Dubia enclosure size?

Over 10 care sheets, not one discusses the size of a container used for raising dubias, nor how dense a population it can tolerate.

I'd love some information regarding enclosure size for dubias!

Hi! I would send an email to Ian Haggerty at theroachranch.com or Jason at theroachguy.com. They are both really helpful, knowledgeable guys. I would just tell them how many you are looking to house and what size bin do they think would be best. They are always willing to help out. In general, most people use a 22 gallon or bigger solid colored (not clear) rubbermaid/sterilite bin. But you could contact those two to get it just right. Unhappy roaches = no babies. Good luck.

I use clear 66qt tubs...500+ adults in each...no issues.

what kinds of dog foods are safe and what kind are not?

I recommend real rodent block if you are serious about breeding rats.

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Originally Posted by suzuki4life

I recommend real rodent block if you are serious about breeding rats.

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we're talking about dubia cockroaches, not rats :P

I have kept quite long enough. Why do people make such stupid post with responses like this.

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Originally Posted by suzuki4life

I recommend real rodent block if you are serious about breeding rats.

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People need to read the entire post before posting. Not just the last thing said. If I skim over a thread I wont post until I go back and actually read it.


As to your question on enclosure size. It all depends on your colony size. Roaches are not like crickets, they do like being packed together and dont care if they are standing on each other. I have used a 30 gal grey sterilite tote to hold over 5000k nymphs. A lot of roaches can be put into a tiny space. When you do that you MUST keep up with food and water. I was adding a pound of food per day and almost a 1/4 gallon of water crystals.

5000k nymphs, so 5 MILLION nymphs?? Cool :D That's a lot of bugs.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

we're talking about dubia cockroaches, not rats :P

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I know.....


dog food isn't a great option is my point...

Its fatty, gets mushy and will mold easily...


I personally like high protein chick feed and fruits or carrots. IMHO water crystals are a needless expense.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

5000k nymphs, so 5 MILLION nymphs?? Cool :D That's a lot of bugs.

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he probably hand counted them for accuracy...:D:D:D


5000 nymphs is only 20 ozs in volume.... I have double that plus 500-1000 adults in my 66 qt tubs at any given time....and still don't go through a pound of food a day.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

Over 10 care sheets, not one discusses the size of a container used for raising dubias, nor how dense a population it can tolerate.

I'd love some information regarding enclosure size for dubias!

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I'm using just a smallish, maybe 10 gallon container for mine, however the population is not exactly taking off like gangbusters either. I know you can crowd them pretty heavily and I think I have plenty of room for growth, but I don't think I've got them hot enough to reproduce rapidly. I've got them sitting on top of one of my racks where the temp is only in the low to mid 80's I've got a friend who has hers in a similar sized container but it's pushed up against her baseboard heaters where the temps occaisionally get into the mid to high 90's and she's producing hundreds of spare bugs a week.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I'm using just a smallish, maybe 10 gallon container for mine, however the population is not exactly taking off like gangbusters either. I know you can crowd them pretty heavily and I think I have plenty of room for growth, but I don't think I've got them hot enough to reproduce rapidly. I've got them sitting on top of one of my racks where the temp is only in the low to mid 80's I've got a friend who has hers in a similar sized container but it's pushed up against her baseboard heaters where the temps occaisionally get into the mid to high 90's and she's producing hundreds of spare bugs a week.

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The hotter the better in my opinion...

I have 2 extra tubs in a spare bedroom that is unheated....temps are between 50-66 degrees....

Contrary to very popular info....they are still reproducing.

My feeder building is currently at 82 degrees. My goal is 90. The furnace is still new and I am measuring temp vs consumption or I might just crank it up and go for broke.

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Originally Posted by suzuki4life

I have 2 extra tubs in a spare bedroom that is unheated....temps are between 50-66 degrees....

Contrary to very popular info....they are still reproducing.

.

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That's interesting, because everyone else I've talked to about this says that they start dying off below 70 degrees. Are you sure the roaches you have are Blaptica dubia?

yes they are....and they will live days near freezing temps