Dubia Growth

presspirate · 01-05-11, 04:56 PM

I have the opportunity to get a med colony of Dubias, with a fair number of adults. I intend to basically keep a colony as pets, and sell off some. Can anyone tell me the growth rate from nymphs to adulthood?

Thanks all.

Lankyrob · 01-05-11, 06:19 PM

Aww man, memory test time. Am about to get a breeding colony to feed our lizards. All the care sheets are on my laptop and i am on the Ipad........

I am fairly confident in sating it is sixteen weeks from nymph to adult BUT i have had my medication tonight so i could be waaay off!!

If no one else dteps in before i will look out my info in the morninig and let you know.

presspirate · 01-05-11, 07:12 PM

Thanks Rob, sounds like some wild meds you're on mate.

I wanted to get some hissers, but it seems the dubias are far cheaper. I had a whole display planned with hissing cockroaches, an aquarium, model buildings, and cars etc..... a post apocalyptic theme. Yeah, I'm a bit off.....but hey....somebody loves me anyways.

Damion930 · 01-05-11, 07:32 PM

Lol I think that sounds great lol

infernalis · 01-05-11, 08:15 PM

I keep Dubia, never really counted the days, in short order a colony can become a swarm unless you are feeding them off.

They breed fast and make lots of babies, by the time you notice the numbers in there will grow very fast.

Start keeping empty egg cartons, those will be handy to have. Keep one or two in the roach enclosure, give fresh fruit as a treat, they will run right up and start attacking melon and tree fruit slices. It's cool to watch.

One of the reasons they make great lizard food is they reproduce fast.

Nafun · 01-05-11, 08:21 PM

The other reason they make great lizard food is that they don't climb, fly, chirp, or stink.

Lankyrob · 01-06-11, 08:12 AM

Wayne, what do you do for water for them? Just fresh fruit or do you use gel?

Think that is my final debate before setting up ready to pick the colony up! Should be in by next weekend, back willing.

Jenn_06 · 01-06-11, 08:27 AM

i order these rock looking things when you add water they get like 70% bigger.

presspirate · 01-06-11, 03:18 PM

I plan to use water crystals. They are amazingly cheap when you order them online. I have been hoarding egg flats for awhile now. It should be kind of interesting once I get them home and set up. Guess I'll have to get me a lizard of some sort for thinning purposes. That's too bad.

presspirate · 01-07-11, 06:05 PM

Ordered. They Should be here Tuesday! I am excited! My wife says...."Bugs...."

PyramidScheme · 01-07-11, 10:50 PM

i'm new to snake ownership, and didn't know they were used as food. that's crazy (but logical i suppose). what kind of lizards eat them?

Lankyrob · 01-08-11, 04:45 AM

We have a SPiny Tailed Monitor and a frilled dragon - both of which will be eating the Dubias when they are up and running. I think most insectivorous lizards can be healthilty fed on them for life.

It is likely in the future that our collection will grow with more four legged reptiles so hoping to get a decent sized colony or two going to minimise costs in terms of feeding.

shaunyboy · 01-08-11, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presspirate

Ordered. They Should be here Tuesday! I am excited! My wife says...."Bugs...."

i'm thinking you better make sure its an escape proof tank greg

i dread to think what your wife will say if roaches greet her when she walks into the kitchen for breakfast mate

i think she will go post apocaliptic on you my friend

you all sound like your having fun with these gross wee guys

cheers shaun

radstusky · 01-08-11, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

i'm thinking you better make sure its an escape proof tank greg

i dread to think what your wife will say if roaches greet her when she walks into the kitchen for breakfast mate

i think she will go post apocaliptic on you my friend

you all sound like your having fun with these gross wee guys

cheers shaun

Actually I have a fairly large colony of dubia going right now and I keep them in a plastic sterlite tub with a ceramic heater and the lid only partially covering them. Basically their container is just open, I place a lid on to help keep heat in, and that's about it. Since they can't fly or climb they can't get out. I don't find escapees, so it must be working. Well, I do have to admit to finding an escapee on rare occasion

, but I think these are from the lizard cages where they've escaped.

Btw I use them to feed my two chameleons. I have way more than my chams could ever eat so I am trying to think of some ways to slow down their growth. Since my larger panther cham likes the adult males which have the wings, I am thinking of feeding off all of those. Another way might be to turn off their ceramic heater to reduce the temp. (or of course I could sell some off which is an option too)

Cheers,

Stuart

Lankyrob · 01-08-11, 03:30 PM

I read that cooling them by ten degrees will keep them alive but stop them breeding. Not sure tho - my best solution would be to buy another lizard or two