Overview

Why would anyone in there right mind intentionally allow Roaches to live in there space with them? Well if you keep Reptiles, primarily Lizards, then you might want to breed your own feeder roaches.  They are one of, if not the best, food source out there.The Dubai Roach is packed full of easy to digest protein. I know what you are thinking; aren’t all bugs full of protein?  Yes, but Dubai roaches contain more protein that many other sources, and they also provide other nutrients that are not found in other food sources.

Meal worms for example are the novice lizard keepers go to.  This is an issue for our Cold blooded companions. Yes it is true meal worms are far cheaper and easier to get than Dubai’s. However mealworms are harder for lizards to breakdown because of there hard exoskeleton or “shell” that is made out of a substance called chitin.  This shell can cause some very costly bad issues, the best of which is an intestinal impaction. The worst being death.   It can even cause your Pet to be Over weight because mealworms are not only hard to digest,but they are high in fat so lizards get fat too.  

Crickets are another possible food source some people use. I don’t like them because they can escape more easily, they make noise, and they stink.  They also are less available currently because they have been plagued by a cricket virus.  Even when they are available, they don’t contain as much protein as roaches. Crickets can also carry pinworms, which are not carried by Dubai roaches.  

For these reasons, I prefer Dubai roaches as a feeder source.  Additionally, Dubai roaches can be gut-loaded more easily and efficiently than crickets.  Gut-loading is done 24 – 48 hours prior to being fed to a lizard.  Gut-loading means feeding a prey item more nutritious foods prior to them being fed off.  This is so that the animal consuming them will get a greater nationals value.  Depending upon the animal they are fed to, the diet may vary a bit.  They make a commercial product designed for this feeding process or you can make your own.  Generally speaking, you want this food to be high in vegetable, and stay away from beans, citrus, and meat.  It is important to note that your pet will be only as good as the food you feed it, so raising your own food puts you in greater control of their diet.

However, it is work to raise roaches.  You will need a large enclosure in which to keep your roaches.  You want to be sure that the roaches will not escape.  And that they will have enough room to breed and they need to have air.  A fish tank or plastic tub will work.  Dubai roaches do not have claws like the American cockroach or hissing cockroach, so they do not climb as well as these other types of roaches.  That being said, they are still roaches and have a surprising ability to escape. Havingsmooth sides on the enclosure is a good deterrent to escape.  Additionally, I like to rim the top of my enclosure with petroleum jelly as a second like of defense.  The enclosure should have a lid that allows some air flow, but again does not allow escape.