Different pigment Dubai Roach

[Jessica88]

So I've kept my eye on this one roach it's a nymph. It hasn't changed color to brown . I know it's the same one I don't have a big big colony yet. Also this one has also a weird wings. Well what can become wings the two that stick out a little. This one's really sticks out because how different it looks. I know Dubai are white when they first molt. This isn't that because it's been like this forever now. Any advice of why this is the only one like this?

 

[Raghild]

It is possible for insects to lack pigmentation, but I wonder if this is more likely a growth problem.

Is it soft to the touch, or hard like the darker ones?

If the shell is hard then it could be just be a pigmentation issue (they need to develop new pigmentation after every molt). It may correct after its next molt, or may darken as an adult if it just produces pigmentation slower. Or it may always be white if it doesn't produce pigmentation at all

But if it is softer than the others, and with the abnormal wings, I would suspect something more going on that is interfering with its growth, including its ability to create new pigmentation.

In the latter situation I would consider separating it from the main colony when it nears maturity to avoid passing on whatever is causing the abnormality. If you want to keep it as a pet, you could always set it up with a small all female colony in a display enclosure

 

[l4nsky]

So I've kept my eye on this one roach it's a nymph. It hasn't changed color to brown . I know it's the same one I don't have a big big colony yet. Also this one has also a weird wings. Well what can become wings the two that stick out a little. This one's really sticks out because how different it looks. I know Dubai are white when they first molt. This isn't that because it's been like this forever now. Any advice of why this is the only one like this? View attachment 479714

So, no offense but I'm a bit skeptical it's anything other than a freshly molted roach. I know you believe it's the same roach as the one you saw 'forever' ago, but unless this one animal has been completely isolated for a month and it's still hasn't reverted back, then Occam's Razor says there has likely been sequential molts of multiple roaches from the same clutch or clutches laid near the same time to the point where one is always freshly molted. That's simply what happens in a generational colony.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

It’s either super rare, albino roach, or freshly molted..

 

[Jessica88]

So, no offense but I'm a bit skeptical it's anything other than a freshly molted roach. I know you believe it's the same roach as the one you saw 'forever' ago, but unless this one animal has been completely isolated for a month and it's still hasn't reverted back, then Occam's Razor says there has likely been sequential molts of multiple roaches from the same clutch or clutches laid near the same time to the point where one is always freshly molted. That's simply what happens in a generational colony.

That's fine your skeptical I'm not trying to get noticed. I literally only have critter cages. I barley started a colony so yes I only have a few. Also this one I can try and zoom in closer. This one has another weird thing. Where those wings are before they show female or male. These are weird they stick up like kind of razor sharp looking. It's texture is also weird, it has a weird feeling to it. I honestly don't care about ppl trying to say they have white roaches when freshly molted. I truly honestly wanted to get some feedback. I've bought a lot of roaches for my tarantulas and never seen this. I only have 3 tarantulas. So I don't have a crazy amount of feeders like other ppl. This is why I know this is the same one. I really don't mind that you don't believe me. There are so many liars and ppl who just want attention. Honestly though I don't know why anyone would really want attention for a roach lol. We're all insect keepers. There are many many more experienced keepers than me. This is why I wanted to ask.

 

[Jessica88]

It’s either super rare, albino roach, or freshly molted..

It's not freshly molted I only have very little roaches I keep them in a critter bin. Because I don't have that many. I only have 3 tarantulas. So there are albino ones sometimes? I honestly just wanted some feedback. It's wings are like sharp looking too. This one feels very weird than the other ones. You know how the other young ones are smooth this one isnt

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

It's not freshly molted I only have very little roaches I keep them in a critter bin. Because I don't have that many. I only have 3 tarantulas. So there are albino ones sometimes? I honestly just wanted some feedback. It's wings are like sharp looking too. This one feels very weird than the other ones. You know how the other young ones are smooth this one isnt

I’ve seen thousands of dubia never saw an albino . Keep us updated when it sheds its skin , see if it goes regular colored. I’ve seen lots of strange stuff though.

 

[Raghild]

It's not freshly molted I only have very little roaches I keep them in a critter bin. Because I don't have that many. I only have 3 tarantulas. So there are albino ones sometimes? I honestly just wanted some feedback. It's wings are like sharp looking too. This one feels very weird than the other ones. You know how the other young ones are smooth this one isnt

Albinism can occur in insects, but it can be hard to distinguish between other issues due to the way insects molt.

Albino organisms do not produce melanin, and it is a very specific condition.

But take a normal insect for example. It will molt, and its new exoskeleton will go through a somewhat involved biological process as it hardens and forms pigmentation. Anything that disrupts this process could theoretically cause a white insect that is not an albino.

With how you describe the texture and the way its scales stick out, I think it's likely that it has a genetic abnormality that is affecting how its scales grow, and causing disruptions with the molting process. I don't know of any way to determine for certainty if it is also an albino.

If it was born without color and never develops colors at any point in its life, then you might be looking at albinism.

It's also possible to have multiple genetic abnormalities at the same time, or a single abnormality that results on two conditions. So it can get rather complicated.

 

[Jessica88]

It's not freshly molted I only have very little roaches I keep them in a critter bin. Because I don't have that many. I only have 3 tarantulas. So there are albino ones sometimes? I honestly just wanted some feedback. It's wings are like sharp looking too. This one feels very weird than the other ones. You know how the other young ones are smooth this one isnt

Look what I mean can you see the difference it isn't freshly molted. It's been like this for a long time. It is also slower than the rest of them. It can't run fast. Thank you for just giving me nice feedback and honest opinion.

 

[Jessica88]

It is possible for insects to lack pigmentation, but I wonder if this is more likely a growth problem.

Is it soft to the touch, or hard like the darker ones?

If the shell is hard then it could be just be a pigmentation issue (they need to develop new pigmentation after every molt). It may correct after its next molt, or may darken as an adult if it just produces pigmentation slower. Or it may always be white if it doesn't produce pigmentation at all

But if it is softer than the others, and with the abnormal wings, I would suspect something more going on that is interfering with its growth, including its ability to create new pigmentation.

In the latter situation I would consider separating it from the main colony when it nears maturity to avoid passing on whatever is causing the abnormality. If you want to keep it as a pet, you could always set it up with a small all female colony in a display enclosure

It seems rougher at the top
I'll send you a pic of a regular one and this one you can tell their different not just a freshly molted one. Thank you for the honest feedback. Yes I think something is wrong with the pigment. It is also a lot slower to run than all the other ones.

 

[Glorfindel]

possibly a mutation

 

[Jessica88]

It seems rougher at the top
I'll send you a pic of a regular one and this one you can tell their different not just a freshly molted one. Thank you for the honest feedback. Yes I think something is wrong with the pigment. It is also a lot slower to run than all the other ones.

It seems rougher at the top
I'll send you a pic of a regular one and this one you can tell their different not just a freshly molted one. Thank you for the honest feedback. Yes I think something is wrong with the pigment. It is also a lot slower to run than all the other ones.

I’ve seen thousands of dubia never saw an albino . Keep us updated when it sheds its skin , see if it goes regular colored. I’ve seen lots of strange stuff though.

Yeah I've been waiting for it to molt too. I want to see if it goes back to normal color and texture. Thank you. I posted pics of the deformity if your can see what I'm talking about now. I put another roach next to it so you can honestly the different texture. So you can see I'm not lieing

 

[Jessica88]

I’ve seen thousands of dubia never saw an albino . Keep us updated when it sheds its skin , see if it goes regular colored. I’ve seen lots of strange stuff though.

Really what other weird stuff have you seen cause some here don't believe me. What weird things have you seen? I also have the gold looking ones that ppl were saying are rare. There not theirs gold looking ones and dark brown

 

[Raghild]

Really what other weird stuff have you seen cause some here don't believe me. What weird things have you seen? I also have the gold looking ones that ppl were saying are rare. There not theirs gold looking ones and dark brown

My favorite roach mine was caused by a physically injury as an adult though, that cost him both of his
wings. He recovered though.

I've been feeding off my Dubia colony to replace them with discoids, but I didn't have it in me to feed him off. So him and a few roach buddies get to stay on as permanently residents.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Really what other weird stuff have you seen cause some here don't believe me. What weird things have you seen? I also have the gold looking ones that ppl were saying are rare. There not theirs gold looking ones and dark brown

gold would be a totally different species. There are hundreds of them.
I have two or more roach threads , pictures scattered around them. Orange roaches check first

Considering orange headed roaches ??

Any tips advice , would I be better off ordering smaller ones and raising them Up from that size to breed them as feeders ,or spend more for 3/4-1” size ones for less growth time? I’m in no hurry to get a colony going but quicker might save me money on superworms. It’s also cheaper to buy...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Jessica88]

Albinism can occur in insects, but it can be hard to distinguish between other issues due to the way insects molt.

Albino organisms do not produce melanin, and it is a very specific condition.

But take a normal insect for example. It will molt, and its new exoskeleton will go through a somewhat involved biological process as it hardens and forms pigmentation. Anything that disrupts this process could theoretically cause a white insect that is not an albino.

With how you describe the texture and the way its scales stick out, I think it's likely that it has a genetic abnormality that is affecting how its scales grow, and causing disruptions with the molting process. I don't know of any way to determine for certainty if it is also an albino.

If it was born without color and never develops colors at any point in its life, then you might be looking at albinism.

It's also possible to have multiple genetic abnormalities at the same time, or a single abnormality that results on two conditions. So it can get rather complicated.

Thank you see you seem very wise and educated about insects. Honestly it's not really rare it's lacking melanin most likely than. Or a genetic mutation like you said. Especially cause the weird texture and how slow it is. Did you see the pics? Can you see what I'm talking about though? Tell me do you really think it's freshly molted like ppl think. Cause you can see the texture is very different than a freshly molted one. The scales are darkened though. It has a little color not completely completely white like when they molt. I'm really waiting for it to molt again though like you said. I've been keeping it hot the way they like it. I'm actually trying to have it molt for that specific reason. To see what it'll look like

 

[Jessica88]

possibly a mutation

I think so too. I can't wait for it to molt to see what it looks like. I want to see if it turns to the same color or normal color. If it stays like this. I wonder how it will look when it matures

 

[Jessica88]

My favorite roach mine was caused by a physically injury as an adult though, that cost him both of his
wings. He recovered though.

I've been feeding off my Dubia colony to replace them with discoids, but I didn't have it in me to feed him off. So him and a few roach buddies get to stay on as permanently residents.

View attachment 479755

Yeah it stays like this I'm not going to feed it off. I actually feel bad when I feed them off. That's nice your keeping a few as pets

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Yeah it stays like this I'm not going to feed it off. I actually feel bad when I feed them off. That's nice your keeping a few as pets

generally only feed males( with some exceptions?) off so that a lot of pets…. I’m trying to keep them from escaping .

 

[Raghild]

Thank you see you seem very wise and educated about insects. Honestly it's not really rare it's lacking melanin most likely than. Or a genetic mutation like you said. Especially cause the weird texture and how slow it is. Did you see the pics? Can you see what I'm talking about though? Tell me do you really think it's freshly molted like ppl think. Cause you can see the texture is very different than a freshly molted one. The scales are darkened though. It has a little color not completely completely white like when they molt. I'm really waiting for it to molt again though like you said. I've been keeping it hot the way they like it. I'm actually trying to have it molt for that specific reason. To see what it'll look like

The first picture, with no context looked like a recent molt that was just beginning to darken/harden.

I was expecting that was what my response was going to be, but after reading the additional information and taking a closer look, I saw the things you mentioned, and the texture looked a bit off. It's hard to tell texture from a picture though, so that's why the questions earlier.

And at the end of the day, it didn't really matter. You didn't come across as if you where lying and you expressed knowledge of what it should look like if it was just a recent molt. So that left it more likely that you where either accurate in your observations, or simply mistaken.

And if by chance you where mistaken for any reason, time would reveal that to you on its own. So I didn't make any assumptions and provided information into possibilities

I look forward to you updating us after it's next molt.