Dubia nymphs playing dead

[VoiletVenom]

Title says it all, few things are as frustrating as watching that stand off "who moves first" that always seems to happen with Dubia nymphs. Was feeding a P. Cambridgei sling tonight and that went on for 5 minutes before I gave up and moved on. Is there anything I can do make the nymphs move and run around?

 

[pannaking22]

The spider should still catch it when it eventually moves, but I agree, it's really frustrating to watch that happen. If you poke at them a bit after dropping them in that usually gets them to run around a little bit. Either that or try to tweezer feed your spider.

 

[WeightedAbyss75]

You could cut the heads off with scizzors or crush the heads. That way, they can't burrow and will probably act more sparatically. I use S. lateralis roaches instead, since they are very hyper and breed well. They're a better version of crix!

 

[EulersK]

Yeah, what @WeightedAbyss75 said - just cut off the heads. It's not prekilling they prey, because they'll still kick for hours (and sometimes days) after losing a head.

 

[jaw6053]

I didn't want to start a new thread with the same problem. I am wanting more answers on this topic. I just flung my 3-4" T. Albopilosum about 8 inches up and onto the corner of the enclosure because I used a stick to poke the dubia and it reacted so fast, I had no idea it could move that fast and I jerked. I got it settled back in and it had another standoff with the roach but this time I just put the lid back on and put back on the shelf.

So I moved onto the GBB slings and the pic says it all. I am now so annoyed with Dubia that I would like more options as to what I should start a colony of ? The only problem with red runners is they can infest your house and not that I would let them get out but anything is possible and not sure its worth the rist.

What other options can I use as the main food source for my T's ?

Are hornworms good as the main food source ?

 

[Dry Desert]

I didn't want to start a new thread with the same problem. I am wanting more answers on this topic. I just flung my 3-4" T. Albopilosum about 8 inches up and onto the corner of the enclosure because I used a stick to poke the dubia and it reacted so fast, I had no idea it could move that fast and I jerked. I got it settled back in and it had another standoff with the roach but this time I just put the lid back on and put back on the shelf.

So I moved onto the GBB slings and the pic says it all. I am now so annoyed with Dubia that I would like more options as to what I should start a colony of ? The only problem with red runners is they can infest your house and not that I would let them get out but anything is possible and not sure its worth the rist.

What other options can I use as the main food source for my T's ?

Are hornworms good as the main food source ?

There are many other types of roaches that are used as feeders. The green banana roach, the death head roach and probably others. I think Dubias are so common as they are easy to keep and breed like crazy. If you are feeling adventurous you could always start a colony of silk worms. For the smaller T's / slings wax worms are a good choice, even blow flay larvae, maggots can be used purchased from your local fishing tackle store, just don't buy the coloured ones as they are dyed.

 

[jaw6053]

There are many other types of roaches that are used as feeders. The green banana roach, the death head roach and probably others. I think Dubias are so common as they are easy to keep and breed like crazy. If you are feeling adventurous you could always start a colony of silk worms. For the smaller T's / slings wax worms are a good choice, even blow flay larvae, maggots can be used purchased from your local fishing tackle store, just don't buy the coloured ones as they are dyed.

@Dry Desert After I posted this I read a ton of threads about dubia playing dead/dubia in general and found people saying to crush the heads. So, I went to my T room and tried that. I cut the head off instead but it ran when I tossed it in and worked out perfectly. I am going to continue with the colony of Dubia after finding out that works.

I was so annoyed at the time i had posted above as I had just sat down from trying to feed my T's and I do not have the patience for the dubia playing dead, with my T having one leg on top of it. They just sit there like that forever. I had tried poking the one with a skewer stick and my T. Albopilosum reacted so fast, must of grabbed the stick and I jerked. Luckily it only flew up in the air and over about 8 inches onto the top corner of its enclosure. I cupped in and put it back in, waited 10 minutes and tried again. The dubia played dead again w/ the T having a leg on top of it. After that I just put the lid back on and came down and posted above.

 

[Dry Desert]

@Dry Desert After I posted this I read a ton of threads about dubia playing dead/dubia in general and found people saying to crush the heads. So, I went to my T room and tried that. I cut the head off instead but it ran when I tossed it in and worked out perfectly. I am going to continue with the colony of Dubia after finding out that works.

I was so annoyed at the time i had posted above as I had just sat down from trying to feed my T's and I do not have the patience for the dubia playing dead, with my T having one leg on top of it. They just sit there like that forever. I had tried poking the one with a skewer stick and my T. Albopilosum reacted so fast, must of grabbed the stick and I jerked. Luckily it only flew up in the air and over about 8 inches onto the top corner of its enclosure. I cupped in and put it back in, waited 10 minutes and tried again. The dubia played dead again w/ the T having a leg on top of it. After that I just put the lid back on and came down and posted above.

Some keepers don't fancy head crushing or cutting off heads, I personally wouldn't bother, to much faffing around. If you are okay with it, go for it.

 

[jaw6053]

There are many other types of roaches that are used as feeders. The green banana roach, the death head roach and probably others. I think Dubias are so common as they are easy to keep and breed like crazy. If you are feeling adventurous you could always start a colony of silk worms. For the smaller T's / slings wax worms are a good choice, even blow flay larvae, maggots can be used purchased from your local fishing tackle store, just don't buy the coloured ones as they are dyed.

@Dry Desert Are the silkworms you mention the same thing as Hornworms ?

 

[Dry Desert]

@Dry Desert Are the silkworms you mention the same thing as Hornworms ?

No, similar . I think Hornworms are common in US, I don't think they are available in UK. Too many alternatives.