WTF diet and breeding Dubia roaches

[JeffreH]

Good question about the protein - as far as I know from experience in using high protein foods and from talking to few roach hobbyists, the protein is probably an exaggerated need of cockroaches. In nature, most cockroaches are pretty efficient decomposers and likely feed more heavily on carbon-rich organic matter. Excessive protein in the diet may lead to larger overall sized roaches, but their actual fitness and morbidity with exposure to abnormally high protein may be at stake as a result.

The true need seems to be moisture/hydration. Most high protein food items like dog kibble contains substantially more moisture and protein than say, chicken feed, that will be significantly drier. While it doesn't appear so to us, on the mico-level that insects live in a difference in moisture content by only a few %'s can be dramatic. Many of the species we culture as food for our herps are tropical species, afterall. I think many hobbyists have neglected to consider moisture content in food as a more viable preference option that the protein content. I've raised cultures of several species on an almost exclusively fruit and veggie/leaf diet with no ill effects. I do want to emphaize the need for moisture in the DIET...not in the enclosure. Excessive moisture in the bin can lead to bacteria and mold growth.


Roaches are pretty generalistic in their feeding preferences. For whatever reason, there is speculation that oranges increase reproduction. I've never noticed any staggering change to my colonies in offering oranges and any other single food item, but it never hurts to try. As long as they are given some dry grain base diet and are provided with plenty of hydration (water crystals, fruit, greens, salad items, etc) and adequate space and heat, they will thrive and breed without much effort. In order to make them best for your frog - feed quality dry baby cereals, cat or dog kibble, and/or fish food as a dry grain base and offer fruit and salad items a couple of times a week. This is usually adequate to keep the roaches thriving and reproducing while offering an ideal gutload for your frog's benefit.

Ideal temperatures for B. dubia production is probably in the mid 80's.

KittyKat - Feel free to PM me if you'd like a list of a few locations to where you can find private sellers of feeder roaches. I'm not sure we are allowed to link to other forums on the website. I've personally done business with the following and have been most pleased... although I was obtaining more "exotic" species for collecting rather than feeding so prices may be on the steeper end:
Aaron Pauling.com
Greg's Exotic Inverts Home - Greg's Exotic Inverts
DoubleDs
Home - Roach Crossing

I apologize if I repeated anything that has already been said ; )