Dubia cockroaches (Blaptica dubia), native to Central and South America, are common feeder roaches bred by invertebrate and vertebrate keepers worldwide. I procured the specimen pictured above from Ken the Bug Guy, as part of a vial of 100 tiny nymphs that traveled with me upon my return flight from the Invertebrates in Education and Conservation Conference in Tucson, AZ in early August, 2012.
I was told it took a long time to establish a colony of them, but had no idea it would take as long as it has. I understand that dubias are prolific and females may give birth to between 20 to 40 live young in a single month. Mine are still maturing.
Dubia cockroaches are omnivorous. They eat a variety of high moisture foods, which effectively negates the need to mist the enclosure. Dry cat food and various fruits and vegetables have worked well thus far.
I’ve had the dubia so long, and have found them to be sufficiently interesting, that the idea of using the maturing roaches as feeders in quite unappealing. More to come as the warmer temperatures increase their rate of growth, they develop into adults, and the little ones occur in quantity!
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