New dubia colony males and females dieing

[Billy1222]

Anyone have a dubia colony that can give some advice. Just started my own colony a couple weeks ago. I've had a few of my males and females die anyone know what I could do to stop it. I just switched my colony to a bigger container so I can see them better to take out dead roaches and hope it saves the males and females I have left

 

[Wickedpogana]

Anyone have a dubia colony that can give some advice. Just started my own colony a couple weeks ago. I've had a few of my males and females die anyone know what I could do to stop it. I just switched my colony to a bigger container so I can see them better to take out dead roaches and hope it saves the males and females I have left

Are they kept warm? They like temps in to 90's-100 especially if you want them to breed. People use flex watt heat tape and have it under the bin or heatmatts I just keep them in my bioactive tank and they breed prolifically have a whole colony in my tank and dont need a clean up crew for them cause isopods and springtails are also there . Make sure your humidity is the correct % for your dubias . Heres a website with sufficient information on colony die off its normal https://dubiaroachdepot.com/guidance/dubia-roach-die-off
You can always use the darkling beetles from mealworms or superworms to help clean up their bins, isopods are found under any rock outside same as spring tails make sure your area is pesticide free and most people wait for them to breed for a few generations if their wild caught a sufficient cleanup crew will eat left over food not eaten and the dead roaches and fecal matter. The right substrate mix can feed them too where you dont need to add veggies for feeder grub make sure the mix have biodegradables as they eat that leaf litter, moss etc if using eggcartens and stuff use carrots and you can also use the shells from eggs they will also eat dog food

 

[Claudiusx]

Did you just buy these roaches?

Likely you bought "old" adults from the breeder. It's unfortunate but a lot of breeders keep track of their adult ages, and sell off the ones close to the end of their life and keep the fresh young ones.
Always good to get a mix, or a few of the nymphs that are 1 molt away from adulthood, that way you make sure you have young adults.

Can you go over your husbandry so we can make sure thats ok?

-Brandon

 

[Billy1222]

So I bought them about 3 weeks ago from dubia roach.com. I keep them in a 20 gallon tote and use just egg crates and feed them the dubia diet with water crystals. I give them greens and oranges a couple times a week and if its cold I have been using a heat emitter to keep them warm.