Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) are one of the most popular feeder insects for reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and other insect-eating pets. They’re hardy, quiet, low-odor, and offer an excellent meat-to-shell ratio— but they are only as nutritious as the food they eat.

Feeding your dubia roaches the right diet is essential if you want:

• Healthy, long-lived roach colonies

• Maximum nutrition passed on to your pets

• Minimal odor, mold, and die-offs

Knowing what to feed and what not to feed is essential for keeping your roaches healthy and safe, and for ensuring your animals get the best possible nutrition from every feeder.

This guide will walk you through:

• The basics of feeding dubia roaches

• Safe staple foods and gut-loading options

• Foods you should NEVER feed them

• How to manage moisture, mold, and cleanliness

Dubia roaches are scavengers and can eat a wide variety of plant-based foods and dry feeds, but “they can eat it” doesn’t always mean “they should eat it.”

A good dubia diet has three main components:

1. A dry staple food – for consistent calories and nutrients

2. Fresh fruits and vegetables – for moisture, vitamins, and variety

3. Clean water source – usually in the form of water crystals, not open water

When feeding dubia roaches, keep these fundamentals in mind:

• Provide a balanced diet, not just scraps

• Avoid spoiled or moldy food

• Control moisture, so the bin doesn’t get wet and musty

• Clean up regularly so bacteria and mold don’t build up

Fresh fruits and vegetables are great for hydration and nutrition, but they don’t age well in a warm roach bin.

Make it a habit to:

• Put in only as much fresh food as they can eat in a day

• Remove uneaten fresh food every 24 hours

• Watch for any signs of mold, sliminess, or strong odor

Mold isn’t just gross—it can be harmful to your roaches and contributes to respiratory and health issues. Regularly removing old food is one of the most important steps in maintaining a clean, healthy colony.

• Dubia roaches need moisture, but standing water is dangerous. They can easily drown in open dishes, especially smaller nymphs.

  Safer options include:

  • Water crystals (polymer crystals soaked in water)

  • Gel-type water sources designed for insects

  • Moist fruits and veggies (as a supplement, not the only source)

• Important guidelines:

  • Never use open bowls of plain water in the bin

  • Keep the water source on a dish or lid so it doesn’t soak the substrate or frass

  • Replace water crystals regularly so they stay clean

• This approach keeps your roaches hydrated without creating a drowning hazard or a swampy bin.

A good dry staple food is the foundation of healthy dubia roaches.

Staple options often include:

• A high-quality roach chow formulated for long-term health and gut-loading

• Ground whole grains such as oats and barley

• Carefully chosen, species-safe livestock feeds (if you use them)

What you want from a staple:

• Moderate to high protein, not excessively high and not junky fillers

• Stable, dry, and slow to spoil

• Minimal artificial dyes, preservatives, or excessive salt

Avoid relying on cheap, low-quality feeds that add bulk but not real nutrition. Remember: whatever you put into your roaches is what your pet eventually eats.

Dubia roaches thrive on a balanced diet that contains approximately 15–25% protein as part of their overall nutritional intake. This range supports:

• Healthy growth and development

• Strong reproduction and colony stability

• Longer overall lifespan

Protein is essential, but more is not always better. A balanced approach creates stronger, more sustainable colonies.

Feeding dubia roaches diets exceeding 30–35% protein can lead to serious colony problems, including:

Ammonia Buildup

High-protein diets increase nitrogen waste. This waste breaks down into ammonia inside the enclosure, especially in bins with poor airflow. Ammonia can:

• Stress the roaches’ respiratory system

• Cause increased mortality

• Create a strong, unhealthy odor in the enclosure

Reduced Breeding Success

Excess protein can interfere with reproductive processes, resulting in:

• Lower fertility

• Fewer viable offspring

• Slower colony growth

Shorter Lifespan

Overly high protein diets can place stress on the roaches’ biological systems and shorten their lifespan, making colonies unsustainable long-term.

Many care guides focus heavily on protein, but in reality, protein is only one part of proper nutrition for dubia roaches.

Healthy, productive colonies also depend on:

• Proper fat balance

• Essential trace minerals

• Consistent fiber intake

• Controlled carbohydrate quality

A poorly balanced diet may produce fast growth in the short term, but it often leads to:

• Weaker roaches

• Lower breeding success

• Shorter colony lifespan

• Poorer nutrition passed to reptiles

True long-term success comes from nutrional balance, not just protein percentage.

Fat content in a dubia roach’s diet is just as important as protein.

While some fat is essential for:

• Energy storage

• Reproductive health

• Cell function

Too much fat can lead to:

• Greasy frass and dirty enclosures

• Sluggish colony behavior

• Shortened adult lifespan

A well-balanced feeding program avoids extremely high-fat feeds and instead focuses on stable, moderate fat sources that support steady growth without stressing the colony.

Fresh fruits and vegetables add moisture, vitamins, and variety. They’re also excellent for gut-loading before feeding roaches to your pets.

Common safe options include:

• Vegetables

  • Carrots

  • Squash (butternut, acorn, etc.)

  • Sweet potato

  • Bell pepper

  • Dark leafy greens (collards, mustard, turnip greens, dandelion greens)

• Fruits (in moderation)

  • Apples (without seeds)

  • Berries

  • Pears

  • Melon

Feeding tips:

• Chop food into small chunks or slices so roaches can easily eat it

• Offer a variety over time rather than just one or two items forever

• Keep the amount manageable so it can be consumed before it spoils

Grains provide a stable energy source and fiber. You can feed dubia roaches:

• Rolled oats
• Bran flakes
• Whole-grain bread (in small amounts)

If you are breeding dubia roaches, a high-protein diet is critical to support reproduction. Include:

• Fish flakes
• Bee pollen
• Boiled eggs (mashed and offered in moderation)

Some foods are unsafe or simply a bad idea for dubia roaches, either because they can harm the roaches directly, create health issues for your pets, or cause serious problems in the bin.

Avoid feeding dubia roaches:

• Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit)

• Onions and garlic

• Avocado

• Highly processed junk food (chips, candy, sugary cereals, fast food)

• Salty, greasy, or heavily spiced foods

• Moldy, rotten, or spoiled produce

Why avoid these?

• Some items (like avocado, onion, garlic) can be toxic for many animals and potentially compromise roach health.

• Junk food and heavily processed items can throw off the nutritional profile of your feeders.

• Mold and decay promote bacteria, odors, and colony health issues.

When in doubt, stick to clean, simple, plant-based foods you’d feel safe offering (in moderation) to a herbivorous reptile.

Gut-loading means feeding your roaches highly nutritious food just before offering them to your pet, so their digestive tract is full of beneficial nutrients.

Best practices for gut-loading:

• Start 12–24 hours before you plan to feed the roaches off

• Offer high-quality, vitamin-rich vegetables (like dark leafy greens and orange veggies)

• Keep a good roach chow available so they always have a dry option

• Avoid feeding very watery fruits right before feeding to pets, as they don’t add much nutrition

A good gut-loading routine can improve:

• Vitamin A levels

• Overall nutrient density

• Hydration for your pet

Dubia roaches do best when they:

• Have dry food available at all times

• Get fresh vegetables or fruits every 1–2 days

Practical schedule:

• Daily: Check the bin, top off dry food if needed, and remove any old produce

• Every 24–48 hours: Add a small portion of fresh vegetables or fruits

• Adjust quantities based on how quickly your colony eats what you give them

Too much fresh food at once can lead to waste, gnats, and mold, so it’s better to feed slightly smaller amounts more frequently.

Here are some frequent mistakes keepers make when feeding dubia roaches:

1. Letting food mold in the bin
Leaving old fruits and veggies too long leads to mold, smell, and health issues.
→ Solution: Remove uneaten fresh food at least once per day.

2. Using open water dishes
Roaches—especially nymphs—can drown easily in standing water.
→ Solution: Use water crystals or gel-based insect water sources instead.

3. Feeding unsafe foods “because they’ll eat anything”
Just because they can eat it doesn’t mean they should. Some foods can harm the roaches or your pets.
→ Solution: Stick to safe produce and quality dry diets.

4. Over-relying on sugary fruits
Too much sugar and moisture can lead to messy, smelly bins and poor nutrition.
→ Solution: Focus on vegetables first; use fruit as an occasional treat.

Your dubia roach colony is more than just a bin of bugs—it’s the foundation of your pet’s nutrition. A colony fed on cheap fillers, unsafe scraps, or moldy leftovers will never offer the same benefits as roaches raised on a clean, balanced diet.

By giving your dubia roaches:

• A high-quality staple diet

• Safe, varied fruits and vegetables

• Clean water from safe sources

• A dry, mold-free environment

…you end up with stronger, more nutritious feeders and healthier, more vibrant reptiles and exotic pets.

If you ever feel overwhelmed, start simple: a good dry chow, a couple of safe vegetables, clean water crystals, and consistent cleanup. Your roaches—and your pets—will thank you.

Commercial roach chow can be an excellent foundation for a healthy dubia colony when it is properly formulated and consistently tested.

High-quality roach chow focuses on:

• Stable, plant-based nutrient sources

• Balanced protein levels that promote growth without stressing colonies

• Long-term digestibility and low waste output

While some breeders openly list their formulations, many professional breeders rely on proprietary blends developed through long-term testing. What matters most isn’t the public ingredient list — it’s consistency, stability, and proven colony performance over time.

A properly formulated commercial roach chow creates:

• Strong, stable feeder insects

• Reliable reproduction

• Cleaner enclosures with less odor

Trace minerals play a critical role in long-term dubia colony success. These micronutrients influence:

• Molting success

• Exoskeleton strength

• Immune resilience

• Reproductive stability

Mineral imbalances don’t always show up overnight, but over time they can cause:

• Higher die-off rates

• Molting failures

• Reduced breeding output

Experienced breeders understand that micro-nutrient balance is often what separates average colonies from exceptional ones.

Fruits are an excellent source of hydration and natural sugars, which provide energy. Offer them sparingly to prevent overloading on sugar. Good options include:

• Apples (seedless)
• Bananas
• Papaya
• Mango
• Pears
• Blueberries
• Grapes (cut in half)

Avoid citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, as they are acidic and can harm the roaches.

Vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making them a staple for gut-loading dubia roaches. Great choices include:

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Squash
• Zucchini
• Kale
• Spinach
• Collard greens
• Bell peppers

Processed foods are often loaded with preservatives, salt, and sugar, which are detrimental to dubia roaches. Avoid:

• Chips
• Candy
• Sugary cereals
• Bread with added sugar

Fruits and vegetables treated with pesticides or chemicals can harm your roaches and, consequently, your pets. Always wash produce thoroughly or use organic produce.

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are too acidic for dubia roaches. Acidic foods can disrupt their digestive system and harm their health.

The inclusion of citrus fruits in the diet of Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) is a topic of debate among enthusiasts and experts. While some sources suggest that Dubia roaches enjoy citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines.   Others recommend caution due to potential adverse effects on the roaches and the animals that consume them.

No matter how you slice it, best to avoid it as they can get plenty of nutrition from other food.  Why risk it!

• Digestive Sensitivity in Reptiles: Some reptiles may experience digestive issues when consuming prey that has been gut-loaded with citrus fruits. To prevent discomfort in your pets, it's advisable to avoid feeding citrus to Dubia roaches intended as feeders.

  
  

• Acidity Levels: The high acidity in citrus fruits can disrupt the digestive systems of Dubia roaches, potentially leading to health problems.

  
  

• Avoid Citrus in Gut-Loading: To ensure the well-being of both your Dubia roaches and the animals that consume them, it's best to exclude citrus fruits from the roaches' diet, especially during gut-loading phases.

• Opt for Alternative Fruits and Vegetables: Provide a variety of other fruits and vegetables that are safe and nutritious for Dubia roaches, such as apples, bananas, carrots, and leafy greens.

Onions and garlic contain naturally occurring chemical compounds that make them unsuitable and potentially toxic for dubia roaches. These compounds interfere with normal biological and digestive processes in insects and can negatively affect colony health.

Sulfur Compounds

Onions and garlic contain sulfur-based compounds that are harmful to insects:

• Allicin (garlic) – Produced when garlic is crushed or chopped. Allicin has strong antimicrobial and antifungal properties that disrupt cellular and biological functions in small organisms, including insects.

• Thiosulfates (onions and garlic) – These compounds are toxic to many insects and small animals. In dubia roaches, thiosulfates can interfere with digestion, metabolism, and overall health.

These sulfur compounds can weaken roaches over time and reduce the overall quality of feeder insects.

Acidity

Onions and garlic are naturally acidic. While dubia roaches are hardy insects, their digestive systems are not designed to tolerate acidic foods on a regular basis. Acidic foods can:

• Irritate the digestive tract

• Reduce nutrient absorption

• Increase internal stress within the colony

Antimicrobial Properties and Gut Health

Onions and garlic contain natural antimicrobial and antibacterial compounds. While beneficial to humans, these compounds can be harmful to dubia roaches because they:

• Kill or disrupt beneficial gut bacteria

• Interfere with digestion

• Reduce the roach’s ability to properly process nutrients

Healthy gut bacteria are essential for dubia roaches to efficiently convert food into usable nutrients. Disrupting this balance weakens the colony over time.

Avocado contains a natural compound called persin, which is known to be toxic to many animals and insects. Feeding avocado to dubia roaches can cause digestive stress and colony health problems.

More importantly, there is a potential for toxin transfer — meaning that harmful compounds consumed by the roach could be passed on to your pet when the roach is fed.

To keep your colony and pets safe:

• Do not feed avocado flesh

• Do not feed avocado skins

• Do not feed avocado pits

It is safest to avoid avocado entirely and stick with safer vegetables like leafy greens, squash, and carrots.

While dubia roaches require protein, meats and dairy products are not appropriate food sources for them.

These foods create serious problems inside a roach enclosure because:

• They spoil very quickly in warm environments

• They promote rapid bacterial growth

• They lead to mold development

• They cause strong, unhealthy odors

Unlike plant-based foods, meats and dairy do not break down cleanly inside a roach bin. Instead, they create a breeding ground for harmful microbes that can damage colony health and contaminate the enclosure.

For safe protein sources:

• Stick to plant-based protein ingredients

• Use professionally formulated roach chow

• Avoid animal-based food scraps entirely

This keeps your colony clean, healthy, and safe for both roaches and the animals that eat them.

Gut-loading is the process of feeding your dubia roaches a nutrient-rich diet 24–48 hours before offering them to your pets. This ensures that the roaches themselves are highly nutritious. Foods to use for gut-loading include:

• Leafy greens (kale, collards)
• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• High-quality roach chow

Mold and bacteria are two of the biggest threats to a healthy dubia roach colony. Moldy or spoiled food can quickly lead to disease, stress, and large-scale die-offs inside your enclosure.

To prevent mold and harmful bacteria:

• Remove all uneaten fresh food within 24 hours

• Never allow wet or slimy food to sit in the enclosure

• Provide good airflow and ventilation to prevent moisture buildup

• Keep food on shallow dishes to reduce direct contact with frass and substrate

Warm, humid, stagnant environments are ideal breeding grounds for mold and bacteria. Clean, dry, and well-ventilated enclosures dramatically reduce colony health problems and keep your roaches strong.

Feeding your dubia roaches a balanced and nutritious diet is crucial for their health and the quality of nutrition they provide to your pets. By combining high-quality roach chow, fresh fruits and vegetables, and occasional protein supplements, you can maintain a thriving colony that produces plump, healthy roaches.

Avoid harmful foods like citrus, processed items, and pesticide-laden produce, and always practice proper hygiene to prevent mold and contamination. With these practices, your dubia roaches will remain a reliable, nutritious, and healthy feeder insect for your beloved pets.