How do you keep tiniest dubia nymphs in the enclosure?

[thelonelyzombie]

I started my colony about 3 months ago. The females are laying their live egg babies now and it seems no matter what I do to the enclosure they still are climbing out and crawling all over the lid. Only the tiny little white babiest nymphs are getting out, but like 10,000 of them it seems are getting out! Does anyone have any suggestions to keep them in? Will they be able to survive in my basement with out their enclosure? It's getting down to about 60 at night here in Seattle lately.

 

[littleman94]

Line your container with clear packaging tape they ant climb up that. Vaseline works to but it dries out so id stick with the tape...

 

[Sauzo]

I too just use a strip of packing tape around the top of the breeder bin. The little ones when they rarely do climb, will climb up to the tape line and then sit there or go back down.

 

[Soulwind]

I started my colony about 3 months ago. The females are laying their live egg babies now and it seems no matter what I do to the enclosure they still are climbing out and crawling all over the lid. Only the tiny little white babiest nymphs are getting out, but like 10,000 of them it seems are getting out! Does anyone have any suggestions to keep them in? Will they be able to survive in my basement with out their enclosure? It's getting down to about 60 at night here in Seattle lately.

If you're getting that many climbers, then either you've got the wrong kind of bin (ie a bin with textured sides rather than smooth sides) or they aren't Dubia (lobster and discoid roaches are very good climbers, dubia typically aren't).

But, yes, a 3-4 inch strip of the clear packing tape near the top of the bin should discourage any climbers.

 

[Sauzo]

Also if that many are trying to crawl out, is something wrong with the enclosure maybe? I mean in my colony I have seen maybe 3-4 try to climb up and really only see any trying to climb when I disturb them or during cleaning time. Otherwise I almost never have any little ones trying to climb...except on top of the big ones during times when I throw in a few slices of white bread :lol:

 

[dociledragons]

Yes, there are two type of totes. some have a smooth inside but some are slightly rough while others are very smooth like the clear totes.. I suspect you have the wrong type.

 

[Sauzo]

I use the 45 gallon roughneck Rubbermaid tote which small nymphs can climb easy but as I said above, they almost never actually try to climb unless i'm cleaning or messing with the whole bin. The actually spend most of their time either buried in the chicken mash or inside the egg cartons. Just use a strip of packing tape about 1 or 2 inches down from the top of the bin and you should be fine.

 

[thelonelyzombie]

I did have the wrong enclosure tote. Here's what I've changed to make my roach colony super pro.

1. Was using Opaque textured blue tote Now in glass aquarium
2. Was dangling heat mats between egg flats Now heating from the bottom of tank
3. Added insulated lid that mashes tightly to the aquarium
4. Added more water crystals to improve humidity
5. Added double stick tape around the inside of enclosure.
- You all were suggesting regular packing tape, but I wanted to try double stick tape because I had already tried vasoline in the blue totes and it didn't keep them down.

Side notes: MOST IMPORTANT: NO more tiny baby egg nymphs coming out! Also I know I have dubias and not another type of roach. I did my homework some before this endeavor .

It's starting to get below 60 degrees over night now here in Seattle so if all those baby sand size peewees are loose in my basement, then they're going to die soon due to the fall temperatures approaching. At least that's what I'm hoping for!

Thank you for helping me!

Fully pro style basement roach/lizard station. Special thanks to my most wonderful husband for building me the shelves and making us a spot in his garage!

Enclosure Lid, nice insulated lid made from duct tape, plastic bags and the screened lid that came with the tank.

Enclosure opened: Extra water crystals to improve humidity. A special treat for photo day - a slice of white bread and some kale!

Inside the enclosure

Dubia's up close

 

[Sauzo]

Nice. Yeah i'm in Seattle too and it is getting colder. I had an escaped large nymph due to me dropping one on the couch and it making a beeline between the cushions and in the process of trying to catch it, I ended pushing it down farther....long story short, I found it like 3 days later chilling on the top of the arm of the couch :lol: Now the reptile room is around 75 degrees so that's why he lived but was just kinda funny. Anyways, I just flushed him since I had no idea whether he's gotten into any chemicals. Personally I wouldn't use double backed tape since if the nymphs climb on it, they might get adhered to it and die. The spots to watch for in a glass tank are the corners since they will climb the silicon sealer. Other than that, looks good. The blue totes under the tank almost look like the ones i'm using except mine are grey. And yes they LOVE white bread. Mine will demolish 3 slices in just over an hour. It's like a horror movie when they come pouring out of the egg cartons :lol: Oh forgot to ask, do yours actually eat kale? I've tried collard and mustard greens and mine will only nibble on it vs stuff like apples, oranges, bananas, bread and the chicken mash they all go crazy over.

 

[littleman94]

Everything looks great! Especially the insulation I'm sure that will help up north. I know garages get cold. But the double sided tape might trap some of the roaches especially the smaller ones but I'm not really sure on this so maybe someone else will or you will just be able to notice it yourself. Either way I'm sure its not a big problem.

 

[thelonelyzombie]

Yeah, they might get stuck. I'll put plain packing tape just below the double stick. Then if they make it past the plain packing they won't go past the double stick for sure. But at least this way they have a chance to not be captured by the tape.