Scaling A Starting Dubia Colony Correctly To My Needs

[Menolly07]

Dubias aren't bad at all. They're sort of cute actually, and I like the tickly legs. Most importantly, my little guy LOVES THEM. He was being cricket fed alongside his silkworms, phoenix worms and occasional treat hornworms. He loves a chase and is very active, so the crickets were a part of his diet despite me not loving them. He's going to be four months on the fourteenth and is already over twelve inches, so you have an idea of how much he's packing away. He's a pig, to put it bluntly.

I bought a cup of dubias from Mulberry Farms, and he went BANANAS for them. He actually had to pretty much be worn down to finish off his hoppers. He wants none of them now. At all. He's all about the dubias. I'm very pleased over that! Now I'm looking to start a colony.

I'm trying to get an idea of what I should be looking to buy in terms of quantity. I'm feeding on little guy who eats a lot and his big, adopted sister (adult) who hasn't even touched one yet. She's got the typical grown up beardie appetite. "Collard greens sound good.... Fat adult silkworm.... Meh... *four days later* NOM!!!!"

How many males/females do I need? I understand 1 male to 4 females is the best ratio, but my chief concern is that I don't want to overbreed his appetite and end up with a bazillion dubias all having dubia sexy times and making me a bazillion more dubias until there is nothing but dubias and the world is covered and it's all my fault because Mnementh couldn't keep up....

Thoughts? How can I stop my theoretical roach colony from taking over the world, guys?

 

[kjinxx2]

When your colony gets bigger you'll want an even smaller ratio, 1 to 8 even (I can't maintain that ratio, too many males )

If you want to start by feeding out, you'll have to buy around 50 - 60 females + about 10 males and about 500 - 1000 mixed. That would do pretty well for you. I'd recommend you buy that much and let it all sit for about a month.

I haven't yet figured out how to keep them from producing too much so I just sell them off locally for cheap (about $40 for 1,000 smalls).

 

[Menolly07]

I have one friend with a beardie. Need more friends! Thanks for the advice, especially the proportions. I can also make a concentrated effort to feed off males. Hopefully I can search out local(s) to off load extras.