(SIGH) Okay - with all the pressure I'm starting to cave -maybe (and somehow will find a way to take you with me, Kir....)

Dubia's -- I read the threads about breeding them: keep the temps up to 85º-90º. If I buy a supply, will they just keep breeding and thus have a continual supply of food?

I saw Steve's pics of his set up -- with the rubbermaid like tote, vertical egg crates and two containers of.. something?!?

What do they eat? I think I remember I can keep them on things like carrots and potatoes (?) Can they have the cricket drink? (water jello-like substance?) What about calcium, can that be added to their diet directly or will it kill them like crickets?

Do they jump or fly? If I had them in a rubbermaid tote, would they get out when I lifted the lid?

Care and cleaning? I know with crickets, they were messy and smelly. I had to remove the piles of cricket poop all the time (and of course chase the few that managed to hop out). So what about these Dubia's?

That's all I can think of at the moment. If they are that good for the gecko's, the least I can do is look into them. BUT NO PROMISES!!

__________________
Frognut
AKA Stephanie

Where is the joy in life, without the little creatures that warm our hearts!

Breeding Blaptica Dubia

That should help you some.

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Leopard Gecko Care Guide
Volunteer Your Time

Yes, as long as you let the colony get established you will never run out of them even if you feed 10-20 per day
There is actually 3 dishes, 1 has the dry food, 1 has the fresh veggies, and 1 has the water crystals. They can NOT have calcium, it will kill them. You can buy the water crystals all over, I bought mine from the same place I got my 1st colony of roaches because I got a good deal (I bought 1 pound and I won't run out of them this year) As for what they eat, they can eat anything, since my Chinese Water Dragon won't eat fruits and veggies I feed the roaches what I would like Buddy to eat so they transfer the nutrition to him, and the dry food I bought from where I got the roaches so not sure whats in it but he feeds it to his roaches and I trust him(have corresponded a lot with him), the care sheet says dry cat food, dry dog food, sweet kids cereals, things like that.
No, Dubia's are a non-climbing, non-flying roach. As long as the tote has smooth sides there is no danger of escape. And if you are worried about it just put a 2-4 inch strip of vaseline, or use packing tape, around the top.
Dubia's have no odor and you don't need to clean the enclosure very often. Most breeders say about every 3 months but I do mine once a month(I use a separate tote and just transfer the colony to the clean tote and then I just dump the poop(it doesn't stick to stuff unless you squish it) and spilled dry food in the trash, wipe down with a damp rag and put on a shelf for the next time I need to clean)
Roaches have a better shell to meat ratio than crickets and have more nutritional value also. Anything else you need to know just ask and I'll do my best to answer you

How do you heat your plastic tote(s)? I would think an Under Tank Heater would not be good against the plastic...

And how many should I get to start a colony? I only have two Gecko's (at the moment:o), so, provided they eat them - I'm guessing about 10 each per week, as I'll still be mixing with superworms. (Unless they decide they like roaches only!). Or is that too many to expect them to eat?

Since I can't get either of them to eat much lately, anything will be better than nothing. But Gretchen used to eat 2-3 supers a night, and Hannah ate 1-2 a night.

Where do I get them? Any on-line stores you recommend?

I still can't believe I'm going to try this -- I work for a pest control company for pete's sake -- we KILL roaches!

If I get this started and they totally gross me out, I'm driving them down to Kir! (That will teach him for throwing me to the wolves!) muhahahaha!

__________________
Frognut
AKA Stephanie

Where is the joy in life, without the little creatures that warm our hearts!

Uh-huh. I know a great exterminator. Good luck and let us know how it goes. If they really aren't smelly I may convert too:o.

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Kelly

Loves Grand High Wizards who are partial to redheads

Yay! I'm glad you're considering! I would start a colony too but, alas, my parents won't let me.

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My name is Justin
Change is inevitable, progress is optional.

Oh, sure --- put the pressure on ME, when you can't have them yourself!

I haven't even brought up the idea to my husband -- that should be fun!:o

But - another question... can you leave them in a dish in the tank, like superworms? Or do I need to offer them and take out the ones that don't get eaten, like crickets?

Thanks! (I think)

__________________
Frognut
AKA Stephanie

Where is the joy in life, without the little creatures that warm our hearts!

Slow down Steph LOL I'm working on the answers

Probably just like crickets. And I would love some but I'm lucky to even have a Leo the way my dad is, let alone 100+ roaches in the house! Of course! I absolutely LOVE pressuring people! It's just so darn fun!

__________________
My name is Justin
Change is inevitable, progress is optional.

I attached an Under Tank Heater to an old picture frame glass and it works great. I do have the tote 1" above the Under Tank Heater and my temps run 93-100F(I don't have it on a thermostat) So if you attach it to the glass and use a thermostat and raise it 1/4" you'll be fine(and i'd keep them at 90F+)
It all depends, Buddy eats about 10 a day and I have about 1500 in my colony. I would think 500 would be ok to start a colony if you only expect to use 20 a week, you can always get more if that isn't enough to
I have a few I'll give you(I've posted them in other threads, and I need to get a hold of the guy I just got the new shipment from and make sure it's ok to give you his email address (he has a GREAT deal on them, WAY cheaper than anywhere else I've found but he doesn't have a web page, he just posts on the classified of another forum)
Kir is female not male
Dubia's don't have ANY odor i've been able to smell

Ok, on to the next post