Distribution: Central & South America, Costa Rica, French Guyana, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay

Description: Dubia Roaches (Blaptica dubia) are quickly becoming one of the most popular and best feeders for a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids. They are so popular that breeders often sell out due to the high demand. Dubia roaches come in various sizes. When born they are approximately 1/8" as a nymph and grow to 1 1/2" to 2" as adults. Dubia roaches are long lived: males usually live 12-18 months while females may live upto 2 years. Compare this to the lifespan of a cricket which only lives 9-10 weeks and the tendency of mealworms, supwerworms or crickets in terms of the relative amount of protein (28% in Dubia roaches as compared to the 19-20% in the other feeder insects). Protein, in paticular, is more important for reptiles than fats or carbohydrates (although smaller amounts of these two types of nutrients are required as well. The dubias also do not produce a smell like crickets do. They are odorless and produce no sounds unlike the chirping of a cricket. Dubia roaches do not climb or fly: as long as they are kept in a smooth glass or plastic enclosure, they are unable to escape by climbing or flying out. Although the male roaches, who, in contrast to the females, have wings, are able to hover briefly, they are unable to gain any altitude and escape from a smooth-sided container. If any roaches should leave their enclosure, usually due to human carelessness or gaps in front-opening reptile cages, they will not survive or breed in the temperature climates where many reptiles are kept. Roaches do best in dark, warm areas. The best place to keep them is in a dark closet or unused room out of sight. These roaches are very easy to care for. Simply provide a moisture source such as our water crystals, a gutload such as our roach chow, and vegetables to allow them to get fresh food and vitamins and minerals in a natural way.

Nick Names: Dubia, Guyana Spotted, Orange Spotted, Argentinian Wood

Size: 1/8th inch when hatched to 1 1/2 to 2 inches as adults

Sexing: Adult Blaptica dubia are sexually dimorphic, males have full size wings and females have tiny stubs.

Lifespan: 1-2 years

Difficulty Level: Easy

Caging: Blaptica dubia cannot climb glass or plastic. I like to house all of my roaches in rubbermaid or sterlite containers with screened lids.

Substrate: I use egg crates positioned vertically for additional floor/living space in the sterlite tubs. A substrate of peat moss can be used as can other soil mixtures. We do not use a substrate at Pritchett's Small Pets. If you use any kind of substrate from a hardware store or garden center, MAKE SURE IT IS FERTILIZER AND PESTICIDE FREE!

Required Temperatures: 78 - 95 degrees F

Humidity: 40%-50% You can keep a spray bottle handy to help keep humidity up in dry areas. If you use a substrate wetting it down periodically can help maintain proper humidity as well.

Food Requirements: Blaptica dubia will eat almost anything. I keep my home made dry roach food available to them at all times. When feeding any fresh fruits or vegetables, do not put in more then they can eat in 24-36 hour period to avoid problems caused by rotten/moldy food. They love Oranges!

Maintenance: Keep food and water available at all times. Clean out the waste as needed. I do not allow the waste to get any deeper then 1/2 of an inch. I also leave some in as the babys seem to do better when they can feed on their parents waste. Since this species lays eggs it is important to remove the ootheca from the waste before disposing of it.

Breeding Notes: Females give live birth and have 20 to 40 live young per month, each containing 20-30 roaches.