How to Store Dubia Roaches

Last Updated on July 11, 2021 by Jeffery Jago

Storing Dubia roaches properly is crucial to their health and longevity. Like other feeder insects, if stored improperly can easily cause the bugs to die before you’ve had a chance to even use them.

How to store Dubia roaches alive

tl;dr

Dubia roaches should be in a ventilated container with a humidity level of 50-60%, 12 hours of darkness a night, access to water and fruit/vegetables. The container should have egg cartons and a lid. Keep at constant 70ºF and 90ºF.

Dubai roaches are nocturnal, so make sure you store your Dubia roaches properly to take advantage of this. Keep them in a dry and ventilated place that has at least 12 hours of total darkness every day.

Rubbermaid makes food containers for this, as you can cut out panels in the sides and cover the holes with mesh to increase the airflow.

They should always have access to fresh fruit, vegetables, and water. You can either use a shallow water dish or a water sponge.

The container should be lined with egg cartons or other similar pieces of cardboard. This will allow them plenty of room to breed if that’s what you are going for, or just to make them more comfortable even if you’re not trying to breed them.

Remove the frass (poop) at least once a week, and be sure to remove fruit and vegetables after 24 hours to avoid mold.

If you find your adults are trying to eat their own nymphs, check the conditions are accurate in the enclosure and increase or decrease temperature. It should be around 70ºF and 90ºF.

If your finding it hard to keep the temperature where it should be, consider adding a heating pad underneath or on top of the enclosure, not in with the roaches, though.

be careful not to block any ventilation holes.

Cover any holes you make in the container with a fine small holes liner. Make sure it’s securely fastened and they can’t squeeze their way out of the attachment point.

If you lay cardboard on the bottom, don’t lay it directly onto the container as this will eventually lead to mold.

Egg cartons should be stacked to one side of the container while the other side is left bare, with a food and water dish/sponge.

When placing fruit, vegetables, or anything wet in the enclosure, be sure to use a plate or bowl to prevent the liquids from entering the frass or cardboard which will cause bacteria growth and mold.

If you use a water sponge, be sure to replace it every 3 days to avoid bacteria growth.

How to store Dubia roaches frozen

This is pretty easy to accomplish. You should first gut load your roaches with whatever you’re trying to feed the animal with, and then add the roaches to a container with a lid.

Just stick it in the freezer.

Depending on what you intend to feed them to, You may need to thaw them first. Most lizards and reptiles will prefer live roaches to frozen dead ones.

As for fish, They don’t really care, and frozen is fine for them.

Also consider there may be a bit of loss in nutrition and vitamin levels when frozen, however, if your gut loads them beforehand it makes little difference.

How to store Dubia roaches Freeze Dried

To store freeze-dried roaches, place in an airtight container and put in cubbert or fridge.