Dubia Roaches/heat mat?

[Sublime]

So which do you think is better? Just a mix of both? 50/50? I mixed some oats with the cat food.

Yeah a mix. The addition of the oats your adding is good too. The next batch you make, try adding a whole grain dry breakfast cereal like Grape Nuts for a little bit of sweetness. They love sweets.

[MonsterPyxie]

I would account there eating so rapid to the numbers I have, but there is a big difference in the rate they eat it now that I have the humidity under control.

My roach chow is a higher end catfood (cant remember the brand.), oats, and a small bit of sweet cereal, ground up pretty fine. They come crawling out the egg crate in full day light for the stuff. They like oranges even more.

[Sublime]

Haha nice, yeah oranges are definitely their top priority to finish.

[Kreamcheese]

Saw a video of somebody feeding them banana baby food. The liquid/pudding consistency stuff. Have you guys ever done that?

[ViperJr]

I'm no no means an expert, so you're probably better off listening to the more experienced on this topic, but I've read that cat food is not that great. Supposedly, there's a too high concentration of... something, that's bad for the roaches. Then again, this is what I've read on the good ol' Internet, and I can't say if it's true or not. Just got me cautions enough to use dog food instead.

[Sublime]

I'm no no means an expert, so you're probably better off listening to the more experienced on this topic, but I've read that cat food is not that great. Supposedly, there's a too high concentration of... something, that's bad for the roaches. Then again, this is what I've read on the good ol' Internet, and I can't say if it's true or not. Just got me cautions enough to use dog food instead.

It's probably Taurine, cats definitely need a high concentration of this since they can not get it from other amino acids building blocks like humans and dogs can do. Taurine deficiency in cats can cause blindness, dis functioning throughout if not fed on a fed on a regular basis. Not sure if Taurine intake for roaches is bad or not, but never heard of reports saying people's roaches or pets have died from intake of using high protein cat food. Breeders that sell online recommend the stuff for its high protein value, low fat compared to other products you could be feeding them. Just get good quality cat food, should be all good.

[steest]

I know its kind of off topic, but what really will help regulate temps is Heat Tape! I just ordered some from.... Bigappleherp? I think.. and it looks perfect, and is cheaper than heat mats! You put a thermometer sensor on the tape, and it regulates itself, up to 120 degrees.

I needed to get something other than a heatpad because I bought a cheap one off amazon and it shuts off for no apparent reason, and does not get very hot. Generally unreliable. But I have been doing some reading and alot of ppl say this is the way to go

[Sublime]

@steest. Thank you! I've been looking for heat tape everywhere on the internet! No luck... Just found the stuff you're talking about on Bigapple and is a very reasonably priced. I already have a rheostat so I can control the heat that way. I have a zoo-med uth heater placed on the bottom right now, but when winter comes up I want additional heating for the dubias. This stuff is definitely the best option for placing heat around for the dubias, just couldn't find it and had to buy the zoo-med uth for now. A lot of heat pads you have to specifically look for if they have a thermostat that shuts them off after a certain temp or are timed to shut off. Look for the ones that say for 24 hour use or just buy a reptile heat pad so that you know it's going to be on 24/7. You don't have to now though, because of heat tape. +1.

[steest]

Oh no problem Sublime, glad I can finally help you for once!!!

One thing to not, not that it matters too much, I called bigapple and they said that using a rheostat with heat tape voids the warranty for some reason... Just something to think about.. I'm sure it will work fine though!

[Sublime]

Oh ok, thanks for the heads up. My rheostat doesn't handle large amounts of wattage (Won't get hotter than 110F), they probably just say that for the people that are trying to get it above the heat limit.

[steest]

Wait, i might be completly off-base, but if your rheostat does not handle large amounts of wattage, wouldnt that be a hazard.. (i have no idea about these things haha)

[Sublime]

The higher wattage something can handle = the hotter it can get. My rheostat is designed by Zoo-Med, therefore they didn't intend for it to get to a unsafe temperature for your herps or in my case dubias .

[MonsterPyxie]

guys, be VERY VERY careful with heattape. It can get out of control.

i used it to heat my reticulated pythons, and bermese pythons, they where all on a temperature controller. Not sure if the probe slipped off the heat tape or what, but the heat tape burned a hole right through there container (high density tupperware, rated at around 250+*, and melted the carpet under the stone it was sitting on.

might have just been my bad experience, but I'm not really willing to get near the stuff at the moment. Something that can get that hot is not going near my critters.

[Sublime]

Oh damn, that is a bad experience with heat tape. Where did you buy the heat tape from because I've never seen it anywhere else besides this Flex Watt brand? I know the one being sold on Bigapple doesn't elevate past 120F at maxed out wattage.

[MonsterPyxie]

Oh damn, that is a bad experience with heat tape. Where did you buy the heat tape from because I've never seen it anywhere else besides this Flex Watt brand? I know the one being sold on Bigapple doesn't elevate past 120F at maxed out wattage.

I got it from a reptile show from a reputable breeder. Its the type you can cut to size, and attach the power cord too.

like this:
â–ºFlex Watt 11" heat tape reptile cage heater warmerâ—„ | eBay

[Sublime]

I got it from a reptile show from a reputable breeder. Its the type you can cut to size, and attach the power cord too.

like this:
â–ºFlex Watt 11" heat tape reptile cage heater warmerâ—„ | eBay

Yeah, that's the same stuff I was going to buy. I can't believe the burned through the whole tub and carpet, that definitely doesn't pass in my house. I'm not risking fire or endangering my precious dubias lol. It doesn't have a lot of wattage unless you use an extensive length, that's weird that it got that hot for you. Did you ever contact the seller and describe your problem. I would kind of like to know how it got that hot, besides the fact of the thermostat or rheostat you were using did not regulate it.

[MonsterPyxie]

Yeah, that's the same stuff I was going to buy. I can't believe the burned through the whole tub and carpet, that definitely doesn't pass in my house. I'm not risking fire or endangering my precious dubias lol. It doesn't have a lot of wattage unless you use an extensive length, that's weird that it got that hot for you. Did you ever contact the seller and describe your problem. I would kind of like to know how it got that hot, besides the fact of the thermostat or rheostat you were using did not regulate it.

Im still using the same rheostat to this day, so its not that. IDK how it could have got that hot honestly. only thing that comes to mind is the temperature built from the big heavy bin trapping the heat or something.

i never contacted the person, they still sponsor our local reptile show, and is the main vendor there. I think I spent like $4 or $6 on it.

much rather spend $30 on a zoo med large mat, then risk the animal at this point.

[Sublime]

Yeah definitely, that's what I did.

[steest]

Did you put electrical tape on the side that you cut? Since it is made to also be able to be longer increments. If you cut it the ends still have current running through them, which could have led to your problem. Thats what they say in the tutorial anyway haha.

[MonsterPyxie]

Did you put electrical tape on the side that you cut? Since it is made to also be able to be longer increments. If you cut it the ends still have current running through them, which could have led to your problem. Thats what they say in the tutorial anyway haha.

I am unsure as this was 2 years ago. The vendor/breeder set up the tape when you bought it. Asked how much you wanted and she attached the powercord.

i'm pretty sure it was a skinny strip, about 3-4" wide, and the powercord was attached to one end.

I don't remember them sealing the side they cut in any way.