Florida Roach Store

Your source for Pet and Feeder roaches in FL

Non Climbing Species Care

- Cockroaches are easy to keep and can be inexpensively housed and maintained. For non-climbing species such as Florida Discoids I use large Rubbermaid or Sterilite brand containers that I get from any retail store such as Walmart, Target, etc.

Here are some easy to follow steps on how to set up you non climbing roaches:

Step #1 Get them a house: Buy a container to house your colony. I like containers that are smooth to the touch, if the inside is textured nymphs will easily climb out. Smaller containers or aquariums can be used for small colonies, or to keep roaches as feeders only.


Step #2 Let it breathe: Make a hole for ventilation in the lid of the container. I like to cover it with aluminum screen to keep unwanted bugs or predators out  ( sold at any Home improvement store ). Hot glue the screen to the hole you made on the lid.

Step #3 Tile or carpet?: From the list below determine if your cockroaches prefer substrate or not. If your colony requires substrate I recommend a 50/50 mix of peat moss, and coconut substrate. Keep it moist to the touch but never wet.

Substrate is not recommended for the following species we sell:

- Florida Discoids

Substrate is recommended for the following species we sell:

- Horseshoe Crab Roach
- Giant Cave Roach
- Death's head Cockroach ( They prefer substrate but can be housed without it )


Step #4 Finishing touches..  Place egg crates in one side of the container. I prefer to separate the egg crates with a piece of cardboard to keep them from falling over. Two shallow bowls are also placed on the other side of the cage ( one for dry food, another for water crystals, vegetables and fruits, etc ).  I like using reptile 'rock' bowls as they are easy to clean, and have a texture that allows small nymphs to climb them.

Step #5 Keeping them alive:  I feed my roaches high quality natural dog food and pond fish sticks, commercial roach/cricket diets can also be used with success. For moisture and water in their diet I like to give them fruits and vegetables ( Water crystals can also be used ). If your roaches are kept in substrate make sure to keep it moist by lightly misting the sides of the container once or twice a week.

Step #6 Maintenance: Remove uneaten vegetables and fruits daily to avoid fruit flies or maggots, replenish bowl with dry food. Dead roaches don't have to be removed often ( Specially if you keep ' Clean up ' bugs in your container ). Depending on the quantity of roaches being kept do a monthly or bi-monthly complete clean up of your colony. ( change them to a clean container, clean and disinfect feeding bowls, replace egg crates if neccessary ). This complete clean up can be done less often, but if you like your colony to remain as smell free as possible I recommend to do it at least every two months.

*** If you live in a place where you need supplemental heat for your colonies we recommend that you find instructions online on how to use heat-tape, infrared heaters, etc. We are located in Sunny South Florida and we don't use any heating devices for our colonies. If you have a reptile room that is above 78F you could house your roaches there with little or no additional heating


Tips for using cockroaches as feeders for reptiles: Sometimes cockroaches have the tendency to burry down in the substrate when you throw them inside an animals cage. There are a few simple ways to work around this. You can place the roaches in a shallow bowl where animals such as Bearded dragons, chameleons, etc will quickly learn that they will find the roaches inside the bowl. You can also hand feed your animal with a pair of tweezers, or only add roaches as they get eaten before they have a chance to burry down in the substrate.

Roaches are generally very high in nutrients and just like crickets they can be 'gut loaded', you can separate some roaches a night before and offer them high quality food or gut load before you feed them to your pets.

Climbing Species Care

- Care for Climbing and flying species is similar to that of the non-climbing species. The only difference is the container used to house them.

Step #1 Get them a house: Buy a container to house your colony. For climbing species I prefer 'Water proof file containers' These are easily found at any office supply store, or at the 'Container Store'. If you can't find one in your area they can be easily ordered online. Water proof containers are made to keep water and bugs out! but work great keeping bugs IN as well. They usually have a tight fitting lid with a plastic or Styrofoam O-Ring.
- Climbing and non-climbing Cockroaches can be set-up in more naturalistic settings. Instead of Egg crates, wood and other ornaments can be used. Just make sure all ornaments are free of harmful chemicals, and that wood that is collected outdoors is treated before introducing it to your colonies.

Step 2 to 6: Same as steps for Non climbing species. The only difference is that I use substrate for all my climbing cockroaches. When using substrate is not always neccesary to use feeding bowls ( Food can be placed right in top of the substrate, but make sure not to overfeed your roaches as harmful mold can grow and harm your insects )


Additional notes for climbing cockroaches: A few tips for the care of climbing cockroaches.

- Green Banana roaches: 


- P nivea are generally a lot more active during night time. During the day they prefer to hide in their egg crates, or in the substrate and very seldom fly during the day. I use this to my advantage to feed them, sort or do anything inside their containers. I also separate the nymphs to be used as feeders during this time.

Featured Products

No featured products