Dubia = Cannibals?

[unkempt1]

The title says it all. I don't mean well-fed and hydrated roaches, I mean just in general. Will the older ones eat the nymphs? I feed my roaches at least three times a week, usually four or five (I refill the chow twice a week and offer fruits/veggies at least twice a week). Water crystals usually twice a week, but any time they are close to being gone.

I ask because I read a post that made mention of cannibalism, but I haven't read anything like that in the care sheets I have read. I'm concerned because my colony seems to be growing and shrinking, and I keep the adults and nymphs together. If this is true, I may need to have a stricter schedule on separating them. Let me know!

 

[sweetiepie9]

I think what they're meaning is that dead dubia are eaten by the colony. I find just exoskeltons of dead roaches that have been pushed outside of the colony. Baby roaches are very well taken care of until they're pretty well adults, which is why I never separate the babies, juvies from the adults, ever. I just pick out what I need for my dragons to feed them. I also make sure their chow, veggies, fruits are replaced when done, my colony love oranges, they go through 2 if not 3 oranges a week. I just cut in quarters and they just dive in. I really enjoy by dubia colony, they're so much easier to care for than crickets, plus they don't smell, can't get out of their tank (they live in a 20 gallon tank) and my dragons love them & thrive on them.