breeding some dubia

[Baloo]

I had an order sent to me of 12 adults and 10 males and some juveniles. They were shipped from one end of the country to the other and it took about 8 days. Unfortunately the seller shipped them with cabbage and celery and being very perishable it got pretty moldy. Thankfully only half a dozen or so died. I haven't done a full count yet but I seem to have quite a few adults and 6-7 babies and a couple juvies.

I separated all the live ones and hot rinsed the container and put in the only veggie I had available (broccoli).
I'm looking to get apples, cabbage, carrots and maybe kale or spinach or mandarins. An recommendations?

[JeffreH]

They'll thrive on any and all of those things. If you want them good and gutloaded for your herps, I'd feed a high quality dry feed along with nutrient dense produce (the things you've mentioned sound great).

Fruits, veggies, and/or greens will provide most (if not all) of their moisture intake. I'd also recommend a dry, grain-based gutload as well. Non-medicated chick feed, fish food, baby cereal, dog/cat kibble, etc.

[Baloo]

Thanks Jeff. The seller recommended I didn't try grains or breads cause he got mites. However he seems to leave them unattained for long periods of time so I think that's due to not checking in on them and giving them fresh food. I am going to the pet store to get some high quality cat food and rolled oats. :-) they demolished that orange and lots of chew marks in the veggies :-) good.

[Baloo]

I picked u p some high quality cat food today. Simply Nourish High Protein - grain free. It doesn't seem to have any by-products or cornmeal. Its called Fish & Chicken. I just need a coffee grinder which I won't be able to get until next Monday. I hope its okay for them to go without protein for 2 weeks.

[MatthewM1]

High protein isn't really a necessity, I feed all my roaches a mix of fruits, veggies and grains. And they all grow and breed like crazy.

[Baloo]

Thanks for the advice. I have no heat pad, but the seller said his bred anyway and seemed healthy.
I have rolled oats I was thinking of giving them.

I got 5 adult males, 15+ adult females and some babies. I'm hoping they'll breed soon. I have them in a small sterilite tub now with 2 egg flats and food.

[Baloo]

Yeah before I posted here I went out and bought high protein cat food. Oops. That's what I had been told to get. I still have just 5 adult males and at least 15 plus females and with some fast growing juvies. There are babies in there, I can't tell if they're new ones. How fast do babies grow?

They are in a tub in the bathroom. Its small though, egg flats in there and a dish of food. No heat source (yet). Seems like grains is what I'm lacking.

[Ash]

High protein is not needed for dubia roaches. A varied grain/veggie- fruit based diet supplies plenty of protein. Give them a bit of cat food once in a while thrown in with other foods. Feed mostly the former and all is well. I have Thousands of dubia and I have found protein level of 12-13% is needed to prevent cannibalism. I market a grain based feed that is slightly lower and provides enough protein without causing toxemia or uric acid build up.