So I want to start a Roach Colony, but....

[RedDragon25]

I am 100% terrified of Dubia Roaches. I want to start a colony because they don't make noise or smell and jump like crickets and I can save lots of money by starting a colony instead of buying phoenix worms. Could someone help me out?

Like, could you guys give me some tips on how to keep them without being terrified of them?

 

[BlueDevil]

You could always use feeding tongs to pick them up. They really aren't that bad. I don't have a problem picking them up by hand but prefer to use the feeding tongs as that is what my dragon associates dinner time with! Best of luck!

 

[Claudiusx]

To get over a fear one must confront it.

One of my inspirations in life was afraid of the back woods behind his house at night. So one night when he was 16, he went out there with a lawn chair, went to the middle of the dark woods, and sat there tell morning. He wasn't afraid of it after this.

What I suggest. Buy a colony, stick your arm in the bottom and let them crawl all over you. You will see they don't hurt you and you have nothing to fear ^.^

-Brandon

 

[Prodigyitachi]

When I first purchase my dubia roaches and opened the box, My hair sticks up and got the goosebumps. I was so afraid of them especially the adults. For about the first week, I wear gloves to handle them. Had few male escapes (had lid open) which freaked me. Hardly slept for a couple of days lol. After a while I got use to handling them and now Im able to pick them up by hand (w/o gloves). So in my opinion, you will probably not fear the dubia after having them for a while. Apparently I get serious allergic reaction when i clean the bin because of all the poop and debris so I had to wear a mask and gloves which didnt help much. Hope this helps

 

[kimbasmom]

I second the tongs and the become familiar with them. I was totally grossed out when I made my first order. So much so, I promptly drove those little bugs down to the reptile rescue and donated them.

Then, after listening to the crickets...and smelling them.... and hearing all the lovely posts here, I wanted to try again. I bought 20 from Greg's exotic inverts and also started adjusting my thinking about them. They're a totally different genus and species from the "icky" roaches. They are little prehistoric dudes who have lived a long time. *smiles*

Now, well I just bought a second colony yesterday and it's a total non issue now.

Go slowly. Make sure you're not thinking of them as the "icky" roaches (learning they were a totally different species helped a ton for me!), and think about how much your beardie is going to love them!

Good luck!

(PS - I haven't picked one up yet. I use tongs or keep some paper towel tubes in there and then pour them out into the glass bowl I feed them in. So I'm not like some guys on this board who don't mind them walking on their hands. )

 

[Prodigyitachi]

lol, its not a bad thing to pick them up with hand, except them peeing and having to wash your hands often. As for tongs i also used the 10" when im lazy to pick them up by hand. Assuming what kimbasmom said, dont be scared of them since they are not your regular household roaches. Im actually scared of household roaches lol... Dubias are actually pretty cool creatures to look at. I constantly just stare at them for my own amusement. I wouldnt say they are not dirty, but atleast you know what condition they are living in and what your feeding them. That being said, I think they are clean little buggers LOL since i take care of them.

 

[kimbasmom]

Well, not that Wikipedia is to be used as a source, but... that's where I got the info from...

Among the best-known pest species are the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, which is about 30 millimetres (1.2 in) long, the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, about 15 millimetres (0.59 in) long, the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai, also about 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in length, and the Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis, about 25 millimetres (0.98 in).

So, although they all come from the same order.... Blaptica dubia is a completely different species being a tropical roach.

Or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL!

 

[Prodigyitachi]

oh you were comparing to other feeder roaches. I thought it was household roaches, my bad.

 

[12many]

Try learning more about them. I was freaked out at first knowinthat i have to resolve to raising them because od my cricket issues. But after spending time learning about them, i'm kinda excited in making a colony, even though i haven't started, nor seen one.

Im just afraid of them escaping and running around in my room, crawling in your ears when you're asleep, going in your mouth unknowingly eating them and being covered in them when u wake up in the morning! Gaahhh! Lol.

Watch out though, i read somewhere online that they crawled in someone's ears and laid eggs! Ate her from the inside!








.








.








.







.








.






.





.





Jk!