new to B. dubia and B. lateralis

[skips]

I've had really good luck with dubias, often selling off my extras. Here's how I do it. A tub with a reptile heat pad underneath (8 watt). Screen in the top for air. I use egg cartons and no substrate. They make their own substrate. Keep it dry. Humidity is very low in my house in winter. Apple slices every 2-3 days for moisture. Dry cat food for food. They need high-protein food to breed. I put the food in an open egg carton on top, so if it gets damp and moldy, I can quickly remove all of it. There is no smell. They actually re-eat their own droppings. If dry, they don't smell at all. It's in my bedroom on top of a bookcase, and if it smelled, I'd know it. I have extra now if anyone wants some.

Thanks. Will a reptile heat pad melt a plastic tub? If not, what brand do you have? Thanks for the dubia offer, really. We just ordered more though.

Do you feed them anything other than corn meal? They've got to have some kind of protein, correct?

 

[dfourer]

Skips,
Don't glue the reptile heat pad onto the plastic. They don't melt plastic. After a few hours, feel the bottom of the plastic with your hand--it should be pretty warm above the heat pad, but not burning hot.

Just corn meal sounds a little spare. They might be missing some part of a balanced diet, and it's not high in protein. I bought a two-pound bag of the cheapest dry cat food for about $2. I've heard of using chicken feed mix. Everyone says some fresh vegetable or fruit is helpful, but I don't know. I just know they consume fruit slices very fast and it's a convenient way to give them some water.

If you need some later, contact me. I'm always having more than I need.

David

 

[skips]

Skips,
Don't glue the reptile heat pad onto the plastic. They don't melt plastic. After a few hours, feel the bottom of the plastic with your hand--it should be pretty warm above the heat pad, but not burning hot.

Just corn meal sounds a little spare. They might be missing some part of a balanced diet, and it's not high in protein. I bought a two-pound bag of the cheapest dry cat food for about $2. I've heard of using chicken feed mix. Everyone says some fresh vegetable or fruit is helpful, but I don't know. I just know they consume fruit slices very fast and it's a convenient way to give them some water.

If you need some later, contact me. I'm always having more than I need.

David

Got it. We might try the heat pad a bit later, especially after we finally clean out the substrate we have in there. We did buy some cat food, but someone said something about not feeding them catfood with taurine in it, so we returned it. We give them fish flakes now, but they just tear through them. I'll keep you in mind if I ever have the need for more. thank you again.