My all weather outdoor Dubia breeder box (pics).

[danab]

Just thought I would share pics of my outdoor breeder box for feeders that is in my garage. I started with Crickets and now it houses my dubias. The core is a custom fabricated all metal cricket growing box (My super score and the only thing I have ever bought off CL). I insulated the outside with styrofoam panels and white duct tape from Home Depot. The bottom is lined with slate for heat retention. There are two openings on the sides that I have styrofoam inserts for air that I cna adjust as needed. The bin I feed off is on top, with my big bin on the bottom. Heating is provided by a small energy efficient space heater as well as 2 long Ultratherm heat pads and is regulated by two thermostats. I added a smoke detector right next to my bin just in case since it is in my garage and I am paranoid. Keeps everything nice and toasty with pretty low electricity use even through the cold Colorado winter.

Thought this might give folks some ideas of ways you can have dubias outside your house even in snow country! Your wife might even say OK honey you can have them in the garage when she refuses to let them in the house. :lol:

 

[MrWhite]

Nice, this is what I want to do for my cellar. I'll probably construct the main outer box with either plywood or melamine and insulate the inside with 2" foam. If this works out and I decide I ever want to breed my dragon, I'll be all set and use it as an incubator too.

The next invention has to be an auto-feeder device so I don't have to be a daily slave to my dragon :wink: I'll call my devices the "Dubia Bomber" or the "Cricket Cannon" or the "Salad Server" :wink:

 

[Claudiusx]

Sweet work!

-Brandon

 

[suzjohnson]

Nice! I see a ventilation screen on the top of your tub. Do you also have them on the sides? I had such a problem with too much humidity in my bins this past winter that avoiding it now has become ultra important.

Suzanne

 

[danab]

I only have one screen on top of each plastic bin and two vents on the sides of the metal box. It is very arid in CO and since these are outside in the garage and they are heated with forced air in the winter it can get really dry in there. Even in the house it is a struggle to get the humidity to 25-30% with a huge whole house humidifier running 24/7 in the winter. I keep a hygrometer/thermometer in the box itself as well as inside each of the boxes so I can tell if everything is AOK. I have only had issues once this year when we had thunderstorms for 7 days straight (very unusual weather) and it was actually humid outside the house. After that I just opened the bins outside and let the extra humidity out.

If you are in a humid area, then you might have to add more screens. Also, if frass builds up, I've found that it holds the humidity in more. My roaches in the big bin are going through about 1.5 cups+ of chow a day and I'm at the point where I have to clean frass each week or I have to expand to another large bin.