Tips For Feeding
Dubia Roaches
✅ Choose the Right Size – Roaches should be no larger than the space between your pet’s eyes to prevent choking or digestion issues.
✅ Gut-Load Before Feeding – Feed roaches nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and grains 24–48 hours before offering them to your pet for maximum nutrition.
✅ Dust with Supplements if Needed – Reptiles and amphibians may require calcium and vitamins for a balanced diet—dust roaches before feeding.
✅ Introduce Roaches Gradually – If your pet is used to crickets, mix roaches with familiar feeders and slowly transition to them exclusively.
✅ Experiment & Be Patient – Some pets need time to accept new prey items, so try different sizes, feeding styles, or food scents to encourage interest.
Feeding Amounts
Species & Age – Younger reptiles and fast-growing species often need more frequent feedings with slightly smaller prey.
Size of the Roach – Always match roach size to your reptile’s size; a common guideline is choosing roaches no larger than the space between your reptile’s eyes.
Overall Diet – If your reptile also eats vegetables, fruits, or other insects, you may need fewer roaches per feeding.
Individual Variation – Each reptile has a unique metabolism and appetite. If they clear every roach quickly and still seem hungry, offer a few more. If they leave roaches behind, reduce the number next time.
Monitor Weight & Appetite – Keep track of your reptile’s body condition. If they’re rapidly gaining weight, reduce feeding frequency or portion size. If they seem thin or sluggish, increase roach counts or feeding frequency (assuming other husbandry factors like temperature and UVB are correct).
Remove Unwanted Roaches – After feeding time (usually 10–15 minutes), remove any uneaten roaches to prevent them from hiding or pestering your reptile.
Adjust for Growth – As juveniles get bigger and hungrier, they may need more roaches more frequently. Adults typically need fewer insects overall.
General Feeding Guidelines
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Juveniles (up to ~12 months):
Feed daily.
Offer 10–20 appropriately sized roaches per feeding.
Provide as many as they’ll eat in a 10–15 minute span.
Adults (12 months+):
Feed insects 2–3 times per week.
Offer 10–15 roaches per feeding, adjusted for appetite and size.
Supplement with plenty of fresh greens on non-insect days.
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Hatchlings & Juveniles (up to ~9 months):
Feed 5–10 roaches daily or every other day.
Adjust according to the gecko’s appetite and body condition.
Adults (9 months+):
Feed 5–8 roaches 2–3 times per week.
Keep an eye on your gecko’s tail thickness to gauge healthy weight.
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Juveniles:
Primarily feed a commercial crested gecko diet (CGD) 4–5 times a week.
Dubia roaches can be offered 1–2 times per week as treats or supplemental protein (5–8 small roaches per feeding).
Adults:
Maintain CGD as the main staple.
Offer roaches once a week or so—5–10 roaches, depending on the gecko’s size and appetite.
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Juveniles:
Feed daily. Offer 8–15 small roaches.
Keep feeding sessions relatively short (about 10 minutes) to avoid overfeeding.
Sub-Adults/Adults:
Feed every other day or every two days. Offer 5–10 roaches per feeding.
Monitor body condition—chameleons can easily become overweight.
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Most snake species don’t rely heavily on insects, but certain smaller or omnivorous species (like garter snakes) may accept roaches. Start with a few roaches 1–2 times a week as a supplement to their primary diet.
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Offer 3–8 roaches every few days, depending on the frog’s size.
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Feed roaches occasionally as part of a varied diet that includes greens, fruits, and commercial turtle feed.
Different Ways
to Feed Roaches
Use these feeding methods ensures a smooth and effective feeding experience tailored to your pet’s instincts and preferences!
🐍 Tong-Feeding: Hold roaches with feeding tongs and wiggle them to simulate movement. Best for reptiles, amphibians, and picky eaters.
🍽️ Escape-Proof Bowl Feeding: Use a smooth-sided dish to keep roaches contained while allowing your pet to eat at its own pace. Ideal for geckos, hedgehogs, and small reptiles.
🏃 Free-Roaming Feeding: Drop roaches into the enclosure and allow your pet to hunt naturally. Great for active predators like bearded dragons and monitors.
🦗 Pre-Killed Roaches: Some pets prefer dead or immobilized prey. Crush the roach’s head slightly or offer fully pre-killed roaches for tarantulas, scorpions, and some amphibians.
🦎 Soft-Bodied Roaches: Offer freshly molted (white) roaches for easier digestion, especially for young reptiles, amphibians, and softer-prey eaters.
✋ Hand-Feeding: Hold a roach near your pet’s mouth to encourage bonding and ensure they eat. Works well for hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and tame reptiles.
🐟 Floating or Sinking Feeding: Drop roaches into water for aquatic pets like turtles, axolotls, and large fish. Crush roaches slightly if needed to keep them floating longer.
🔄 Mixing with Other Feeders: Transition pets used to crickets by mixing roaches into their usual diet until they accept them fully.
Feeding Time Trouble Shooting
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Ensure your pet is warm enough – Cold reptiles and amphibians won’t eat.
Try different feeding methods – Some pets prefer tong-feeding, while others respond better to free-roaming or dish feeding.
Start with smaller roaches – Pets unfamiliar with dubia may be more inclined to eat nymphs before transitioning to adults.
Stimulate movement – Wiggle the roach with tongs or slightly crush its head to encourage interest.
Mix roaches with familiar food – Dust them with a favorite supplement or scent them with a pet’s preferred food (e.g., honey for sugar gliders).
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Start by mixing crickets and dubia roaches in the same feeding session.
Feed only dubia roaches first before offering crickets to encourage new food acceptance.
Try pre-killed or crushed-head roaches to mimic the softer texture of crickets.
Gradually reduce cricket feedings until your pet fully transitions to dubia roaches.
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Some animals may struggle with harder exoskeletons – Offer freshly molted (soft-bodied) roaches for easier digestion.
Roaches may be too large – Always choose feeders no larger than the space between your pet’s eyes.
Check for mouth issues or illness – If refusal continues, inspect for injury, shedding stress, or health problems.
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Wiggle with tongs to simulate movement.
Try free-roaming feeding in a controlled space.
Slightly crush the roach’s head – It will still twitch, encouraging a hunting response.
Remove excess hiding spots in the enclosure to prevent roaches from burrowing or escaping sight.
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Use smooth-sided feeding dishes to keep roaches contained.
Feed in a separate, escape-proof container before returning your pet to its main habitat.
Crush the roach’s head slightly to keep it from burrowing while still moving enough to attract attention.
Remove excess tank décor or place roaches in a cleared feeding zone.
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Burrowing may be an issue – Crush the roach’s head so it remains visible.
Try offering a pre-killed roach if your arachnid is used to slow-moving prey.
Some species naturally fast for weeks or months – Ensure it’s feeding time and the animal isn’t in premolt.
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Most animals can transition with persistence and patience.
Some pets may need several attempts before accepting dubia roaches as food.
Offering only dubia roaches for a feeding or two (without alternative feeders) often encourages acceptance.
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Gut-load 24–48 hours before feeding with fresh vegetables, grains, and fruits.
Dust with calcium and vitamin supplements as needed for your pet’s dietary requirements.
Avoid feeding your roaches high-protein foods that can cause excess uric acid buildup.
How many Dubia roaches
should I start with?
Occasional Feeding / Few Reptiles: If you have only one or two reptiles and you plan to feed roaches sporadically, you can start with as few as 25–50 mixed-size roaches. This will give you a small “stash” of feeders without a large breeding commitment.
Regular Feeding or Multiple Reptiles: If you rely on Dubia roaches as a primary feeder and want a consistent supply, consider 100 or more to establish a robust breeding group. The larger the starter colony, the faster it will grow and sustain ongoing feeding demands.
How many roaches do I need monthly for 1–2 lizards?
It varies by species and age, but as a general rule of thumb:
Smaller/Younger Reptiles (e.g., juvenile geckos, juvenile bearded dragons): They may consume around 5–10 roaches per feeding, 2–4 times per week. That usually translates to roughly 40–80 roaches per month for a single animal (or 80–160 for two).
Adult Reptiles (e.g., adult bearded dragons): They often eat fewer insects as they mature, but may still have 20+ roaches per week. You might need 80–100 roaches per month for one adult lizard (about 160–200 for two).
Keep in mind these are broad estimates—actual consumption will vary by reptile size, species, and individual appetite. If you notice you’re running out or have lots of extras, adjust your monthly purchase accordingly.
