Are Discoid Roaches the Best Feeder for Your Blue Tongue Skink?
- Role
- Staple feeder
- Protein
- ~20%
- Fat
- ~6.5%
- Moisture
- ~60%
- Chitin
- low
- Ca:P
- 1:3
- Calcium-rich
- No (dust it)
- Best for
- Most insectivores — beardies, geckos, frogs, monitors
Blue tongue skinks are omnivores with real appetites, and the protein half of their diet is where keepers tend to overthink things. I've fed a lot of insects to skinks, and discoid roaches consistently land near the top of the list — not because they're magic, but because they tick the boxes that matter: solid protein, manageable fat, soft bodies, easy handling, and no drama. Whether they're the best choice for your skink depends on a few specifics, so let's walk through it honestly.
What blue tongue skinks need from a feeder
A healthy blue tongue diet is a balance of animal protein, vegetables, and a smaller amount of fruit. Insects and other protein supply the building blocks for growth and muscle; leafy greens like collard, mustard, and dandelion provide vitamins and minerals; fruit is an occasional, sugar-limited extra.
Two non-negotiables sit on top of that food:
- Calcium supplementation. Dust feeders with calcium, because the insects themselves don't supply enough relative to phosphorus.
- Appropriate vitamin D3, especially for skinks with limited UVB exposure.
Adults typically eat every two to three days. Fresh water should always be available even though skinks get a lot of moisture from food. With that framework set, the question becomes which protein source fits best.
What are discoid roaches?
Discoid roaches (Blaberus discoidalis) are a tropical cockroach from Central and South America, named for their flat, disc-like oval shape. Adults reach about 1.5 to 2 inches, in shades of tan to dark brown with a smooth, glossy shell.
A few traits make them a standout feeder:
- They cannot climb smooth surfaces, so they're easy to contain in a plastic bin.
- They don't bite and have soft bodies, making them safe and easy to eat.
- They don't chirp or stink the way crickets do.
- They're non-invasive and need tropical warmth and humidity to survive, so an escapee won't establish itself in your house.
Nutritional benefits for blue tongue skinks
Discoids are naturally high in protein — commonly cited around 20–23% — which directly supports the growth and muscle maintenance an active omnivore needs. They're also relatively low in fat (roughly 7%), which makes them a better everyday staple than fatty options like superworms or waxworms, particularly for skinks prone to putting on weight.
Their soft exoskeleton is the underrated part. Lower chitin means easier digestion and a lower impaction risk than harder-shelled feeders, which matters for juveniles and any skink with a sensitive gut. They also carry good moisture, adding hydration.
One correction worth being clear about: discoid roaches are often described as having a "favorable calcium-to-phosphorus ratio." That's misleading. Like virtually all feeder insects, discoids are phosphorus-heavy, which is exactly why you dust them with calcium before feeding. The roach is an excellent protein source; the calcium balance comes from your supplement routine, not from the bug.
Discoid roaches vs. other feeders
Here's how discoids stack up against the common alternatives for a blue tongue skink.
| Feeder | Protein/fat | Care | Notes for skinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discoid roach | High protein, low-moderate fat | Easy, no climb, no odor | Soft-bodied, easy to digest; legal where Dubia isn't |
| Dubia roach | Similar to discoid, slightly higher fat | Easy, no climb | Banned in some states (e.g. Florida); slightly harder texture |
| Cricket | Decent protein | Smelly, noisy, escape-prone, short-lived | Erratic hopping can frustrate feeding |
| Mealworm | Protein-rich, high chitin | Needs cool storage | Harder to digest; better as occasional |
| Superworm | High protein, higher fat | Easy, no refrigeration | Fatty; treat/supplement, not staple |
The headline: discoids match Dubia nutritionally while being legal in more places, beat crickets on care and odor, and beat mealworms and superworms on digestibility and fat profile for a daily staple.
Why many keepers prefer discoids over Dubia
Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) are excellent feeders too, but discoids win for specific reasons:
- Legality. Dubia are restricted in some U.S. states, including Florida, over invasive-species concerns. Discoids are generally permitted, which alone settles the choice for a lot of keepers.
- Digestibility. A softer exoskeleton makes discoids gentler on smaller or younger skinks.
- Activity. Discoids tend to move a bit more, which can trigger a stronger feeding response from a movement-driven predator.
- Easy to breed. They're forgiving about temperature and humidity, so a home colony is low-effort.
Both are leaner and quieter than crickets; the deciding factors are usually legality and what your skink responds to.
Addressing common worries
Will they bite or hurt my skink? No. Discoids don't bite and have soft bodies — they're a safe meal.
Could they infest my house? Practically no. They can't climb smooth walls and can't survive or breed in typical household conditions. A secure bin handles the rest.
Are they hard to keep? No. A ventilated plastic bin, egg-crate hides, warmth, occasional produce, and a water-crystal source is the whole setup.
How to feed discoid roaches to your skink
Gut-load first. For 24–48 hours before feeding, give the roaches nutrient-dense food — high-calcium greens, carrot, squash, apple. This loads them with nutrition that passes to your skink.
Size correctly. The roach should be no wider than the skink's head — a good rule is no wider than the space between its eyes. Smaller roaches for juveniles, larger for adults. Oversized prey is a choking and impaction risk.
Portion and schedule. Offer about 2–4 appropriately sized roaches per feeding, with adults eating roughly 2–3 times per week. Adjust to the individual animal's age, weight, and activity.
Dust with supplements. Coat the roaches in calcium powder before feeding — aim for a calcium-forward routine, with a multivitamin roughly every 1–2 weeks to avoid over-supplementing.
Feeding technique. Offer roaches with feeding tongs to mimic prey movement and spark the hunting instinct, or place them in a shallow, escape-proof dish. Watch the meal to confirm your skink is eating comfortably.
Keeping a small colony at home
Discoids are easy to maintain, which makes a home colony worthwhile if you feed regularly:
- Habitat: a ventilated, escape-proof plastic bin with egg crates for surface area and shelter.
- Heat: 85–95°F via a heat pad or ceramic emitter for activity and breeding.
- Humidity: around 50–60%, with light misting and no standing water.
- Diet: fruits, vegetables, and dry roach chow or grain feed; skip overly wet produce to avoid mold.
- Hydration: water crystals or gel rather than open water, to prevent drowning.
- Breeding: keep at least ~50 adults, avoid overcrowding, and clean every few weeks.
So — are they the best?
For most blue tongue skinks, discoid roaches are one of the strongest staple feeders available: high protein, moderate fat, soft and digestible, quiet, odorless, easy to contain, and legal in more places than Dubia. The honest caveat is that no single feeder should be the whole diet — variety prevents monotony and covers nutritional gaps, so rotate in other proteins and always serve alongside greens. Dust with calcium every time, and discoids will carry the protein side of the diet beautifully.
You can source healthy, gut-loaded stock from the discoid roaches collection at All Angles Creatures. For the science on calcium, phosphorus, and preventing metabolic bone disease, the Merck Veterinary Manual's reptile nutrition overview is a trustworthy non-commercial reference.
For more on the feeder itself, see why discoid roaches work so well across reptile species and how to keep discoid roaches alive and breeding, or browse the full exotic animals library.