What do I need to know about dubias?

[Lycia]

Hi,

I've been going through it trying to get settled on a food system for Apollo. I'd like to get him off of crickets for multiple reasons and I've pretty much settled on dubias. I intended to just constantly order them online but I've read here and other places that breeding dubias is not a lot of work. Is there anyone who can simplify the process for me?
What is an inexpensive way to get started?
Any info would help, types of container, heat requirements, length of the breeding process, anecdotal stories of personal experience, etc...I'd especially like to hear from people in apartments like me and how you minimize space requirements and if it's possible to keep them hidden away to now freak people out. I'm going to figure out if this is doable for me.

 

[vycine]

Here's the sheet I used to get me started http://www.southtexasdragons.com/dubia-roaches-blaptica-dubia.html

Hope it helps!
Jessi

 

[unkempt1]

Hi,

I've been going through it trying to get settled on a food system for Apollo. I'd like to get him off of crickets for multiple reasons and I've pretty much settled on dubias. I intended to just constantly order them online but I've read here and other places that breeding dubias is not a lot of work. Is there anyone who can simplify the process for me?
What is an inexpensive way to get started?
Any info would help, types of container, heat requirements, length of the breeding process, anecdotal stories of personal experience, etc...I'd especially like to hear from people in apartments like me and how you minimize space requirements and if it's possible to keep them hidden away to now freak people out. I'm going to figure out if this is doable for me.

It's super easy! Here is another good link:
http://amazingly-wildfeederz.webs.com/caresheet

I own a house, but before my colony got as massive as it is right now I used to keep them in a closet in the guest room. People never knew they were in there. :twisted: I have heard of other owners buying the flatter Sterillite tubs and sliding them under their bed.

 

[Salamandra]

I'm gonna pepper some links throughout here so that you can have visuals and have an idea of what to buy and where to buy it. :3

I have a shelf built into the wall with a little cubby underneath that I keep my bin in.

It's a Sterilite tub, probably 30 gallon or 120 quart. I don't have screen built in - we just took a big screwdriver and punched some air holes in the lid. I also don't have the top lined with packaging tape, although I probably should. I've seen only like 1 or 2 climbers, though, and they're always tiny nymphs.

For heat, I use Flexwatt heat tape, but a heating pad or UTH would work just as well. ETA: I also positioned the heat tape on the side of my bin, that way it warms the egg flats vertically instead of just heating the floor. I keep mine on a thermostat (the kind you'd use for snake heat) so that I can adjust the temperatures, that way I can control breeding and also make sure that my heat tape doesn't short out or surge and cook my roaches (idk if they can get too hot, but I like to keep it safe). On one side I have egg flats stacked vertically, like as though they were in a filing cabinet. The roaches live and nest in the flats; they're great for making use of vertical space. On the other side I keep a small dish of water crystals and food, which is usually leftover veggies, the occasional dog kibble, and orange slices.

To start, I would highly, highly recommend searching your local Craigslist for people selling adults or starter colonies. I was able to score a mix of 50 females, 25 males, and 600 nymphs for $50. Many starter colonies that you'll find online will be more expensive, but I've found that a few sellers on Amazon have some pretty good deals if you need to buy online. I'm not sure about the quality, but I did buy one of these lots of 40 adult females yesterday, so I can come back with a review here once they arrive if that helps anybody. I'd also be happy to take pictures of my set-up if anyone is interested. It's pretty standard, but I know I like to see lots of pictures and read details when I'm undertaking a new project.

 

[Lycia]

@Salamandra thanks for your detailed reply. I like the idea of putting the egg cartons in vertical cause where I keep my small colony now is in a large cricket keeper and I have the egg cartons flat and I don't think that's for the best plus they end up in the food.

@Unkempt1 keeping them in a closet would be ideal I do have space for that. Right now they're in my half bathroom which is great cause it's hardly used. NO WAY I could sleep with them under my bed or even in my bedroom! They're less creepy and noisy than crickets and I handle them better but that's asking too much!!
How important is the heat for the breeding? Because I really don't want to have to purchase more heat lamps and pads and find outlets and worry about fires and stuff. My apartment stays at a good temperature, usually about 70 degrees on average. A closet might be a little warmer. Is that not good enough?
So I guess my next question is since I only have one beardie who's about 13 inches long when I measured him this week and I guess maybe around 6 months old now , is it worth it to keep all these roaches around? If his diet will be changing in a few months and he'll prefer veggies as 80% of his diet and only eat maybe 4-5 roaches a day, which is what he eats now along with worms and veggies so I guess it would be even less, should I keep a colony of 200+ roaches? I don't know anyone else with pet lizards so there's no way I can give them away or sell them unless I make an arrangement with a local pet store.

Lastly, anyone do good raising worms? He loves butter worms ( I almost want to eat them myself as good as they smell lol and I'd love to be able to get those breeding.

 

[Cenetri]

Just thought I'd jump in!

I breed mealies and the more common worms myself, but unfortunately you cannot breed butterworms in the US. They are considered pests here, and are strictly imported from Chile. During this importation they are blasted with a low level radiation to keep them from ever reaching pupation, preventing breeding (which explains why they are also more expensive than other feeders). It's a shame, they do smell so lovely! :lol:

I personally do well raising other worms, mealworms are very easy but obviously not the best staple - for them I just throw them in a container with wheat bran and throw in various veggies every once in a while and watch them thrive. Superworms are similar except only pupate when alone, so you can simply buy those little fishing hook boxes with the separated sections or little single-use drinking cups to separate them once they become mature enough.

Since you're looking for more of a staple feeder, here's a little care sheet on silkworms. I've had a lot of success with these guys as feeders for my beardie in the past. Pretty simple as well:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/29/us-birthers-question-obamas-origins

All of these worms can be kept in nice, flat tubs that you can slide underneath furniture to keep them more hidden or discrete (Easiest with mealies because they proliferate without any special care other than food, but the others are pretty similar in space occupation).

As for ever having too many roaches, if you don't know many people, why not try Craigslist to sell off your surplus? People in my area seem to do pretty well with that. You can sell in small amounts at a "price per roach" or, if you ever had too many all at once, sell them as a colony.