguys.com/ They were very helpful understanding what I wanted to do, and helping specify components. The whole system IIRC was around $60 including the fan & some nonessential extras (which you don't need).

Mflav · Mar 7, 2020

Brandon my new heat mat came today that you told me to order I cannot figure out how to change it over to Fahrenheit setting directions aren’t very clear any suggestions

Claudiusx · Mar 7, 2020

I believe you just hold the button down for a few seconds. Let me check on mine.

-Brandon

Claudiusx · Mar 7, 2020

Yup, hold the up button for a few seconds

-Brandon

MrSpectrum · Mar 7, 2020

claudiusx":b361x0ge said:
Yup, hold the up button for a few seconds

But... doesn't that launch ALL the missiles? :shock:

Mflav · Mar 7, 2020

Thank you and what temperature should I have it set at I was thinking about 90°? I am trying to breed I have 12 adult females and 7 males Ready to Create a family LOL I have the temperature probe about 3 inches from the bottom of container what should that read as well?

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