We grow our roaches to provide superior nutrition for your pets.
At The Roach Cafe we’ve spent 15 years perfecting the process of breeding and raising Dubia roaches to ensure they provide the highest quality nutrition for your pets.
Premium Diet for Optimal Nutrition
Our home grown roaches are being fed a high quality diet consisting of over 75% Whole Foods and 25% our custom roach chow.
You are what you eat! With a diet rich in fresh vegetables, grains, greens and essential nutrients, we work to ensure our dubias develop into a rich feeder insect that supports your pet’s health.
The Roach Cafe custom Roach chow mix meets our standards of naturally fed quality and remaining free of harmful ingredients.
The Roach Cafe feeds NO fillers or processed pet products such as dog food, cat food, fish flakes, or chicken feed.
Clean, Controlled Environment
Our roaches are raised in a sanitary, climate-controlled environment to ensure they thrive without exposure to harmful chemicals or contaminants. We never use pesticides or hormones, guaranteeing a natural and safe food source.
Fresh & Live Arrival Guarantee
We hand count each order and take pride in delivering only the healthiest roaches, ensuring they arrive alive ready for lunch or dinner. Every order is carefully packed to maintain quality and longevity.
By maintaining a balanced diet, we ensure that our feeder roaches stay nutritious, healthy, and safe for the animals consuming them.
The Roach Cafe specializes in reptile dinning so that your pets are thriving!
Feeder Dubia
Nutritional Facts
Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) are highly valued as feeder insects due to their robust nutritional profile, which varies between nymphs and adults.
Nutritional Breakdown of Dubia Roaches
Nymphs (Young Roaches)
Moisture: 59.06–62.70%
Protein: 47.50–54.32%
Fat: 35.49–44.22%
Ash (Minerals): 2.47–4.17%
Chitin (Exoskeleton Material): 3.83–5.58%
Adult Dubia Roaches
Moisture: 59.06–62.70%
Protein: 47.50–54.32%
Fat: 35.49–44.22%
Ash (Minerals): 2.47–4.17%
Chitin (Exoskeleton Material): 3.83–5.58%
Note: Values are based on dry matter analysis.
Protein Content: Both nymphs and adults exhibit substantial protein levels, essential for growth and tissue repair in insectivorous animals.
Fat Content: The moderate fat content provides a valuable energy source, supporting the metabolic needs of active pets.
Chitin Levels: Low chitin content ensures easier digestibility compared to other feeder insects, reducing the risk of impaction.
Supplementation
While dubia roaches offer a balanced nutrient profile, certain dietary supplements are advised to ensure the optimal health of your pets:
Calcium: Dubia roaches possess an inverse calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio, which can be problematic for reptiles requiring higher calcium intake. To address this:
Dusting: Lightly coat the roaches with a calcium powder immediately before feeding. This method ensures direct calcium supplementation without affecting the roach's health.
Gut-Loading: Provide roaches with calcium-rich foods, such as leafy greens or specially formulated high-calcium diets, 24–48 hours before feeding them to your pet. This enhances the calcium content within the roach.
Vitamins: To prevent potential vitamin deficiencies, especially in captive reptiles, consider using a reptile-specific multivitamin supplement. Dusting the roaches with a supplement like this before feeding can help maintain a balanced diet for your pet.
Important Considerations:
Avoid Direct Calcium Feeding to Roaches: Offering calcium powders or sources directly to dubia roaches is generally ineffective, as they are unlikely to consume them. Instead, focus on dusting or gut-loading methods.
Species-Specific Needs: Always research the specific dietary requirements of your pet species. Some reptiles may have unique nutritional needs that require additional supplementation.
Hydration Tips
Hydration of dubia roaches are crucial to maintain their health and maximize their nutritional value as feeders:
Fresh Produce: Providing moisture-rich fruits and vegetables can serve as both food and water sources for dubia roaches. Foods like oranges and apples are excellent choices.
Water Crystals: Use water crystals or gels as a hydration source. Place them in a shallow dish accessible to the roaches. This method minimizes the risk of drowning, a common issue with open water dishes.
Avoid Standing Water: Dubia are prone to drowning. Avoid providing water in open dishes. Instead, rely on moisture-rich foods (such as melons)or water gels to meet their hydration needs.
Excess Protein Can Be Harmful for Dubia Roaches
Causes Increased Uric Acid Production – Dubia roaches metabolize excess protein into uric acid, which accumulates in their bodies. When feeder roaches with high uric acid levels are eaten by reptiles, especially those prone to kidney issues (e.g., bearded dragons, some geckos), it may contribute to gout or kidney strain over time.
Feeding dubia too much protein turns them into a lower quality feeder roach– While dubia roaches need some protein, an imbalanced diet with too much excessive protein can reduce their overall nutritional quality and digestibility for pets.
Optimal Diet for Feeder Quality
A balanced diet for feeder dubia roach should contain:
Moderate protein (15–20%) – Derived from quality plant sources like oats, whole grains, and legumes.
High fiber & carbohydrates – Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains provide essential energy.
Low-fat content – Helps keep the roaches lean while providing sustainable nutrition.
What to Avoid in Roach Diets
🚫 Too much animal-based protein (meat, fish meal, high-protein pet food) – Leads to uric acid buildup.
🚫 Excessively high-protein commercial diets – Some insect gut-load mixes contain over 30% protein, which can be too much for roaches.
🚫 High-fat foods – Foods like nuts, seeds, or oils can negatively impact roach health.
Best Foods for Feeder Roaches
🥕 Vegetables: Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, leafy greens.
🍎 Fruits: Apples, oranges, bananas (in moderation).
🌾 Grains: Oats, whole wheat, bran, dry roach chow (moderate protein).