Dubia Roaches/heat mat?

[ViperJr]

Yeah I've heard that dubias don't require substantial amounts of moisture in the air, they can do fine in drier climates. Just a few people from experience including "MonsterPyxie" said that the higher the humidity was for them the more the dubias started to breed at a faster pace. I know that they do require a little bit of moisture though to molt through their cycles without have an unsuccessful molt and dying off. I'm sure there's enough humidity in mine as of now, I just wanted to get optimal range for humidity to bump up the breeding process since my temperature is perfect. Thanks for the clarification, is your colony really thriving? How many are you up to right now after you started out?

I don't really have any numbers for you, but perhaps around 600. And yes, they're breeding. I usually see one female with eggs every other day.

Sidenote about the food: I've read hundreds of different opinions on what to feed them. I just use the cheapest dog food there is and it's working do far.

[Kreamcheese]

I plan to use cat food. Any difference in nutrition between cat and dog food for the roaches?

[Sublime]

I plan to use cat food. Any difference in nutrition between cat and dog food for the roaches?

Cats have a much higher protein requirement then dogs, so crude protein in cat food is going to be higher than most dog foods. Also cat food is going to have a lot more meat products in the ingredients including essential vitamins that dogs don't need or can convert. Dog food will have higher grain products with the addition of meat and plant products.

[Kreamcheese]

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

[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.

[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]

I don't really have any numbers for you, but perhaps around 600. And yes, they're breeding. I usually see one female with eggs every other day.

Sidenote about the food: I've read hundreds of different opinions on what to feed them. I just use the cheapest dog food there is and it's working do far.

The roach chow I made at home with a coffee grinder is: Beneful dog food, Fancy Feast dry cat food, Oats, Grape Nuts cereal.

I could add some more to the ingredients like powdered milk, etc., but I don't want to go overboard with it. That's cool that it's working out for you though.