Dubia colony doesn't eat particularly fast

[Moakmeister]

I bought a starter colony of 100 dubias of mixed sizes, along with some Diaperinus and buffalo worms as cleanup crews. Maybe I just think 100 is way more than it really is, but they can't seem to finish off even really small quantities of fruits or vegetables. I have yet to see a piece of food ever completely disappear. They've had at least one batch of babies, which have grown a lot! And they have a heating mat that's actually inside the bin with them, and the adults are always clustered around it. Is it just because it's a small colony, or is it still too cold, or am I giving them the wrong stuff? I give them a mix of apple, lettuce, baby carrots, and the occasional potato.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

You're probably giving them more than they need. A colony of a hundred would be good with a few baby carrots.

 

[Moakmeister]

You're probably giving them more than they need. A colony of a hundred would be good with a few baby carrots.

I usually give them half a baby carrot every few days, and they can't even finish that.

 

[PhoenixFyre]

I keep about 200-300 Dubis of different sizes regularly because of my herps.

I keep a small handful of "Laying Hen" chicken feed in a small shallow bowl and a few leaves of lettuce or spring-greens in there.

The feed is only filled if they eat it all or once a month. I remove the wilted and uneaten greens weekly and replace with new ones.

To me, it's a lot more economical this way and I don't need to worry if they're eating at all.

 

[Dry Desert]

I bought a starter colony of 100 dubias of mixed sizes, along with some Diaperinus and buffalo worms as cleanup crews. Maybe I just think 100 is way more than it really is, but they can't seem to finish off even really small quantities of fruits or vegetables. I have yet to see a piece of food ever completely disappear. They've had at least one batch of babies, which have grown a lot! And they have a heating mat that's actually inside the bin with them, and the adults are always clustered around it. Is it just because it's a small colony, or is it still too cold, or am I giving them the wrong stuff? I give them a mix of apple, lettuce, baby carrots, and the occasional potato.

Wack the temperature up, most things refuse to eat, or eat very little if cold.
Dubias and other roaches need high heat, they feed and breed much better when hot.
I used to feed mine fish flake with orange slices for moisture, never gave them water.
Water can make the substrate damp, and a damp substrate will kill them off.
I only ever used Vermiculite as a substrate and kept it bone dry.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Dry desert may be on it.
What temperature are they at?

 

[Moakmeister]

Dry desert may be on it.
What temperature are they at?

Idk, I’ve got a Zoo-med heat mat in there.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Idk, I’ve got a Zoo-med heat mat in there.

In there in there?
Take it out and put it on the side.
Grab a cheap thermometer for the future.
It may be warm enough. No way to know.

 

[Moakmeister]

In there in there?
Take it out and put it on the side.
Grab a cheap thermometer for the future.
It may be warm enough. No way to know.

The reason it’s inside the enclosure is because it doesn’t stick to the side at all, and even when I tape it in place, it doesn’t warm up the inside of the tub at all. It’s not very hot, anyway, just a pleasant warmth. The roaches seem to like it, because the adults are always clustered around it.

 

[jc55]

i used to keep mine around 85 degrees and feed them oranges.I would cut the orange in half and throw the halves in and they would generally consume them fairly fast and seemed to like the oranges the best.

 

[Moakmeister]

i used to keep mine around 85 degrees and feed them oranges.I would cut the orange in half and throw the halves in and they would generally consume them fairly fast and seemed to like the oranges the best.

Including the peel, I assume?

 

[jc55]

Including the peel, I assume?

Yes peel included.