Dubia roaches are medium to large sized cockroach species. They are common, inexpensive, and make a great food item for large tarantulas, reptiles, fishes, and large centipedes. It is a favorite Bearded Dragon food, so people breed these roaches for feeding their pet dragons. They have an extremely soft exoskeleton. Dubia roaches possess wings but can rarely fly. Moreover, they cannot climb on smooth, vertical surfaces. They do not require any special handling, but since they are living things, they do require care.
Housing
As mentioned earlier, dubia roaches cannot climb any surface that is vertical and smooth. This means that they should be housed in a container that has smooth surfaces so that they cannot climb up. Suitable containers for the housing of dubia roaches include glass aquariums with a capacity of at least 10 gallons or plastic tubs having a capacity of about 40 quarts. Whichever container you decide to use as a house for these roaches, make sure to cover them with a lid to prevent other pests from entering the roach habitat. Don’t forget to punch a hole in the lid for ventilation. You certainly wouldn’t want to suffocate them!
Moreover, dubia roaches need space to stand and a place to hide. The most common option is to stack egg crates vertically within the container to ensure all necessary conditions are met.
Heat and Humidity
Dubia roaches can survive at room temperature, but like all living things, they too have a set of preferences. They require a temperature of about 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity of 60% to breed. If you think the normal temperature of your home meets the requirements, you are good to go. However, if additional heating is required, a ceramic heat emitter, a coated heat cable, or Under Tank Heater (UTH) are ideal options.
Food and Water
To ensure that your dubia roaches are healthy, a consistent supply of water and food is essential. The healthier the roaches, the better nutrition they will provide for your pets! They can feed on plant-based food, grains, and a variety of dry fruits. Their favorite food is orange vegetables that are high in carotenoids.
One thing that you should b mindful of is that vegetables that are turning moldy should not be fed to dubia roaches as mold is lethal to their health. A high protein diet should also be avoided because these roaches convert excess protein into uric acid, which is dangerous for the animals that feed on them.
As far as water is concerned, too much water can result in the roaches drowning. The best way to feed these roaches with water is through water crystals, which are polymer-based material that can hold water.
Cleaning
The droppings of dubia roaches are called frass. Their container needs to be cleaned after every 1 to 2 weeks to make sure that frass and shed exoskeletons do not get accumulated. The container should have an extra enclosure to ensure that the roaches are contained in one place during the cleaning process.
Taking care of dubia roaches is not difficult. They just need basic attention and care!