How to Switch from Crickets to Discoid Roaches

How to Switch from Crickets to Discoid Roaches

Switching from crickets to discoid roaches is one of the simplest and most impactful improvements you can make as a reptile keeper. No smell, no noise, no escapes, no biting, longer shelf life, better nutrition — the benefits are immediate and dramatic. Here is exactly how to make the transition.

Step 1: Order Your First Batch

Order discoid roaches in the size appropriate for your reptile (small, medium, or large). For your first order, get the same quantity you would normally buy in crickets.

Step 2: Set Up a Simple Storage Bin

A plastic bin with smooth walls, egg crate hides, water crystals, and food scraps every few days. Total setup time: 10 minutes. The roaches cannot climb out — no special containment needed.

Step 3: Offer to Your Reptile

Most reptiles accept discoid roaches immediately on the first offering. Roaches move at the right speed to trigger feeding instinct. Tong-feed the first one if your animal seems hesitant. The vast majority of bearded dragons, leopard geckos, chameleons, and monitors strike within seconds.

Step 4: Never Buy Crickets Again

That is it. Your home will be quieter, cleaner, less smelly, and your reptile will be eating a nutritionally superior feeder. Welcome to the other side.

What If My Reptile Refuses Roaches?

Rare but possible — especially for animals raised exclusively on crickets. Try:

• Tong feeding: Present a single roach directly in front of the animal's face
• Mix with familiar feeders: Place roaches alongside a few crickets or mealworms
• Try different sizes: Some animals prefer smaller roaches that move differently
• Try silkworms: If roaches are refused, silkworms often break through feeding resistance
• Be patient: Most animals accept new feeders within 1-3 offerings

Cost Comparison

Roaches cost more per unit than crickets. But factor in 30-50% cricket die-off, and the per-feeding cost is comparable. Plus you save on: cleaning supplies for smelly cricket bins, replacement orders for dead crickets, and your own sanity from the chirping and smell.

Shop discoid roaches — your last cricket order was your last cricket order.

— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures