Dubia Roaches Question-No Breed

[timtr520]

Hello all,
I have a question regarding Dubia Roaches. This is my first time handling and giving them to Smaug (3 years old). I just want to keep them for her food only, not breeding. I tried to search for how to care for the roaches but it always involve breeding. If I get a 100+ Dubia Roaches, I know that i need to feed them with water crystals and the cricket feeders. The question i have is what items should i use to store the roaches and should I get a heat mat or room temperature is fine? Do they multiply quickly like typical cockroaches if one of them get lose into my house? That's what makes me nervous lol.

Thanks guys!

 

[CooperDragon]

The care for them is similar either way. I suggest offering leftover veges and scraps like that. They especially like squash. Orange slices are a good choice for hydration - they love those. Just set up some cardboard tubes in a ventilated bin for them. They will be OK at (warm) room temp if you don't want to breed them. The extra heat makes them more active and breed more quickly. I haven't run into a problem with them escaping but from what I've read they won't really be able to thrive on the loose in your house the way other types of roaches will.

 

[timtr520]

Ok! thank you for you respond!

So it wont be ok if I just use a regular lid and close it? They can die from lack of air? Do I have to add oatmeal as flooring (i did that for superworms)?

Thanks!

 

[CooperDragon]

I would cut vent holes in the lid. If you're using a plastic tote just cut the top and tape some screen/mesh and that should do. I use a glass tank with a metal mesh top. You do want to allow some airflow. There are several ways to go about it. They don't really need substrate. They will produce frass that they bury themselves in. If you provide them with the superworm chow they will probably love eating it. Mine do.

 

[timtr520]

for feeding, is it ok can I use those orange cubes that are use for crickets and those yellow looking jellos (its water for crickets)?

Thanks

 

[BensBeardie]

I think those would be ok. But fresh food scraps would be more beneficial. Don't forget your Beardie is going to eat them in turn.

I'm looking at keeping a similar amount of dubias. I plan on getting a dark tub making a vent in the lid as described above, then using egg crates on their sides, about 2/3 the length. Just a small version of what you have seen in vids. Im not going to heat it,but just keep them at room temp.

 

[CooperDragon]

I'm not a big fan of the flukers cubes. In addition to the fresh veges being more beneficial overall as mentioned, I've seen the cubes cause issues with crickets. I haven't tried feeding them to roaches but when the crickets would start to shed their shells as they grew it was like they were unable to do so and died. Just an observation I made, I'm not sure if it's a widespread thing or isolated but it was enough for me to switch to just using veges (which are generally cheaper anyway).

 

[bandademozcas]

I had 300 in a cricket keeper with a piece of egg carton as long as the cage.
A tray of food and a tray of water crystals.
My dragon got so fat off of them it made me so proud.

 

[kyleena29]

If you only are keeping 100ish I would buy a $1 plastic shoe box with lid. You can either poke holes in the top with a solder iron or cut out a piece and tape/hot glue some screen. You can put toilet paper cores or cut up paper towel cores. Use something small like a lid for the water crystals. If you put moist food in there you don't even need the crystals. I like to feed mine wheat bread, dog food, fruit and squash.

 

[bandademozcas]

I was about to buy $3 dishes at petco when I saw they had small plastic lids for 70 cents at the register. They are perfect