Dubia size feeding question

[1happymommy]

Okay my dragon is 5 months, 16.5", and weighs 256g I think he's a big boy but I don't have anything to compare him with. Is it safe for him to eat the larger nymphs? If so how many at a feeding?

I just don't get enough of the smaller ones to actually fill him up. I'm trying to let them grow to about a 1/2" but it takes forever.

Now I have fed him the large nymphs but only giving him 2-3 at a time. He poops everyday so can I feed them to him?
He loves them.

 

[WAFisherman]

a 16 1/2 incher should be able to easily handle the adult males. If they are not wider than the space between the eyes, you are good. Mine is 14 inches and she has eaten a few almost full sized male dubias just fine.

Just be sure you are not feeding your beardie the females....

 

[1happymommy]

Well I have a ton of females. I have had my colonies since September.I'm sure I have at least 800-1000 roaches if not more. I'm afraid to feed him the males at this time they seem so big. Unless there is another reason I should not feed them off.
How many do you think I could give at one feeding?

 

[patrickb]

One thing to keep in mind, male dubias seem a lot larger than they are because of their wings. Remove the wings and you will see that are actually a bit smaller than female dubia usually. I agree, he should be able to handle the adult males at this point, and they serve no purpose in the colony other than having a few around to keep the females fertilized. Start off feeding him a small number (2-3 per a day) and watch the poops. If everything comes out ok, increase the numbers. You should be fine.

 

[1happymommy]

There is no waaaay I could take off the wings. I'm not really a squimish person but I wouldn't even know how. Pull or cut?

 

[patrickb]

Well, I am not really recommending you pull the wings off. I have heard of some wing parts not being digested before, but the idea was that underneath the wings, there isn't as much roach as you think there is. The males look a lot more impressive size wise than they really are.

If you just had to remove the wings, pulling or cutting either way wouldn't matter. Insects have a rudimentary nervous system and don't feel pain like we do. If I get time tomorrow, I will take some pics of male dubias with and without wings aside female dubias to give ya an idea of what I am talking about. You shouldn't worry about having to rip off their wings, it was just a way to convey the relative size of the roach versus its appearance.