Finally, we have Baby Dubias!! Yeah!!!! Now what?

[healthybeardie]

Fourth of July weekend I received 120 mixed nymphs from the Roach Ranch and this afternoon discovered there are little baby dubias scurrying around!!! They look just like rollie-pollies (sp?) and are kind of cute.

Anyway, my dragon is huge (600+ grams, 21 inches) but only 6-1/2 months old. How long should I wait before giving him a sample of one of the male dubias? I think I read somewhere the life cycle of a male is like 9 months, female 18 months??? I'd like to start feeding him before too many die off, as I have already found a couple dead, one male, one female. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

At 600 grams that dragon can eat whatever it wants to.....lol

 

[Trogdorpheus]

You'd probably be ok to feed the males down to a 1:3 ratio with the females. That shouldn't slow down colony growth, but I'd avoid feeding much else. Typically I think people suggest waiting until your second generation is born, ie when your first gen of babies have babies, then you're safe to feed heavily.

 

[healthybeardie]

That's what I thought I heard (2nd generation) but since I only have the one dragon to feed, maybe I'll wait until the babies grow bigger and I see more babies coming before giving a male sample.

 

[dEEjHaY]

It's quite exciting to see babies... I just seperated about 50 females (20 more females are being shipped) And put them into their own bin. This way I'll have a nice healthy ratio of female to males and can feed off the "extras" bin lol.. I'm pretty sure I'll be overrun with dubia within the next couple months. Can't wait! Then I can start selling off extras!~!

 

[healthybeardie]

Okay, I couldnt wait. We threw one in the other day and Woofy DEVOURED it! He actually jumped off his basking spot to go get it. Usually I have to practically "hand feed" him. He's so spoiled.