Dubia Roaches/heat mat?

[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.

[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.