All dubia owners please respond :)

[prowler996]

Why are you using lighting?


I use under tank heaters and have had great success.

They dont need that much humidity. They get moisture from the fruits and vegetables. Mist occasionally.

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

Why are you using lighting?


I use under tank heaters and have had great success.

They dont need that much humidity. They get moisture from the fruits and vegetables. Mist occasionally.

I looked back over the post to find out the lighting you are refering to. I think that they were using either an infared light or CHE element. Not sure which but yes, you are correct. No light at all, makes happy roaches!

-Ian
http://www.theroachranch.com

 

[prowler996]

I use undertank heating mats and then have an all glass enclosure that is masked off.

Using plastic tubs or glass is irrelevant. The lighting sources are not right. Use undertank heating with glass. If your using some plastic tubs... you will need a heat (not light) emitting bulb. But this is not optimal... use the heat pads with a glass tank.

I could go into more detail but let me say that my colony is about as healthy and ravenous as they come.

Undertank heat, glass enclosure with mesh lid, mist maybe once a week. Feed lots of fruits and veggies and dont use that gel water crap. Its worthless.

 

[prowler996]

I also use organic dog food and oatmeal in a blender to make my own roach feed.

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

I use undertank heating mats and then have an all glass enclosure that is masked off.

Using plastic tubs or glass is irrelevant. The lighting sources are not right. Use undertank heating with glass. If your using some plastic tubs... you will need a heat (not light) emitting bulb. But this is not optimal... use the heat pads with a glass tank.

I could go into more detail but let me say that my colony is about as healthy and ravenous as they come.

Undertank heat, glass enclosure with mesh lid, mist maybe once a week. Feed lots of fruits and veggies and dont use that gel water crap. Its worthless.

Water Gel is a must. It doesn't harbor mold, and allows the roaches to walk on it w/o drowning (especially the babies) Fruits and Vegetables are an excellent source for hydration as well, you are correct. And no you shouldn't mist a colony at all as it can and will eventually cause mold in the cracks of your egg crates. If you have to mist a colony to keep humidity at the correct parameters than you are doing something wrong.

A Sterilite tub is 10 x's better than a glass aquarium. ESPECIALLY if you live in more arid parts of the country. The humdity and temps in Florida are totally different than most other places around the country. A plastic Sterilite bin holds humidity and temperatures a lot better than glass aquariums.

If someone is using a glass aquarium than yes, I would do exactly as you have. Mask it off, paint it flat black on the outside, and use a heat mat. And most people on here use human heat pads on their Sterilite Tubs already. I'm still not seeing where anyone said anything about using a light. I think we cleared up in the first page of comments that roaches dig the dark and don't need any lighting whatsoever. A CHE is a heat emitting bulb and an Infared Light doesn't put out visible light to roaches. Both are used as non light emitting heat elements in various facets of the reptile hobby.

I'm not second guessing that you've got a great colony of roaches going, however you have more options being that Florida is more temperate and humid than most parts of the country.

-Ian
http://www.theroachranch.com

 

[clear]

I also try to keep some type of produce in with the roaches but one big problem I have encountered is that it does attract fruit flies and gnats. Fresh or rotten food usually does if its sitting out for a short while. Another thing you need to do is every once in a while check for dead bodies. They wont harm the other roaches but they will also attract flies.

I wished there was an easier way of counting roaches but I found out that going by weight wasnt a great idea either. A mid size dubia on empty stomach will weigh less than one with a full stomach (yes 1 gram matters when you are using weight for over 100 count).

 

[Vallone188]

mine are in a big plastic bin i use water crystals and just a exo-terra heat pad under the side with my egg crates. and they breed like crazy and i dont measure my temps

 

[ajkry2]

For those of you with a heat pad. Do you set it on low, medium, or high? I just got a heat pad, and I have it on medium -- just started the heat pad today... I have it on half of the bin to maintain a temp gradient.

 

[Momto3boys]

I use a human heat bad and had it on medium for a while but I found since it's getting ALOT colder outside, my house isnt staying as warm so I upped it to high, I also have a screen on top about 8" x 8" and I covered half of it with a blanket to keep more warmth in....

 

[ajkry2]

Thanks

Is it touching the whole heating pad, or is it raised up a bit? I have mine about half an inch between the pad and the sterilite container...

 

[Vallone188]

Here is my input ,what the roach guy said.

 

[Momto3boys]

I have my roach bin set right on top of the heat mat....Ive never checked temps but it still isnt getting hot enough, I am half tempted to try something else for some extra added heat!!

 

[ajkry2]

Ive never checked temps but it still isnt getting hot enough

how do ya know its not getting hot enough if ur not checkin the temps? just curious

 

[Momto3boys]

LOL cause it doesnt feel warm....and all my roaches are huddled on that side of the bin, there might be 10 on the cooler side at any given time, so Im thinking they want some more heat :wink: I could easily take the temp, ahaha I guess I should try that before saying its not warm enough but Im just thinkin its not...

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

You'd also be surprised by how much heat and moisture that they create in larger groups. You can literally feel it when you stick your hand into their tubs. Absolutely amazing.

-Ian
http://www.theroachranch.com