I've seen a number of statements thrown out and I wonder if they are really true or just something that's been passed along so often, or are found on Wikipedia, people assume they are true. I'm hoping there are some members out there who can verify through personal experience whether some of these statements are fact or fiction, or clarify some of the statements.
Thanks in advance! Hopefully some others will post additional statements they question.
Why I question this: Since the gestation period is 28 days, that would mean the females are not pregnant for only about 2-3 days per month. Furthermore, if I received 35 adult females from a breeder who keeps them in an ideal setting, at least 30 should be pregnant at some stage and I should see a new set of babies on average almost every day (or dropped egg sacks). I've never heard of anyone experiencing that kind of production.Female Dubia produce 20-40 nymphs per month.
Why I question this: Are people taking into account the gestation period? The stories I read go along the lines of "I didn't see any babies until I fed them oranges." I've never read, "I finally saw babies 30 days after feeding them oranges." I fed oranges but the adults barely touched it.Oranges are roach viagra.
Since Dubia are found among decaying matter in the wild, and prefer a climate suitable to mold growth, wouldn't they be used to mold? Would it need to be something that would have to overtake the egg cartons to really wipe them out?Mold will destroy a colony.
How big of a colony do you have to have before you should be concerned about the heat from the colony affecting the bin temperature, and is this a colony of adults, nymphs or mixed? Obviously, bin size and ambient temperatures matter, too.Dubia produce heat.
They seem especially bothered by movement and shadows cast over them. Can Dubia adapt to light as a heat source (no moving shadows)? If you can't have the ideal dark, high eighties enclosure, is it better to have it dark and upper 70's to low 80's or light and upper 80's to low 90's?Dubia thrive in darkness./Ideal breeding temperatures are 85-95F.
How much territory does an adult need/acquire, in terms of egg crate real estate?Males are territorial./Bins can hold thousands of Dubia.
They grow from 0.2cm as a baby to 4.5cm as an adult. Is it safe to say that after one month, the nymphs should be at least 0.75cm? I would like a way to monitor how many nymphs are produced per month. About approximately how long would it take for a nymph to grow to 2cm?Dubia take 4-6 months to reach adulthood.
Thanks in advance! Hopefully some others will post additional statements they question.