Dubia roach colony bucket

[KevinsWither]

Is it possible to raise a good amount of roaches (Dubias) in a bucket? The bucket is 5 gallons and that egg crate will be used. Would a heating cable on the bottom of the bucket work? I also plan to make ventilation holes with screen metal mesh.

 

[Tenevanica]

A bucket would work just fine. The keys to breeding dubias are heat, fruit, and dark hiding spots. An opaque bucket might actually be ideal. Use whatever heat source works best for you!

 

[KevinsWither]

Any heat source for the bucket? On the bottom of it? Will it be big enough for medium production? Do you need substrate?

 

[pannaking22]

You can go as fancy or simple on the heat source as you'd like. Since it's the summer and my bug room tends to stay warmer, I just leave them be. If it gets too chilly during the winter I put a small heat mat on the side of the enclosure. Once your colony gets going it should be good enough for medium production. Substrate is optional. I keep the bottom of mine bare, but I know others use a layer of newspaper or even cocofiber sometimes.

 

[KevinsWither]

Could a heating pad work for a bucket bottom?

 

[Blackout14]

Could always wrap it in heat rope then cover that in foil tape. Would help reflect the heat inward and hold the rope on. Plus you would have a very shiny bucket when you are done

 

[KevinsWither]

Could always wrap it in heat rope then cover that in foil tape. Would help reflect the heat inward and hold the rope on. Plus you would have a very shiny bucket when you are done

Good idea but I do not know about using heat rope. I am a little unsure about it. Now will the heat at least radiate upwards if a big heating pad is used (like an exo terra 8x8 heating pad)? How many could potentially be in the bucket at a time? Any cleanup crews for dead bodies and feces?

 

[Blackout14]

Good idea but I do not know about using heat rope. I am a little unsure about it. Now will the heat at least radiate upwards if a big heating pad is used (like an exo terra 8x8 heating pad)? How many could potentially be in the bucket at a time? Any cleanup crews for dead bodies and feces?

Heat rope works just as well as a heat pad but will provide more even hear in a tall bucket. Heat Mat will work find on the bottom as well. I have no cleanup crews roaches really don't smell in a few months you will want buckets with different size holes drilled in em to seperate em out but that's about it they aren't to hard

 

[Dark]

Heat sources make me anxious so all my roaches are kept at room temperature & my dubias still breed. This summer the dubias are kept at roughly 75 F during the day and around 67 - 68 F at night and I still get babies. If you don't care about not having tremendous numbers I don't think a heating element is necessary. Plus like pannaking22 said, it's summer so if I really want to boost my numbers I just keep them in a non air conditioned room and allow the natural heat that seeps in to help me out. Good luck, a bucket sounds like a smart idea for a colony, I might do that at some point.

Eric

 

[Kumo Punch]

I keep a couple my Dubia roach colonies this way. I don't give any supplemental heat but I'm in SoCal. They seem to tolerate cooler conditions during the winter and production explodes during the warmer months. I've kept other roaches like orange heads in the same manner and they didn't survive with cooler winter temps.

 

[runCMD]

@KevinsWither did this work out for you? I've just finished my setup and will be adding some adult females and males to the bucket soon.

 

[KevinsWither]

I got a much larger container, but for discoids. I like the discoids as they are always active and grow a bit larger than dubias. Now, I was thinking of doing a 4 gallon panchola nivea colony.

 

[runCMD]

Ah bummer - really hoping my bucket project will work out and wanted to get the confirmation like every noob wants

 

[KevinsWither]

Ah bummer - really hoping my bucket project will work out and wanted to get the confirmation like every noob wants

Actually it could work and I found a way as it works for almost every suitable container including buckets, use heating cable and wrap it around the bucket (1.75 inches apart) and then put vents in the lid.

 

[runCMD]

I did you one better: http://arachnoboards.com/threads/small-dubia-housing.291091/

Just lowered the temperature so that it hits 80 max though(I was running at 85) to try to prevent the Dermestids I just added from flying.

 

[KevinsWither]

That is quite an excellent bucket setup. Frankly from what ecology taught me is that normally the larger the space, the more roaches you can sustain forever. With adequate resources and whatnot.

 

[runCMD]

Thanks! I'm already worried I'll have too many with only 3 Ts and I don't want to waste time trying to sell them to support my hobby that I just expect to spend money on anyways . We'll see what happens but the bucket is small and portable which I like.

 

[KevinsWither]

Here is my own setup with the bucket:

B discoid roach colony

• KevinsWither
• Mar 15, 2017
• 2

This is how I set it up with a heating cable

B discoid roach colony

• KevinsWither
• Mar 15, 2017

Interior

 

[runCMD]

Nice thanks for the update. I like how you turned it sideways. In my case attaching the screw-on/off lid has been a lifesaver. I already have babies that I am able to feed my C. Versicolor sling on so I am calling this a success. I am a little concerned that I believe most of my dermestidae have either died off or matured into beetles. Hoping they reproduce and I see pupae cleaning up old skins/etc soon.

 

[KevinsWither]

Another thing that I was going to do is fin done of those lids that can close/open with out taking off the lid. That way I can simply when I need to clean or get a few open the flap and get the roaches. I would do dubias, only thing is that they can smell sometimes and that they play dead. Now if I did that for p nivea roaches. Actually now thinking about it, I can potentially do a bunch of roach colonies in 5 gallon buckets (with the exception of very few species).

PS... Hmm there is potentially a very nice idea to do the same, but with a barrel or plastic trash can and like a crap load of roaches....