Feeder Supply Is Changing. We’re Growing to Meet the Need.

Your animals need dependable feeders, and we believe keeping you informed is part of being a dependable supplier.

Two significant developments on the same day are putting pressure on feeder availability: Dubia.com has temporarily paused all roach sales, including subscriptions, with no announced restock date. Rainbow Mealworms, a longtime supplier of crickets and other feeder insects, has announced its closure after 70 years in business.

As growers ourselves, we understand that raising live animals and insects doesn’t always go as planned. During these disruptions, we’re doing our best to help meet the needs of our reptile community while expanding production for the months ahead.

Red Runners are an excellent alternative to crickets and can also replace Dubia roaches for many insect-eating animals. As keepers look for available feeders, we expect increased demand for both our Red Runners and Dubias. We anticipate a potential shortage heading into late November and early December.

What MiceDirect Is Doing Now

We are aggressively expanding production to meet our customers’ growing needs.

We are temporarily holding back all ¾-inch Red Runners and ⅞-inch Dubias to expand our breeding colonies. Retaining these future breeders now allows us to build greater production for the months ahead.

We are targeting double our current Red Runner production by the end of December, with plans to work toward doubling it again afterward. We expect ¾-inch Red Runners to return in limited quantities as production allows. Dubias production will increase, but not at the same rate as the red runners.

How You Can Prepare

If your animals need larger feeders, purchasing smaller roaches ahead of time and growing them out can help you maintain a steady feeding supply:

• For ½-inch feeders: start with ¼-inch roaches.
• For ¾-inch feeders: start with ½-inch roaches.

Keep feeders ready for meals now while your next group grows. Our guide below explains how to set up a simple grow-out container and care for them along the way.

We’re investing in more production today to support the animals and the customers who depend on us tomorrow.

How to Grow Smaller Roaches into Larger Feeders

Both Red Runners and Dubias can be grown this way, but their growth rates will differ.

• Set Up a Secure Container

Use a smooth-sided plastic tub with a secure lid and plenty of ventilation. Cover ventilation openings with securely attached fine mesh small enough to contain your smallest roaches.

Add upright cardboard egg flats for hiding and climbing space. Keep the flats below the lid so roaches cannot use them to escape. No bedding is needed.

Give them enough space to spread out across the egg flats. Divide large groups into additional containers as they grow.

• Keep Them Warm

Aim for temperatures in the low 80s°F to encourage growth. Roaches can survive at normal household temperatures, but cooler conditions slow their growth.

If extra heat is needed, use an external heat source approved for your container and controlled by a thermostat. Check the temperature with a thermometer, and leave a cooler area where the roaches can move away from the warmth. Keep the container out of direct sunlight.

• Keep Food and Moisture Available

Provide a dry roach diet or suitable insect chow in a shallow dish at all times.

Offer small portions of carrots, sweet potatoes, or other fresh vegetables for moisture. Check these daily and remove them before they spoil. Avoid open water dishes, which can drown small roaches.

Keep food and moisture easy to reach so smaller roaches can feed without crowding.

• Keep the Container Clean

Remove dead insects, spoiled food, and damp cardboard promptly. Keep egg flats dry and maintain good airflow.

Red Runners especially need a dry, well-ventilated setup. Provide moisture through their food rather than spraying the entire container.

• Watch Their Growth

Roaches grow by molting, or shedding their outer shell. A freshly molted roach will look white and feel soft. Leave it undisturbed while its new shell hardens.

Check the group regularly and select feeders as they reach the size your animals need. Roaches will not all reach the next size at the same time.

How Long Will It Take?

Plan in weeks rather than days. Growth depends on the species, starting size, temperature, diet, and crowding. Red Runners generally grow faster than Dubias, so allow separate timelines for each.

Start your grow-out group before your current feeders run low. Smaller roaches are a way to prepare for future meals, rather than an immediate replacement for larger feeders.

Keep a Feeding Rotation

Keep one group at feeding size while a second group grows. As you use your larger feeders, replenish the smaller group to keep the rotation moving.

Once you see how quickly roaches grow in your setup, you can adjust your order size and timing to match your animals’ needs.