Mine are on top of a Viv so gets its heart source from there.
I love it when I mist and put food in as they come from everywhere. They have lots of egg boxes to hide in and I know they like the dark
4 Likes
Theyāre in the dining room which is used as a storage area. My dog is never near there and she doesnāt have any flea or tick chemicals (ie repellent collar). I used unused egg cartons and new eco earth substrate. I never misted it and it was getting dry which I think was the problem, especially since females were dropping their egg sacs.
1 Like
I have read that dubia require citrus fruit in several places, but I have no idea if thatās true or not. I give mine the jellies from Roach World, and they really like them, but I donāt know if theyāre necessary. Maybe try offering some organic citrus & see if there is an obvious positive effect?
1 Like
If anything Iāve given them too much citrus, I feed them oranges about every other feeding. I am going to try some premade roach bran and I will also give them some bug burger and see what happens. Theyāre still reproducing quickly so Iām wondering it the dying ones were just old 
1 Like
Possibly, maybe try a more varied diet.
Ours have apples, potatoes, bananas, romain lettuce, strawberries, carrots, grapes, dog food, pearā¦
Anything that are okay for your reptiles, I tend to avoid citrus fruits like oranges but thatās because they arenāt very good for cresties.
When I put food in, I also mist and they all come out looking for the food so maybe try that as it might be the food is sitting there a while before they get to it and maybe not as tasty so they are less likely to want it?
2 Likes
How often do you feed? Do you feed daily and each day take the old food out?
1 Like
I feed every other day, taking out old food as I put in new food. I forgot to add banana skin, it is a favourite with my dubia roaches.
Although I might do it more regularly in summer to stop flies etc.
I tend to put food in one section so itās easier to remove.
2 Likes
Also I donāt bother them.
My husband will once a month will go through what is small enough to use for my Cresties and then I donāt bother them again till next month, other than to remove and place food
1 Like
When left to their own devices do you think that they will still keep their sex ratio (ideal 1:7-9) or do you have to sometimes remove adult males?
1 Like
I havenāt yet, but I have read a 3:1 ratio is best.
Weāre due to check them this month & that is something we will be starting to look at. Iām hoping to have more females than males 
From most of what Iāve read 5:1 Females:Males is the minimum Iāve seen but the recommended is 1:7-9. Otherwise the number of males will stress out females by trying to breed and they stress each other out by competing. Too little and there isnāt any healthy competition.
I apologise, I was meant to say minimum not best sorry. Iām multitasking as middle of the night with a sick child.
Thank you for letting me know about the ratio difference, Iād obviously rather something like 7 or 9:1 ratio but I will keep in mind min of 5:1 ratio.
I hadnāt done much research in that area just yet as they were still to small, other than when I was first buying the breeding colony. I started with 15:5 and was a slow start, now I know why.
1 Like
No need to apologise, we all make mistakes. Iām just trying to learn whatās best for my animals (including roaches). I always wonder about different information in different countries too. Hopefully we can all learn something to improve our husbandry.
1 Like
I agree. Iām glad you mentioned the ratio as that will help me when it comes to sorting them out.
I just need to decide what to do with the extra males when I get them.
I definitely recommend leaving them be as much as possible at the beginning as they are more likely to feel comfortable to breed.
1 Like
Iām going to essentially āforgetā about the colony for a few months until I get gecko hatchlings to eat them so the dubias will breed and will be extremely prolific. Iām going to sex the baby dubias when I collect them and feed off most of the males to prevent an excess of adult males. If I do get adult males Iām likely going to sell them for people who have larger animals (monitors) so they can feed them. Or even better I will get a garbage disposal (snapping turtle, monitor, etc.) that I will feed excess items.
1 Like
I might need to do donāt research on which reptiles eat them 
Iām not sure how it works with selling roaches but it might be worth looking into it I get lots.
Iāve been trying to feed off what look like the males but as I need nympths to small size, itās quite difficult so will have to see how Iāve done lol
2 Likes
Iām going to be vending tables at expos when I get hatchlings and Iām planning to sell a ton of supplies like feeders from my colonies, reptiles, hides, enclosures, supplies, etc. So it would fit right in.
2 Likes
Apparently Iāve reached my limit on likes so I canāt like your comment!
That makes sense, Iām not one for selling at expo, Iām more for buying at expos It gets way to crowded and busy for me.
Iām more of a collector! Although I plan on breeding Cresties and ball pythons in the near future
2 Likes
Last week Iāve added buffalo beetles. As soon as I put them in they started to climb up the sides. After I added another barrier of sunflower oil most canāt climb but Iāve seen a couple running around the room. 
After Iāve started keeping the tank humid the death rates have significantly decreased and Iāve seen a lot more babies. As soon as the current babies are adults Iāll likely start feeding off some of them.
2 Likes
Any update on the pothos? Did your dubias eat the pothos or leave it alone?
1 Like