🪳 How to Set Up and Raise Dubia Roaches
🪳 How to Set Up and Raise Dubia Roaches
Breeding your own Dubia roach colony is a reliable way to save money and always have healthy, nutritious feeders on hand. They’re quiet, odor-free, and much easier to manage than crickets — once you get the setup right.
Here’s how to get started.
🏠 Housing Your Roaches
Your roaches need a secure home. A 10-gallon aquarium, a 40-quart plastic storage tote, or a plastic drawer unit will work well. While Dubia roaches can’t climb or fly, it’s important to use a lid to prevent accidents and keep out pests.
For plastic totes, ventilation is key. Use a soldering iron to make holes along the upper sides or cut a 6x6 inch hole in the lid and glue window screen over it. This helps keep the enclosure dry and safe. It’s also helpful to keep a second tub handy for cleaning or transferring roaches when needed.
🔥 Adding Heat
Roaches breed best between 85–95°F, with the ideal temperature being close to 90°F. To achieve this, use a heat source like an under-tank heater (UTH), heat cable, or ceramic heat emitter. Always plug the heat source into a thermostat or lamp dimmer to regulate the temperature and prevent overheating.
Use a thermometer with a probe to monitor temperature levels. Adjust as needed, and remember that many heat sources take 6 or more hours to reach stable temperatures — and may gradually increase for a day or two.
📦 Creating Living Space
Without enough vertical surface area, roaches can pile up and crush each other. To avoid this, fill the container with clean egg flats stacked vertically. Do not use egg cartons from grocery stores, as they often contain chemical residues. Keep the stacks a few inches below the top of the container to prevent escapes.
🥗 Feeding and Hydration
Roaches thrive on nutrient-rich food. Roach chow, cricket feed, or any commercial gut load is ideal. Avoid using dog food or chicken mash, as they may attract pests or create odor. Place the food in a shallow lid inside the enclosure to prevent spoilage or mold.
For hydration, never use standing water — roaches drown easily. Instead, place water gel crystals in a shallow lid or dish (included with the kit). These provide safe, effective hydration without risk.
🪳 Starting Your Colony
Set up your enclosure completely before introducing roaches — including heat, ventilation, food, water, and egg flats.
To start a colony, use at least 20 roaches. A good ratio is 15 females and 5 males. Males are easy to spot by their full wings; females have shorter wing stubs. You don’t need special breeder roaches — just healthy, standard feeders. Some suppliers offer starter packs with balanced male-to-female ratios. If building your own colony, choose medium-sized roaches that are young and ready to breed.
🧹 Ongoing Care
Place the enclosure in a dark, quiet area. Provide food and water regularly, and clean the enclosure every 1–2 weeks by removing uneaten food, waste, and any dead roaches.
A successful colony will contain a mix of active adults and young nymphs. With the right environment, they will breed consistently, and you’ll always have feeders available when you need them.
🏆 Why Our Kits Stand Out
Our roach setup kits are designed to make breeding easy — even for beginners. We include everything you need (except the enclosure and heat), and our materials are clean, safe, and effective.
Topsoil, water crystals, feed lids, and habitat materials are all selected for performance and ease of use. Clear instructions make the entire process stress-free.
💡 Pro Tips for Success
Keep the environment dry, warm, and well-ventilated. Remove moldy food immediately. Use a thermostat to control heat accurately. Check for signs of mold or mites during each cleaning.
The more consistent your care, the faster your colony will grow.
🐛 A Note About Grain Infestations
Corn weevils and mites are two common issues in feeder setups, especially when grain is stored improperly. These pests can damage feed and spread quickly.
Corn weevils are beetles that lay eggs inside grain. Mites thrive in damp environments and often show up as moving specks or fine dust.
To eliminate this risk, all grains in our kits are frozen for 72 hours before shipping. This kills all life stages of mites and weevils. We also store feed in clean, dry areas to reduce contamination.
Once you receive your kit, continue storing feed in sealed containers. Refrigeration is ideal. If that’s not an option, keep it in a cool, low-humidity area. You can also freeze feed for 72 hours if needed.
📬 Need More Help?
Visit www.gtcountryliving.com for setup tips, troubleshooting, FAQs, and support.
With just a few easy steps, you’ll be raising your own reliable colony of roaches — and saving money every month. We’re here to help make it happen.