Reptile & Amphibian Forums

dubias and lobster roaches are two different species of roaches

lobsters are more prolific and require undertank heating

dubias are illegal in florida and will survive at room temps

lobsters will not

go with lobsters and some undertank heating they are prolific breeders

if lobsters get out in your house they die within a matter of hours
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Hi,

New account here but I have experience with roach colonies.

Lobsters can infact live within most homes if escaped, Dubia's and lobsters come from the same tropical regions. They may have difficulty thriving, but they can survive for quite a while.

I wouldn't worry though, roaches are very intelligent and clean insects. I believe society has given them a bad rap, they really are just tremendous survivors and colonize very well.

I have had a number of roaches escape into my house (not so much the dubias, lobsters Im referring to) they die within a few hours on my tile floors.

Have never had any problems with them whatsoever. I live in Florida and have air-conditioning indoors.

If that is the case (both are the same in regards to adapting to other areas) then why are lobsters legal to import into florida and dubias illegal?
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If you would just learn to do a little research before you post you'd see they are both illegal to import to Florida.

http://myfwc.com/codebook/372.pdf

Code 372.265 Regulation of foreign animals:

(1) It is unlawful to import for sale or use, or to release within this state, any species of the animal kingdom not indigenous to Florida without having obtained a permit to do so from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(2) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is authorized to issue or deny such a permit upon the completion of studies of the species made by it to determine any detrimental effect the species might have on the ecology of the state.

(3) Persons in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in 775.082 or s. 775.083.

Dubia cockroaches have become popular for feeding reptiles and amphibians because they are a high quality herp food source that is easier to raise than crickets.[2] Dubia are a meaty roach with a soft body which contain a much higher ration of protein to indigestible chitin compared to crickets. They breed in drier conditions than many other roaches and produce little odor. They are calm and easy to handle for feeding. They do not make any noise which is another reason they are becoming much more popular than crickets. Instead of having an escaped cricket forcing you to go "camping" at home, if you drop a roach they are easy to catch.

From wikipedia

even they agree roaches are better than crickets
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wikipedia:

Compared to crickets, dubia roaches are quiet, don't smell, don't jump out of the enclosure, are less picky eaters, are more hardy. But they mature more slowly.

lobsters:

http://www.progeckos.com/caresheets/lobster.htm
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"Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit"

NOT a reliable source of information!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

There are billions of crickets sold in the US each year. There are not even millions of roaches sold. You can find crickets in most pet stores in the US and other countries. You rarely if ever find roaches. So how can they be so popular?

Your post is a writer's opinion and not fact.

In some cases roaches are a fine feeder. It is the keepers choice and the animals acceptance that determine the best choice.

Everything considered, the best feeder is silkworms.

They are quiet, don't smell, don't escape, and are high in moisture and nutrition.

Hi,

I am fairly certain that discoids are the only roach that can be legally shipped to FL. However that doesn't mean that some retailers won't take their chances.

I am not sure how to answer your question, that they die within a few hours. In my experience with lobsters, they are only slightly less tolerant to cool temps than dubias and discoids. They can breed very well and produce lots of offspring in 70 degree temperatures. Cold temps will not simply kill them off. They are extraordinary survivors, and have been this way for millions of years.

I have had roaches for about the past 4-5 years (lobsters)...

they get out of the enclosure or escape onto the floor and I find them when I vacuum up my dragon room.

I can nearly count the number that may get loose on me (I feed by hand every one of them and watch them get eaten).... then I can count the same number that get vaccumed up.

They die within a matter of hours literally.

I must live in the Bermuda Roach Triangle then I imagine.
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Hey Wayne I wouldn't be worried at all if they escape. I understand why FL legislature permits shipping and keeping of certain roaches...but on the other hand there are so many native lizards that would eat them in your neck of the woods it's actually rather silly. I was near the gulf last year in march and one night I was having dinner outside, on the restaraunt patio. There must have been 20 or more brown anoles within arms reach around our table, barely skittish and snatching up every bug in sight.

Nice pics of the colony btw. Good for reference for those wanting to jump into roaches as feeders.

I built my roach box out of a large rubbermaid type tote. I think it was 45 gallons or so. 2 runs of 3 inch flexwatt heat tape on the back of box, roach flats for structure and containers to keep food and water crystals. I used commercial cricket feed mixed with bee pollen granules for constant dry feed. And occasional fruits, papaya was eaten with a fervor.

I learned most of my roach knowledge from a guy who is no longer in the business. He did a fantastic job though, had some very advanced ideas and products. He had special way of making food/water dishes. They were made of plastic, but a coating of a gritty sand-like material covered them, making it easy for even the tiniest of nymphs to climb up and feed.

Hey I'm really intrested in a dubis colony, but wonder if they are a high maintence species. Do yo have to have a super sterile enviroment. The thing is I only hsve 2 dragons. I'm also leaning to a silkworm farm but think I'll produce way to many. Can you show me some pics of your colony and tell me the basics. I know they need moisture(water gel of veggies). If you hsve a minute can you show me what I would be getting into. Thanks
My dragon showed an orange beard today it's a crappy pic but man I am stoked I never thought I would get a colorful dragon with out spending every dime.

I dont use gel water and all that crizap.

Just lots of fruits of veggies. Mist occasionally if at all.

Been keeping them for years with no problems. They dont need to be super sterile at all.

Use aspen chips as bedding and change it out every so often.

easy as pie

good luck with harry potters silk worm farm if you try that route
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I don't use any substrate at all.... I just give plenty of egg carton for them hide, and they are breeding fabulously!

I keep superworms with no substrate too, breeding them well is a different technique. Just some egg flats and paper towel rolls for structure, apples and carrots for grub. I've found too much moisture builds up when the bran bedding is used, and alot of worms can be lost quickly. These guys are the remainder of a 1000 ct I bought more than two months ago.

the lid with screen top

Im not that fancy just some roaches in a ten gallon with undertank heaters. I use lots of paper towel rolls.

I just dump those out into plastic cups with calcium powder they cant climb the sides.

From there it's very easy to sort out what I want size wise.

I dont use gell water and all that fancy BS. They gets lots of fresh fruits veggies and blended organic dog food oatmeal.

simple as that... have many more than I need

best of luck bossman
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out of the 2 which is the least likely to escape and the better feeder? also would the under tank heater have to cover the entire tank or just a section of it?

http://www.nyworms.com/roaches.htm

The above site has care sheets for each variety. The disadvantage of Lobster roaches is they climb glass and other surfaces with ease. They are also faster than Dubia or Discoid.

Dubia and Discoid are very similar with Dubia being a little smaller as adults. Dubia are the most popular feeder roach.

Lobster's are probably the best roach choice for Dragons if you can handle their disadvantages. I would recommend Dubia to get started though.

That is hard to say which is best.

Many prefer lobsters, even as adults they are somewhat soft-bodied. As an adult, dubia exoskeleton hardens a bit. Lobsters are a bit more active than dubias, I think they provoke a more active strike than dubias do. Lobsters are very good climbers, so it's important to set up a tall container the right way.

I prefer dubias. Nymphs under 1.25 inches are soft bodied, their species breed in a wide temperature range (65-90 in my exp), and they are easier to keep than some other species.

Lobsters have more meat than other roaches.... So, naturally, they would make the best feeders. The only downside to them is: they climb smooth surfaces, such as glass. Hope this help!

I keep both dubia and lobsters. I prefer lobsters as a feeder as they reproduce much faster than dubia, and are more meatie with a softer shell. They are smaller, so you need to feed more of them to each animal, but workd out in the end with the rate of reproduction. They can climb all smooth surfaces including glass and stainless steel. Last winter I heated my dubia and didn't heat my lobsters and the lobsters out produced them 20 to 1 in the mid 60s. I have heard that they can escape, but the bug barrier from Aaron Pauling.com is amazing and keeps even the babies in. I find that dubia die out of the enclosure, not the lobsters.

For feeding I drop them in one at a time for juvies and hand feed them to my adults. This way there are no escapes. Crickets are just filthy discusting creatures but feed them to my babies only. My tarantulas perfer lobsters to crickets and dubia.

For care an culture, what I do is on my webpage under feeder insects, or go to youtube, there are tons of videos on how to raise bugs. They all pretty much show the same process.

Hope that helps.

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www.moonstonedragons.com

Hey Mark,

You seem to have the roach flats too if my eyes serve me well.. Where did you get those?

Also, just a friendly suggestion if interested in trying... cut squares into each level with a razor. They won't bunch up as much and gives all sizes easier access to each level.

You mean the egg carton. Eggcarton.com want to say 27 bucks for 50 of them delivered.

Can you be more specific about "cutting Squares"? I now put layers of cardboard and put a big rubberband around the stack to make like a solid unit. This way there is lots of room.
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www.moonstonedragons.com

Hey Mark,

Didn't mean to be confusing, "roach flats" are egg crates. They are slightly different in appearance though. They are more shallow than typical egg crates. I still have quite a few left and will post a picture in a few hours. I bought them from a guy who bred dubia's, but is no longer in the business.

Just take a razor or sharp knife and cut about a 4 inch square on any one corner of a crate. Arrange the crates on opposite sides and the roaches will be able to gain access to each level much easier. At one time I have probably have 10 crates stacked on top of each other.

Well, much to my surprise, egg crait come in different sizes from quail to jumbo. I buy recycled, new, and cheep. Just not quail size.
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www.moonstonedragons.com

Here is the flats I was referring to, I think they stack better than the pointed flats made specifically for eggs. I've found that roaches don't bunch up as much when you cut out squares and they move around more freely.

Wish I could still find these, but I think some sandpaper action on a plastic dish might have the same effect.

I take the double cat plastic bowls and sandpaper them. Water crystals on one side and dry cat food on the other.
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www.moonstonedragons.com

What kind of egg crate is that?
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www.moonstonedragons.com

I bought them a while back when blapticadubia.com was still in business, I believe they called them roach flats. It's possible they are still around, but I haven't been able to find them. The feeder dishes came from there too, only have 3 of them left. It's good to have a rough surface on a feeder dish for dubias, they can climb a little but not well. Really helps the little nymphs get in there and chow down. Try some bee pollen granules mixed in with dry food or on their own sometime, they go absolutely nutty for it.

You can buy egg crates at the feed stores.... I know farmers use them for the eggs that their chickens. Hope this help!

Thanks. i get them from eggcrates.com, but have not see the kind that was just posted before.
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www.moonstonedragons.com