Dubias Hording Food?

[beardsmith]

Every time I put any food in my dubia tub, it disappears almost instantly. I put a shallow lid with roach chow in, and it disappeared overnight. I put 10 pieces of cat food in, and the next morning it was completely gone, 10 more and that was gone that afternoon. The next day I put some diced pears in, and by morning it was gone. This is a small colony I just got a few weeks ago. There are only about 60 - 70 bugs total so I don't think they are eating it that fast. Last time I cleaned their tub, I found pieces of things I put in, and lots of roach chow, that they dragged into the middle of their egg crates.

My concern about this hording activity, is when I feed them something that can rot/mold and they drag it into their crates, how can I be sure it won't harm them? I know I am not supposed to disturb them in their crates unless necessary. I can't just tear their crates apart every day and look for uneaten food.

 

[beardsmith]

Spelling boo boo - hoarding

 

[clear]

I always make sure they have plenty of dry food. Moist food is only a treat for my roaches, they have water crystals if they need moisture.

 

[beardsmith]

Good thought. I always have a full bowl of water crystals, and dry food, so maybe I won't worry about giving them anything that can mold. Maybe I will cut an apple in half, at least that would be too large for them to carry off.

 

[beardiebandit]

if i want my roaches to have fruit i will just take a banana and cut it in half longways and leave it in the peel. they cant drag it away and it doesnt leave any slimy stuff behind and they LOVE them!!! just remove the peel when they have stripped it bare. which usually doesnt take long! loL! good luck!

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

That's pretty funny. I'd give them bigger pieces. Here's what I think is happening. When a colony goes into a feeding frenzy they tend to pile up on the food. Well a bunch of roaches on a piece of pear or cat food will send that thing rolling. I've witnessed them get under a lid of crystals and actually move the thing. It happens more w/ the med. to large nymphs. When they get a piece of food off that feeding apparatus it just goes where the feeding frenzy goes.

Deeper dish would be my advice.

-Ian