Dubia heating

[popsickle18]

Hello everyone. I am sorry to ask this again, I just asked in the "dubia know it alls" thread. I didn't want my question to get lost.

I just realized the temp in my dubia bin was too low. I don't think they were breeding. On the upside, they have been eating well and living haha. I already have an under the tank heater, branded for reptile use. Since that was not hot enough I just put a red light heat bulb over them to increase the heat in the tank. I had this red light left over from before. So my question is does red light annoy the roaches? I could always pick up a ceramic heat emitter if I need to. I just want these suckers to breed so I can start feeding them off! Kenny loves them!!!

Thank you for all the help!

 

[Baldwin]

From what I have read online, the red light does not seem to bother them.

 

[millerracing81]

I use a heat pad and a red light as well. The red light does not seem to bother them at all. If the room is dark I can peek right in the bin and watch them eating and interacting as if it were pitch black. However, if I block the light or cast a shadow they will react.

 

[ju5t1n]

I used a strip of flex watt heat tape with a thermostat and probe. I bought the heat tape because I have a couple bins setup.

-Justin

 

[popsickle18]

Thanks everyone for the responses! I wish I could find a heating pad in stores without the automatic shutoff feature

 

[Sauzo]

Just use a reptile heating mat like a Zoo Med one with a lamp dimmer from Home Depot or Lowes. A lot of people use those as well as I do too. I thought about the light on top or a ceramic heater but from the times of keeping that stuff on reptiles, I've noticed it dries the air out in the cage a lot where as it seems UTH don't dry the air nearly as bad. Those that are using a bulb or ceramic heater, you notice any bad molts or extra work at keeping 50%+ humidity? Cause I've read people say that humidity is a bigger factor than heat to get crazy breeding within reason of course(keeping them at 70 degrees with 50% humidity obviously wouldn't make them breed like crazy).

 

[icelore]

I use a light and don't have a problem with humidity. The only time it dips low is if I have the a/c in my house on high and need to provide extra heat...then it dries them out some. I usually just cover half of their bin then (usually it's open top) and dump in some fruit.

 

[popsickle18]

I have a small 20 gal zoomed tank heater under the bin. I also have a 75wat bulb on top for the day time. I set the lamp up to the same timer that my dragon's lights are timed with. The bulb is the new adjustment to being the temp up because I don't think the 20 gal tank mat was doing a good enough job. I am concerned about the winter and the temp change in my house. It can get pretty chilly.

Thank you everyone for the info! I just hope these little guys can breed soon. They seem to be eating well and they are plenty active when I check on them.