DUBIA COLONY STARTER: 100 Dubia Adults & Nymphs. Free Buffalo Beetles!

Dubia Colony Starter 100 Count for Sale

This 100 Count Dubia Colony Starter is for keepers who already know they want volume. If you feed several insectivores, or one large reptile that goes through feeders quickly, the larger kit gets you to a productive colony faster than the smaller one. You receive breeding adults plus a wide spread of nymphs of Blaptica dubia. If you keep just one or two animals, the 50 Count Dubia Colony Starter is the more economical place to start.

What You Receive

Every order is assembled to give a larger colony a strong, fast start:

• 5 adult females, the reproductive engine, and the reason this kit scales faster than the 50 count.
• 2 adult males, enough to fertilize the females without unnecessary competition.
• 100 mixed nymphs with a 10% over-count, a broad base of growing stock that becomes your next generation of breeders.

The jump from three to five breeding females is the key difference. More starting females mean more simultaneous broods, which compound over time into a larger colony sooner.

Buffalo Beetle Cleanup Crew (Free Upon Request)

For a limited time, we add a free Buffalo Beetle (Alphitobius diaperinus) cleanup crew to colony orders, but only when you ask. These beetles and their larvae break down dead roaches, shed skins, and debris, which helps a busy colony bin resist mold. They work alongside the roaches without harming them. To receive them, add a request in your order notes at checkout. If you do not request them, they will not be included. With a larger colony producing more waste, many keepers find the cleanup crew especially worthwhile here.

Why Buy the 100 Count Colony Starter?

• Faster to productive scale. Five breeding females and 100 nymphs reach a useful output level sooner than the 50 count.
• Higher ceiling. A larger founding group supports a bigger colony, which suits multi-animal households.
• Fewer reorders long-term. Once established, a larger colony can cover heavier feeding demand on its own.
• Optional free cleanup crew. Buffalo Beetles help manage the extra waste a bigger colony produces, on request.
• Still beginner-friendly. The care is the same as a small colony, just in a slightly larger bin.

Honest Note on Realistic Scaling

Even at 100 count, this is a starter, not an instant production colony. The founding adults need to settle and breed, and the nymphs need to mature before output ramps up. Under warm, well-fed conditions, expect a few months before the colony carries your feeding demand. It will reach that point faster than the 50 count, but not overnight. Keep buying feeders such as Medium or Large Dubia while it establishes.

Honest Note on Space and Bin Size

A 100-count colony grows into a larger population than the 50, so plan for a bigger bin sooner. A cramped colony slows down and fouls faster. Start in a smooth-walled tub with room to add egg flats as numbers climb. If counter or shelf space is tight, the 50 Count kit may fit your setup better.

Care and Setup

A colony is meant to live and grow, so setup is about supporting reproduction rather than short-term holding. A larger colony simply needs a bit more room and airflow.

Temperature

Heat drives reproduction. Around 85 to 90°F produces far faster than room temperature. A heat mat on the side of the bin or a warm room both work. Cooler temperatures slow output without harming the adults.

Humidity

Moderate humidity is enough. Water crystals are the safest hydration source, since open water drowns nymphs. A larger colony goes through hydration faster, so check it more often.

Substrate

None needed. Stacked vertical egg flats give the colony surface area to climb, hide, and breed. Add more flats as the population grows.

Food

Feed a quality dry diet such as Supreme Feed Dubia 5lb, sized for a larger colony, plus fresh produce for moisture and variety. Consistent feeding keeps reproduction steady.

Ventilation

Use a vented or mesh lid. A bigger colony produces more frass and humidity, so airflow matters even more here than with a small starter, especially if you skip the Buffalo Beetles.

Cleanup Crew

If you requested Buffalo Beetles, add them to the bin and let them work down waste and mold risk. They help, but a larger colony still needs periodic frass removal as it scales.

Breeding Notes

The species gives birth to live nymphs rather than laying egg cases, so a warm, settled colony produces broods on a recurring cycle. With five founding females, this kit puts more producers to work from the start than the 50 count. Let the colony build before harvesting heavily, and avoid pulling the adult females early, since they drive your output. As the included nymphs mature, they replace and expand your breeding base.

Best For

• Keepers feeding several insectivores who want one reliable feeder source
• Owners of a single large, heavy-eating reptile
• Hobbyists who want to reach self-sufficiency faster than a small colony allows
• Keepers who want a low-noise, low-odor feeder colony at a larger scale
• Buyers who want the optional free cleanup crew working on more colony waste

Not Best For

• Single-animal keepers, where the 50 count is more economical
• Keepers who need feeders right now, since a colony takes months to produce
• Customers in Florida, where this colony cannot be shipped
• Customers in Louisiana or Hawaii, where Dubia shipping is restricted
• Keepers with very limited space or no way to provide steady heat

Origin and Locality Notes

Dubia roaches are native to Central and South America and are commonly associated with Argentina, Brazil, and surrounding regions in the published literature. They are tropical and do not establish in cooler, drier climates, which underpins the USDA permit-controlled interstate shipment within the continental United States. Our colony stock comes from an established captive-bred breeding line.

Receiving and Acclimation

Your colony ships with ventilation and a hydration source sized for transit. On arrival, open the box in a clean, contained area and move everything into a prepared bin with stacked egg flats, dry chow, and water crystals. Give the colony a day to settle before disturbing it, since calm adults reproduce better. If you requested Buffalo Beetles, add them at the same time. In cold weather, warm the colony gradually to room temperature, then up to breeding temperature.

This colony cannot be shipped to Florida. TC INSECTS holds USDA permits to ship Dubia roaches within the continental United States, with restrictions in Louisiana and Hawaii where applicable. Customers in Florida and Louisiana can legally receive Discoid roaches as an alternative. A copy of the permit is available by email to the proper authorities on request. Do not release any feeder insect into the wild.

Recommended Add-Ons

• Supreme Feed Dubia 5lb for bulk dry feed sized to a larger, growing colony.
• Dubia Water Crystal 8oz for a safe, spill-free hydration source that makes up to 5 gallons.
• 50 Count Dubia Colony Starter as a smaller, more economical option for single-animal keepers.
• Large Dubia Roaches to keep feeding while the colony establishes over the first few months.
• TC Calcium Ultra Fine for dusting feeders you harvest before offering them to your reptile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I get the 100 count or the 50 count?

Choose the 100 count if you feed several animals or one large reptile, since it scales faster and supports a bigger colony. Choose the 50 count for a single animal or a tighter budget and space.

How much faster does the 100 count produce than the 50?

It starts with five breeding females instead of three and double the nymphs, so it generally reaches a productive size sooner and supports more output. Exact speed still depends mostly on heat and consistent feeding.

What size bin should I plan for?

Start in a smooth-walled tub with room to add egg flats. A 100-count colony will outgrow a small container sooner than a 50-count, so leave headroom or plan to upgrade the bin as numbers climb.

How do I harvest feeders without crashing the colony?

Harvest surplus nymphs and avoid pulling adult females, which are your producers. Let the colony establish for a few months first, then take only what regrows, so the breeding base stays intact.

How do I get the free Buffalo Beetles?

Add a request in your order notes at checkout. They are included only on request. A larger colony produces more waste, so the cleanup crew is often more useful with this kit than with the smaller one.

Why can’t this ship to Florida?

State and federal regulations restrict shipping Blaptica dubia into Florida, along with Louisiana and Hawaii. Florida and Louisiana customers can typically receive Discoid roaches instead. Email us if you are unsure about your state.

Learn More About Dubia Colonies and Cleanup Crews

These references give keepers background on Dubia reproduction and on the cleanup insects that keep a larger colony bin healthy.

• Auburn University: Biology of Blaptica dubia (Hao Wu thesis). A peer-reviewed academic study of Dubia reproduction, live birth, and lifecycle. The clearest background on how starting female count affects colony growth.

• University of Florida Featured Creatures: Lesser Mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus). A university profile of the Buffalo Beetle is offered as a cleanup crew here. Covers its biology and why it thrives by breaking down organic debris.