Dubia Roach Care Sheet: How to Keep Dubia Roaches Alive
Blaptica dubia
This Dubia roach care sheet shows how to keep feeder Dubia healthy from the day your box arrives until feeding day. Dubia don't jump, can't climb smooth plastic or glass, and are quiet and low odor [2].
Download the printable care sheet (PDF)Dubia Roach Quick Facts
- Species
- Dubia roach (Blaptica dubia)
- Sizes
- Small about 3/8 in., Medium about 1/2 to 3/4 in., Large about 1 in. [2]
- Counts
- 100, 250, 500 or 1,000; 2,000+ is a bulk order [2]
- Keeping temperature
- About 70 to 80°F [1]
- Breeding temperature
- 85 to 95°F [1]
- Humidity
- 40 to 50%; keep it dry [1]
- Housing
- Smooth plastic bin or glass tank, vertical egg flats, bare floor [1]
- Water
- Water crystals or fresh vegetables; never standing water [1][2]
- Gut-load
- 24 to 48 hours before feeding off [1][2]
- Shipping
- UPS Ground or 1-2 Day, lower 48; not to Florida, Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico [2]
When Your Dubia Arrive
- Bring the box inside right away so it isn't sitting in heat or cold [1].
- Don't assume still roaches are dead. In cool weather they can go into cold torpor. Set the container in a warm room (70 to 75°F) for 2 to 3 hours and they will start moving again [1].
- Move them into a smooth-sided, ventilated bin or tank with egg flats [1][2].
- Add dry food and a safe moisture source such as water crystals or fresh vegetables [1][2].
- Problem on arrival? Take photos and contact us within 24 hours of delivery at 910-694-3025 [2].
Bin Setup
- Use a smooth plastic bin or glass aquarium. Dubia can't climb smooth vertical surfaces [1].
- Stand cardboard egg flats on end so droppings fall to the floor instead of piling up where they rest [1].
- Keep a bare floor. Wood shavings, coco coir or soil hold moisture and grow mold [1].
- Give good airflow; cross-ventilation through mesh is a must [1].
Temperature and Humidity
Keep Dubia at about 70 to 80°F with 40 to 50% humidity [1]. Warmer temperatures speed up their growth; breeding colonies are kept at 85 to 95°F [1]. Keep the air dry to avoid mold [1].
| Setting | Keeping your feeders | Breeding colony |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | About 70 to 80°F [1] | 85 to 95°F [1] |
| Humidity | 40 to 50% [1] | Not covered on this sheet |
| Airflow | Moderate to high [1] | Moderate [1] |
Food and Water
Feed carrots, squash, sweet potato and dark leafy greens such as collards and kale, plus whole oats or a low-protein grain chow [1]. Skip dog food, cat food and fish flakes; too much protein in a roach diet raises the risk of gout in the reptiles that eat them [1].
Give moisture through fresh vegetables or water crystals. Never use a standing water dish; Dubia drown and the water grows bacteria [1][2].
Feeding Dubia to Your Pet
- Gut-load for 24 to 48 hours before feeding them off [1][2]. Merck says gut-loading improves the nutrition insects pass on [3].
- Lightly dust with calcium right before feeding [2]. Merck recommends dusting insects with a high-calcium supplement immediately before offering them [3].
The size rule: no wider than the space between your pet's eyes. Dubia are wider than crickets of the same length, so go one size smaller when switching [2].
| CCF Dubia size | Length [2] | Good for [2] |
|---|---|---|
| Small (3rd instar) | About 3/8" | Juvenile geckos, small lizards, young amphibians |
| Medium (4th instar) | About 1/2 to 3/4" | Sub-adult bearded dragons, adult geckos, chameleons |
| Large (5th to 6th instar) | About 1" | Growing bearded dragons, monitors, larger reptiles and amphibians; starting a colony |
See how often your pet should eat on the care sheets for your species.
Why Are My Dubia Dying?
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Not moving after delivery | Cold torpor from shipping | Warm room for 2 to 3 hours before you decide [1] |
| Mold or a damp, smelly bin | Damp substrate or too much humidity | Bare floor, more airflow, remove wet food [1] |
| Roaches dead in the water | Standing water | Switch to water crystals or fresh vegetables [1][2] |
Ordering and Shipping
We sell Dubia in Small, Medium and Large only, in counts of 100, 250, 500 and 1,000. Need 2,000 or more? That's a bulk order; call 910-694-3025 [2]. Dubia ship UPS Ground or UPS 1-2 Day, never USPS.
We can't ship Dubia roaches to Florida at all, including Carolina Cricket Club orders, and we don't ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico [2]. Out of Dubia or in Florida? See what to feed instead.
Dubia Roach Care FAQ
How do I keep Dubia roaches alive?
Keep them in a smooth-sided, ventilated bin with vertical egg flats and a bare floor, at about 70 to 80°F and 40 to 50% humidity, with dry food and water crystals or fresh vegetables [1].
What temperature do Dubia roaches need?
About 70 to 80°F to keep them, and 85 to 95°F for a breeding colony [1].
Do Dubia roaches need water?
They need moisture, but not open water. Use water crystals or fresh vegetables; they drown in standing water [1][2].
Why aren't my Dubia moving after delivery?
They may be in cold torpor from shipping. Warm them in a 70 to 75°F room for 2 to 3 hours [1].
Can Dubia roaches climb or fly?
They can't climb smooth plastic or glass, and males rarely fly, and not well [2].
What size Dubia should I buy?
No wider than the space between your pet's eyes, and one size smaller than the crickets you use [2].
Can you ship Dubia roaches to Florida?
No. We can't ship Dubia to Florida, including Club orders. We also don't ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico [2].
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Live crickets and Dubia roaches ship UPS Ground or UPS 1-2 Day to the lower 48 states only, Monday to Thursday. Order by 11 AM ET to ship the same day. Thursday orders ship that day only with overnight shipping; otherwise they ship Monday. We can't ship to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico, and Dubia roaches can't ship to Florida, Club orders included.
Sources
This care sheet is general information, not veterinary advice. Sources: the Merck Veterinary Manual, our Dubia care guide and the other sources listed above, plus our MVTL Laboratories cricket analysis. Ask a veterinarian who treats reptiles and amphibians about your animal. Last updated: November 2026.