Breeding dubia roaches can be fun and rewarding. Imagine being able to save money and trips to the pet store buying their marked up bugs. After an initial investment, and some time, you will have a thriving colony of dubia that will endless supply your needs.
Dubia production can be challenging without the right equipment or care. They like higher temperatures, moderate humidity, darkness, and love to eat and drink. Here is a list of items I think is crucial for the dubia to thrive and breed better.
- Dark container- I like the black and yellow 27 gallon totes from hardware stores. Dubia roaches cannot climb smooth surfaces, and usually quickly die when escaped.
- Ventilation- Depending on location, you may need more or less ventilation. Start by cutting a small square in the lid of the tote lid, 25% of the lid at first and more if you start the see condensation.
- Window screen- Use hot glue, or a soldering iron to melt the window screen over the ventilation holes you made. This will ensure no escapes.
- Climbing material- egg filler flats are the best option. I like to put some cardboard in between the flats so they stay separated. Other textures cardboards such as fast food drink holders work well for temporary.
- Heat- the best way for one or a few totes is heat mats. I like to put them underneath the tote. Heat mats can get very hot so make sure you get one with a dimmer switch, or buy a thermostat. I like the hot spot to be about 90f-93f on the inside of the tote where the heat mats is. With a gradient of temperature in the tote, the dubia can decide where they feel best.
- Dry food-Dubia roaches love to eat and drink. Having a constant source is necessary for good productivity. Dry food for dubia should be finely ground. This gives them the best chance to eat more and grow faster rather than having to tear apart the pellets. Specially formulated roaches chow is a great choice, some use non-medicated chick feed also. Just be sure to check the ingredients of any food that isn’t made for insects. Diatomaceous earth, or DE. DE is a ground up fossil essentially that drys out and kills insects when they come in contact with it. DE can be found in the food to reduce mites and other pests while being stored in bags. This can wipe out a colony very quickly. I like Mazuri brand cricket chow. This comes in 50 pound bags, so it may not be the best option for a small colony, but it works very well.
- Water- having a consistent, clean source or moisture is a must for breeding. If dubia run out, they may resort to cannibalism for the moisture and nutrients they need. Water storing crystals are a great option since dubia can drown in a dish of water. Water crystals are safe for them to ingest, and do not harm the reptile eating them either. Make sure the water crystals are safe, do not get to sphere shaped water beads. Put the hydrated crystals in a dish, start with a small amount as to not waste it. Clean the dish every 2-3 days to avoid fly larvae and frass making it gross, they do like it clean.
- Fruits and veggies- Dubia love fruits and veggies. There are many they love. I like to use apples, carrots, and squash. They have a lot of moisture, but don’t get to soft I find. Some foods like watermelon can have to much water. I find after feeding them watermelon, there is a lot of watermelon juice in the dish that can drown the roaches therefore I tend to stay away from watermelon other than using the rinds.
- Time and patience- In optimal conditions, dubia can mature in 5-6 months. They cannot breed until their final molt. After this molt, they will quickly mate within a few days. Female dubia roaches will keep their ootheca, or egg casing, in their abdomen for about 60-70 days until the babies hatch.
In conclusion, breeding dubia roaches can be a nice challenge until you get the basics down. Once established, you will have plenty of roaches to feed your pets! Over time saving money, while knowing exactly how healthy and fat the bugs are that your pets are eating. Soon you could even make a profit by selling excess roaches to locals, or giving to friends! A rewarding experience you won’t regret!