Dubia Escape!!

[furmanbr]

Hi everyone!
So based on everyones great reviews of dubia roaches, I started my own colony in about November shortly after I brought home my 2 baby beardies, who arent much of babies anymore. Anyway, I went to the home depot and got one of those big plastic bins cut a hole in the top, got some screens from The Roach Guy, duct taped them to the top over the hole, glued some egg cartons together added food (from The Roach Guy) and water crystal dishes and used a CHE during the winter to keep them warm and toasty. Last week when I went to feed them, I noticed a sizable hole in the screen that had clearly been chewed through. I immediately got an extra screen I ordered and taped it on top to ensure no more escapes. Problem is, since then I have been finding roaches in my bedroom. Maybe one every other day or so. My boyfriend is terrified of them and I keep hoping that i'll be the one to spot them and not him.

Is there any way I can lure them out of wherever theyre hiding? It has been pretty warm here so they certainly wont have trouble surviving without being under their heat lamp.

Any Ideas??

Thanks!!!

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

You know for many many years I NEVER had a roach escape by chewing holes in their enclosure until last year when I answered a post on this very board that they'll chew thru screen mesh like crickets. I was like "No Way".... Wouldn't you know it about a week later my Adult Male bin (which had thousands of Males in it) had a sizeable hole in one of the side vents and I had about about 50 males running around The Roach Ranch. So I take back my comment on that thread YES they will chew thru a screen over time if they get up on it.

You can try cutting up an orange or water gel and sitting it out at night. For the most part they're all gonna die. Even if it's warm out they need a constant supply of hydration or they go belly up within a few days.

Good Luck!

 

[Twobeardieguy]

So Ian now we know where the name "roachranch" came from. :laughing6: :wink:

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

So Ian now we know where the name "roachranch" came from. :laughing6: :wink:

LOL! Yeah... I was thinking in the literal sense when I named the company!

 

[Twobeardieguy]

:lol:

 

[furmanbr]

Thanks, Its just a little disconcerting to find roaches around my bedroom... :?

 

[romanfj]

I acquired a hisser colony that came with it's own bin. I have built my dubia bins using aluminum window screen for the vent, which is silver. This bin came with black screen, which is fiberglass. The black fiberglass window screen has since been chewed through. I've never had a hole in the aluminum.

Switch to aluminum and you'll have no further trouble.

Frank

 

[Triage]

I use aluminum screen too...and *crosses finger* have not had one chew out either. I also put boxing tape around the inside of the crate about two inches from the top. I'm not sure how they would have gotten up to the top to chew. Make sure your crates aren't touching the top of the bin also.

Maybe you could run a dehumidifier in the room for a while to speed up the process of them drying out? I don't know...just thinking out loud. ;-)

 

[furmanbr]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I havent found any in a while so Im guessing theyre either all dead in the corners somewhere or Ive found them all.
Where do I get one of those aluminum screens?

 

[Triage]

You can get it from Home Depot, Lowe's...any hardware store should have some.

Chris

 

[moose9]

I use aluminum screen as well and have never had a problem. But like Ian had mentioned, its possible over time. I have had plenty of escapes, between feedings, sorting, cleaning, etc... and have never seen survivors for to long. Another tip for catching escape B. dubia or other roaches, is to set out container(s) of water along a wall. Escapees are attracted to the water and drown, no more escapees.