Question on Dubias and beardie tood

[GeePanini]

Hi there. I hope I am posting this in the right spot. I’m brand new here. We have a new beardie baby and I want to switch him from crickets to Dubias, but I’m not sure which Dubia sellers to use. How many do I buy for a baby? How long will they live? Now I’m reading about gut loading. I’m just confused by the whole thing. Help! ?

 

[Sixxx]

Personally, I love buying my roaches from Amazon since you can get 500 small roaches for only $17-22! I'm pretty sure that most of their sellers have free shipping, since my past few had free shipping which lasts for around a week. Roaches live for about 16 months from what i've read. Gut loading is the process of feeding your insects before giving them to your beardie. The healthier and abundant the feed, the healthier the roach for your beardie!

 

[GeePanini]

Thank you for your reply! Amazon is easy. Yay, I can figure that out. Do you just keep them in a plastic bin with some water and food? I was considering buying the Repashy food for them. Thanks so much!
I’ve added a pic of Panini. I don’t think he’s more than 5 or 6 weeks old, but I’m not sure.

 

[KarrieRee]

I order my dubias from dubiaroaches.com but they charge shipping - so I may ck out amazon tho- as far as what I keep them in is a 10 gallon aquarium and I have been feeding them carrots apples sweet potato and have just ordered dubia food - water can be obtained thru the carrots or sweet potato - and I have found out the roaches eat at nite - so I usually feed them before I go to bed so they are full when I feed Hiccup in the morning--
Karrie

 

[GeePanini]

Thank you! This is great information, and Hiccup is the best name ever! ?

 

[KarrieRee]

Your welcome!
Karrie

 

[Hikari]

Just make sure the temps for your area are decent. Too cold and they won't make it. I live in Ohio, so it's been almost impossible to ship decent feeders outside of black soldier fly larvae (they're a little more cold hardy). On the plus side, there's like...zero maintenance with keeping BSFL, and if they pupate, I can feed the flies as treats later.

 

[KarrieRee]

Yep I live in MN so I know about the cold temps- dubiaroaches are pretty on time - they are usually a day ahead of what the tracking # gives and it always tells me they are out for delivery - so I know they are going to show up that day and my mailman delivers them into the garage on my step into the house -
Karrie

 

[GeePanini]

Thanks you guys! I’m in CA and we don’t get super cold in our area, but it can get pretty chilly at night.

I’m really happy, because I found out there’s one pet store in our area that has a great reptile department. They offer many different feeders and the reptile staff I spoke to are beardie owners and breeders. They were great. They had Dubias, but they were pretty expensive. I got 15 For Panini to try, and OMG, he went nuts for them! He ate 10 in just a few minutes. So, I’m definitely going to order more and I’ve ordered some Phoenix worms as well.

Thanks again for all your help! I’m so glad I found this forum!

 

[HerpGirl]

Rainbow Mealworms all the way (they sell, like, every feeder!)

 

[Nykeri]

I just switched Rocco today from crickets to Dubias, and he absolutely LOVES them... he ate the best today he's ever eaten - about 10 at one meal time and about 7 at another. Finally the little guy has found some protein he loves. He also likes it when i put him on his log and feed him!

 

[Sixxx]

I usually feed my dubias cut carrots. They're literally just thrown to where the most dubias are. I heard potatoes were also pretty well since both carrots and potatoes don't tend to spoil as easily as greens. The feed I give is usually refilled every 2-3 days. Regarding enclosures for them, just find a plastic bin and put pieces of egg carton. Unless your temperatures go below 55-60F, you're trying to breed, or you're trying to allow the roaches to grow quicker then you really don't need a heater. Regarding water, I don't but probably should have those water pellets. It can help your dragon with hydration, but my baby gets his from his veggies anyway and his urates are normal.

 

[GeePanini]

Thanks for all the great info! It sounds like the Dubias are not too hard to keep and feed. I was feeling pretty intimidated by the whole idea, but all your feedback is helping quite a lot. I have some Phoenix worms coming for him, and I’m going to order the Dubias tonight. TY ?

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Feeding