Starting a Dubia Roach Colony Pros and Cons
There are many pros and cons to starting your very own dubia roach colony. One of the main reasons people avoid starting their own dubia roach colony is a space limitation. Another major factor that deters people from getting into the bug farming game is allergies – large quantities of roaches are known to trigger an allergic reaction in some people.
But the benefits are myriad! You can save money, get into a rewarding hobby, and even teach the young ones in your family about the cycle of life in a safe and controlled way. To learn more about the pros and cons of keeping a dubia roach colony, please read our blog, How to Start a Prolific Dubia Roach Colony. In it, we share not only the pros and cons of starting your colony but also a mountain of information on:
- Dubia roach breeding enclosures
- Cleaning protocols
- Ideal temperature
- Picking a perfect location for your dubia roach colony
- The equipment you’ll need
- Lighting
- Feeding
- And so much more!
In today’s blog, we’re digging into dubia roach fertility cycles, life cycles, breeding ratios, and introducing our BRAND NEW Dubia Roach Colony Starter Kit!
Dubia Roach Breeding Timeline and Life Cycle
Dubia roaches live anywhere from 1.5 to 2 years – that’s pretty long for a bug! Female dubias tend to live a bit longer than males (by a few months). Within five days of emerging, a mature female dubia will be ready to begin mating.
Dubia roaches reproduce sexually, and they don’t lay eggs. During mating, a male roach deposits a sperm packet into the female. Once the female receives this sperm packet, she can no longer mate with any additional male roaches.
Baby dubias are reared inside long, tube-like egg sacks called ootheca. When it’s time for the babies to hatch, the female dubia expels her ootheca; this alerts the baby dubias to break free from their eggs. Within 2-3 hours, the nymphs (or babies) will begin to emerge and measure roughly 1/8″ long. Within a few hours of hatching, nymphs will change from white to a grayish-white color as their exoskeletons harden and dry. Just like newborn humans, it’s imperative that you handle nymphs with the utmost care. In fact, you shouldn’t touch them at all in these early stages as they are incredibly fragile and easily damaged.
Facts About Dubia Fertility and Breeding
Keep these facts in mind when planning for your dubia roach colony:
- It takes 120 days for newborn nymphs to mature into adults.
- Roughly 19 days after maturity, females will exhibit a fertilized ootheca (egg sack).
- A female dubia will give birth to her first litter of nymphs 70 days after the ootheca is fertilized (220 days after she is born).
- A female dubia roach typically gives birth to 20-25 nymphs per procreation cycle.
After the female gives birth and your dubia nymphs hatch, dubia moms will avoid mating for about a week. In this time, the breeding female will renew and replenish her energy stores and prepare for the next round of nymphs by amping up her eating. Mom needs a little time to recuperate!
Breeding Dubia Roaches Now for Sale at TheBugShed.com
Ready to take over the world with your own prolific dubia roach colony? Ordering our dubia roach breeders is your best first step! We are now offering adult dubia roaches for sale so that you can raise your own dubias in the comfort of your home or reptile facility.
Dubia Roach Colony Starter Kit:
Our adult dubia roach colony starter kit includes an ideal ratio of lively, young adult female and male dubia roaches.
Each dubia roach colony starter kit contains 20 or more roaches, including:
- 15 young adult females
- 5 young adult males
- A few extras to account for potential shipping mortality
How Many Roaches Do You Need to Start a Dubia Roach Colony?
Are you wondering, “why will I receive so many more females than males?” Well, if you’ve ever lived on a farm or raised animals, you know it only takes a few good males to keep the breeding cycle going strong. This proportion of 5 females to 1 male helps ensure a high fertility rate without over-stressing the female dubias. Remember, happy dubia moms, are fertile dubia moms.
Free Dubia Roach Breeding Resources
Our dubia roach colony setup includes roaches only. For detailed instructions on starting a dubia colony, please read our guide to breeding dubias here. Once your colony is up and running, don’t forget to download our FREE Dubia Roach Care Guide. Questions? Comments? Or just want to connect with other bug farmers out there? Be sure to follow us on our Instagram page and TikTok!
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