Questions about Dubai roaches

[Anonymity82]

Well, I was able to find a LPS that has Dubai roaches and it's only 5 minutes away. I'm excited to start using them. They only charged around 10 cents a piece too regardless of size.

So, I don't plan on breeding them, after all I only have two spiders right now. So I have 8 roaches in a short deli container with a few crickets that I didn't want to throw out into the cold. On one side I have crushed dog food and whole oat pieces. On the other side I have a rolled up damp paper towel. In the middle I have a piece of egg crate. I added some sliced carrots that I will change every couple of days too. I have a feeling that I will be caring for these roaches for awhile since I can't just buy 2 or 3 at a time and my obt is only an inch and the other is a G. rosea who may stop eating any day for months-years. That's okay though, they are pretty cool little creatures. I'm trying not to become attached because... well you know.

So does this sound like these living conditions will keep them alive until I need them?

One of the roaches had something on one of its legs. It looked like a build up of something. Like a cauliflower floret. It broke off easily and then some liquid came out of the remainder of the leg and it had a horrible smell. Unfortunately, this one got tossed outside into the cold. Does anyone have any idea what this is? Is this a disease? Should I not use these roaches? Thanks!

 

[Bugs In Cyberspace]

I can't say that I'm attached to my dubia roaches, but I manage to enjoy them as pets in their own right and enjoy watching my tarantulas consume them all the same. Cycle of life, and all. They make lots for a reason and I'll bet spiders are a better, more natural reason than for the eyes of any pet keeper. Playing around there, a bit.

Yes, that diet will suit them just fine, and actually exceeds their minimal requirements, in truth. Of course, healthy feeders are important for the tarantula.

Sounds like you picked off a pretty funky scab. Careful please about mentioning the release of non-natives into the outdoors. We're not the only ones reading this.

I wouldn't worry about the other roaches if they appear otherwise as normal. I'd have culled that particular one, as well.

 

[Anonymity82]

I can't say that I'm attached to my dubia roaches, but I manage to enjoy them as pets in their own right and enjoy watching my tarantulas consume them all the same. Cycle of life, and all. They make lots for a reason and I'll bet spiders are a better, more natural reason than for the eyes of any pet keeper. Playing around there, a bit.

Yes, that diet will suit them just fine, and actually exceeds their minimal requirements, in truth. Of course, healthy feeders are important for the tarantula.

Sounds like you picked off a pretty funky scab. Careful please about mentioning the release of non-natives into the outdoors. We're not the only ones reading this.

I wouldn't worry about the other roaches if they appear otherwise as normal. I'd have culled that particular one, as well.

Yeah, thanks. It's below freezing tonight so I'm pretty sure it's not going to make it out there but I definitely get your point. My two T's are refusing to eat them right now. I don't know why, but I'm assuming if I leave them there for a few hours they might. If they don't I'll take them out tomorrow and just try again in a few days. I think it's because they're used to fast moving, jumpy crickets. Also, my rose is extremely upset right now. She really doesn't want me in there with my giant tweezers picking out poop or trying to shove a roach in here face. I'll leave her alone.

Do you think I need to keep the damp paper towel in there? Would carrots supply enough water? I can keep it in there but it's hard to keep the food on one side and the damp towel on the other. I thought about a bottle cap for the food but it's just such a small amount of space I think it would just get knocked over. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Bugs In Cyberspace]

Dubia can tolerate more dryness than a tarantula can, so don't worry too much. A bit of carrot or apple would supply plenty of moisture aside from what you offer the tarantula already. Thick-bodied roaches like this (and most roaches) can usually go a month or two without obvious access to "food". I commonly find a roach or two when I'm cleaning out an old predatory bug or reptile tank that has been seemingly empty for months. The dubia aren't nearly so sensitive or demanding as crickets. It's a good feeder choice if your tarantulas get used to them. I try to strategically drop the roaches into the tarantula burrows/webs so that they initiate immediate feeding responses. I agree about crickets generally being more enticing, but you should be able to make both feeders work just fine.

 

[Anonymity82]

Dubia can tolerate more dryness than a tarantula can, so don't worry too much. A bit of carrot or apple would supply plenty of moisture aside from what you offer the tarantula already. Thick-bodied roaches like this (and most roaches) can usually go a month or two without obvious access to "food". I commonly find a roach or two when I'm cleaning out an old predatory bug or reptile tank that has been seemingly empty for months. The dubia aren't nearly so sensitive or demanding as crickets. It's a good feeder choice if your tarantulas get used to them. I try to strategically drop the roaches into the tarantula burrows/webs so that they initiate immediate feeding responses. I agree about crickets generally being more enticing, but you should be able to make both feeders work just fine.

Thanks! One of my roaches burrowed in the tarantulas cage last night and I found it today. I will keep trying to feed them the roaches but if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Do you know of any roaches that don't burrow and run a lot more than dubais? I can't order any special roaches right now because I only have 2 T's and don't need an entire colony, but I plan on having many in the future. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Bugs In Cyberspace]

There are a lot of roaches in the hobby that fit that description, but lateralis Turkestans are the most popular.

 

[catfishrod69]

watch feeding with those oats also..they contain grain mite eggs, and a little moisture will make them hatch. and then you are asking for a pest thats impossible to get completely rid of..

 

[KenTheBugGuy]

watch feeding with those oats also..they contain grain mite eggs, and a little moisture will make them hatch. and then you are asking for a pest thats impossible to get completely rid of..

Unfortunately grain mites are just around really and can crawl in at anytime. They are in our kitchens yards and lots of places Keeping cages clean and letting them dry a little helps controle them. Also Hyposis miles mites do a good job on them too....

 

[catfishrod69]

i didnt know that.. i used dry oat bedding for my roaches when i first got them, and some water gel crystals spilled on the oats...man that started something. I have learned to mostly control them though. never heard of the Hyposis miles mites. do they also attack other mites?

Unfortunately grain mites are just around really and can crawl in at anytime. They are in our kitchens yards and lots of places Keeping cages clean and letting them dry a little helps controle them. Also Hyposis miles mites do a good job on them too....

 

[KenTheBugGuy]

i didnt know that.. i used dry oat bedding for my roaches when i first got them, and some water gel crystals spilled on the oats...man that started something. I have learned to mostly control them though. never heard of the Hyposis miles mites. do they also attack other mites?

they are a preditory mite that feeds on dirt gnats and other mites. We treat our roaches and milliipede cages with them about every 6 months ...whenever I notice some grain mite out breaks.

 

[catfishrod69]

thats really cool. i got a few random mites in with one of my centipedes. they have a slight brownish tint to them, and are fast. not slow like grain mites. not sure what they are, but they never attached to the pede. i just rehoused him, and never noticed any problems with them.

they are a preditory mite that feeds on dirt gnats and other mites. We treat our roaches and milliipede cages with them about every 6 months ...whenever I notice some grain mite out breaks.

 

[KenTheBugGuy]

thats really cool. i got a few random mites in with one of my centipedes. they have a slight brownish tint to them, and are fast. not slow like grain mites. not sure what they are, but they never attached to the pede. i just rehoused him, and never noticed any problems with them.

Might be something else like spring tails...if they jump thats what they are if not could just be a fast moving mite of some type. Mites are everywhere....they even live on you and in your bed...ewwww

 

[catfishrod69]

nope not springtails..definitely mites..yeah im not a big fan of mites..found a outbreak of grain mites on my kitchen table once. found some cereal that got wet. about the coolest thing i found that was close to mite like, was a Psuedoscorpion.

Might be something else like spring tails...if they jump thats what they are if not could just be a fast moving mite of some type. Mites are everywhere....they even live on you and in your bed...ewwww

 

[KenTheBugGuy]

nope not springtails..definitely mites..yeah im not a big fan of mites..found a outbreak of grain mites on my kitchen table once. found some cereal that got wet. about the coolest thing i found that was close to mite like, was a Psuedoscorpion.

I agree the mites annoy the heck out of me. Psuedoscorpions are neat though and we have a colony of those we are breeding on purpose...they live off the spring tail colonies we have

 

[catfishrod69]

i have been thinking of trying to breed Psuedoscorpions. i read that they eat mites and springtails. might be interesting to have a small colony of them. i found one while i was cleaning out a old rabbit cage. might find some more come springtime when i clean it again..

I agree the mites annoy the heck out of me. Psuedoscorpions are neat though and we have a colony of those we are breeding on purpose...they live off the spring tail colonies we have

 

[KenTheBugGuy]

i have been thinking of trying to breed Psuedoscorpions. i read that they eat mites and springtails. might be interesting to have a small colony of them. i found one while i was cleaning out a old rabbit cage. might find some more come springtime when i clean it again..

Good luck I rarely see them so hope you do find more

 

[catfishrod69]

thanks man.

Good luck I rarely see them so hope you do find more

 

[KenTheBugGuy]

no problem

 

[Anonymity82]

Wow! I have never seen any mites anywhere! That's a little bit scary haha. Well, I have some whole grain oats in there with dog food and some cheerios. I'm trying to keep the damp paper towel on one side and the rest of the food on the other side. Are these mites dangerous for T's? I'll take the damp paper towel out of there if I could. The feeders really seem to enjoy it though.

 

[catfishrod69]

the grain mites cant hurt anything. but they are just a bothersome pest. you could use a water bowl with gel crystals instead.