B Dubia or Blaberus discoidalis

[signinsimple]

Ok,

I've searched the threads and read into both, but I haven't really found a practical comparison yet. I think I've narrowed down my target feeder to one of these 2. Could anyone give me a comparison as far as strengths and weaknesses go for using either of these as feeders? I'm shooting for feeders that adult size can feet H Longimanus & Emps, and sub-adults/nymphs could feed scorpio maurus & V Spin. That way all my scorps are cared for by one colony

Thanks all!

P.S. would love to hear from anyone who uses or has used both. Keep in mind the substrate is compact sand for the desert scorps and peatmoss/soil for the Forest scorps. All my enclosures have plenty of hides

 

[Mina]

I can tell you that we tried both, and we stuck with the dubias. We couldn't get the discoids to breed or even stay alive. I still don't know what we were doing wrong with them but it just didn't work.
You may have a totally different experience with them, but that is what happened here.

 

[BearGrylls4life]

i always use b. dubias. i havnt tried blaberus discoidalis. but dubias are very easy to care for and breed like mad. my vote is dubia.

 

[Hamburglar]

I also like dubias... prolific breeders even at room temp in my experience. However, I have to disagree with the claim that they dont climb. I have found that dubias can climb quite well especially small nymphs. I have to also point out that they usually dont. I dont see it very often but it is usually a good sign that my tub is overcrowded. I find the young ones move up for more space.

 

[Xaranx]

Dubias can climb, but not smooth surfaces. They have tarsal hooks like scorps, instead of static pads like other species of roach. I didn't realize this and kept my dubias in a rough textured plastic bin which the babies were able to climb out of. I switched to a smooth plastic one and haven't seen a single one able to make it up the side.

 

[signinsimple]

Anyone know if the discoid is a better feeder in terms of behavior? Does it freeze like a Dubia? Does it burrow? etc.

 

[~Abyss~]

Im currently breeding both in the same container and find no real differance.

 

[Takumaku]

"The cheese stands alone" My vote is for the discoid, but that's only because I'm allergic to dubia frass.

 

[Hamburglar]

A slight head pinch on dubia keeps it from burrowing but allows it to move enough to trigger a response. At least in my experience anyway...

 

[RichardMorris]

check the roaches vs crickets thread.

Don't get caught off guard. the B Dubia are huge. Make sure you want somehing that big. The winged males I got are 4 inches long.

 

[Hamburglar]

check the roaches vs crickets thread.

Don't get caught off guard. the B Dubia are huge. Make sure you want somehing that big. The winged males I got are 4 inches long.

Wow... yours are easily twice as big as mine. The biggest males I have are 1 and a half to 2 inches long...

 

[rm90]

check the roaches vs crickets thread.

Don't get caught off guard. the B Dubia are huge. Make sure you want somehing that big. The winged males I got are 4 inches long.

Can you post a picture ? Are you sure they are dubia? I have alot of adult males in my colony and none are even close to 3 inches..

 

[RichardMorris]

I bought them from Aaron Pauling. I would have to assume he knows what they are.

That is the total length. Tip of head to the end of the wings. And yes, if you flip them over, the body size is probably in the 2 1/2 to 3 inch range. I will see if I can take a picture next to a ruler.

They can run pretty damn fast to. Plus, every one of the "small" ones I put in my b jacksoni tank have burrowed down in the peat moss. That sucks pretty bad. the scorps aren't going to dig for them.

I would have to say that my $44 delve into roaches is a total bust. (That was $44 for a 100 roaches with 5 pairs of adults with shipping).

Heres the other thing, these have a large very slick shell that covers the entire roach. While it feels sortof soft, I just don't really see that the b jacksoni can hold one in its claws.

My take on the majority of this thread as well as the other current thread on roachs and crickets is that we have a bunch of people that have never had roaches throwing in opinions that roaches are better.

These might be great for the emperors or some scorps with big pinchers. But the truth is I just don't see the usefulness as feeders to the majority of scorps.


Correction on size, males are 2 to 2 1/2 inches total. not 4. They looked bigger last night.

See for sale are if you want a good deal on a colony.

 

[EightLeggedFrea]

I currently raise dubias and I love 'em. The only thing I really hate about the, however, is, the nymphs especially, their tendency to "freeze" which makes feeding them to some of my Ts a little tricky. I've heard discoids do not do this, so may want to try that if you don't want to deal with the dubia's "feeezing." I cannot say from actual exp though because I haven't yet tried discoids.

 

[Takumaku]

If you don't mind venturing outside these two options, B. fumigata (cuban burrowing roaches) might fit you bill. They are similiar to dubia in looks, but half the size. My leopard geckos can easily take a few adult males without any problems.


Another option that you can try is buy a "sample pack" of a few species of roaches (typically 4 different species). Dave (davegrimm1) and James (blaberus.com) still offer these packs, if you ask. It might the best way to try out the different species to see which one first your needs.

 

[Hamburglar]

I solve a lot of the problems mentioned in this thread by pinching the heads of my dubia feeders. They dont freeze and they dont burrow... they twitch slightly which will usually get a response. I dont have as much experience with scorpions though. However, it makes it easier to remove uneaten bugs because they dont move around. I do have a C. sculp that went absolutely nuts when I dropped one in front of it though. It stung 3 or 4 times and seemed to enjoy itself.

 

[Digby Rigby]

Discoids vs dubia

Discoids tend to scurry about more and dubia tend to move slower or stay put. Both will burrow. You can always put them in a dish or pan thats a little more than twice as high as they are long to prevent burrowing.

Digby Rigby balboa28279@mypacks.net