Dubia Colony Tips: Substrate or no?

[Mpaul213]

I keep millipedes and isopods that all need clean hardwood leaves, so a few extras can go to the dubias when needed.

My colony is still small, only 20 adults, but at least 60 first instar nymphs have been produced already. I have been testing with different foods and have found that they like fresh greens, cucumber, and apple best of all.

What type of greens? I feed collards occasionally. I find that mine wont touch them once they dry out.

 

[Tarzanus]

I only had a dozen or so females and now I have a whole breeder. Since the beginning I stopped giving them high protein feed, because it can harm hem in the long run and instead feed them vegetables and wheat bran. I wrote a little bit here and posted several photos on my blog. https://cold-hardy.com/orange-spotted-roach-blaptica-dubia/

They are healthy and resilient. Somehow the breeder got "infected" with Zophobas morio beetles and now I have them living in co-existence. I haven't found any problems so far, they do not seem to predate on each other and the breeder is tidy, the superworms eat any dead roach and there's no smell. I did have a few dead roaches some time ago and they can stink a bit for a day or 3. I will, however, remove all the beetles and give them into their own box. I might leave small superworm larvae to clean things up though.

I'll clean the frass in the spring. We have a cold winter now and I don't feel like cleaning inside. I will rather do it outside.

 

[ShadowSiren]

I am wanting to set up moist substrate in my feeder roach bin, not dubias like all here have talked about but Madagascar hissers, and the reason behind this is I'm finding I have a moderate allergy to the frass..I had to start covering their tote with a towel to keep the amount that's just able to fly up into the air under control, but every time I go to feed them I have a sneezing attack and lots of mucus show up all at once. Also the backs of my hands will start itching if I don't wear gloves. I bought a roach tank cleaner crew from joshes frogs (I think?) In hopes that they would keep it to a minimum but it's still just as bad about a month later or more. I'm thinking coconut coir and take my apple crates and put them on a rack above it till I can get more natural wood and stuff for them to climb on.

 

[Denthead]

I am wanting to set up moist substrate in my feeder roach bin, not dubias like all here have talked about but Madagascar hissers, and the reason behind this is I'm finding I have a moderate allergy to the frass..I had to start covering their tote with a towel to keep the amount that's just able to fly up into the air under control, but every time I go to feed them I have a sneezing attack and lots of mucus show up all at once. Also the backs of my hands will start itching if I don't wear gloves. I bought a roach tank cleaner crew from joshes frogs (I think?) In hopes that they would keep it to a minimum but it's still just as bad about a month later or more. I'm thinking coconut coir and take my apple crates and put them on a rack above it till I can get more natural wood and stuff for them to climb on.

I've been keeping hissers for over a year now, and I've never had any problems with substrate in there. If you think it will help you out, I'd say go for it.
I keep mine with a couple inches of peat moss, a layer of coco fiber on top, and hides I can easily remove and take as many as I need to from there. I introduced springtails and lesser mealworms and I've never had any problems with mold, even with "rain" every night over one side of the enclosure and leaving some foods in there longer than I should have. Springtails are angels.

If the roaches aren't frightened and they have plenty of hides, then hissers don't typically burrow like dubias or discoids. They can and will, but only when running away or when there's nowhere else for them to feel safe.