Ordering Live Discoid Roaches Online: How to Get Them Fast and Alive

I order and ship discoid roaches constantly, and the truth is that "fast delivery" is the easy part. The harder part is making sure the roaches arrive alive and healthy and that you're ready for them when the box lands. Here's how I think about both ends of that.

Why discoid roaches in the first place

Discoid roaches (Blaberus discoidalis) are a Central and South American feeder species that have become the default staple roach for a lot of keepers. They're high in protein, clean, odorless, completely silent, and — crucially — they can't climb smooth walls or sustain flight, so they're easy to contain. They're also legal in all 50 states, including Florida, where dubia roaches are banned. That combination is why I built a colony around them rather than crickets.

What actually matters when ordering online

Speed gets advertised; survival is what you should screen for. When I evaluate a supplier (or tell a friend how to), I look at these in order:

1. Live arrival guarantee

This is the single most important policy. It means the seller is accountable if something goes wrong in transit. A seller confident in their packing offers one without fuss.

2. Packing method

Live insects need breathable containers, a compact food and moisture source, and temperature management. In summer that means a cold pack; in winter a heat pack. Ask, or read the shipping page, before you buy.

3. Seller reputation

Real reviews that mention live arrival and consistent sizing tell you more than a star average. A seller who breeds their own stock in a controlled environment will have healthier, more uniform roaches than a reseller.

4. Size options

Discoids are sold by size, from tiny nymphs to adults. Match the feeder to your animal — a good rule is no wider than the space between your reptile's eyes.

5. Cutoff times

Next-day delivery only works if you beat the daily ship cutoff. Order in the morning, and avoid shipping into a weekend or a heat wave if you can.

Getting next-day delivery right

The mechanics are simple once you know them:

1. ◆Pick a supplier with expedited shipping and a live arrival guarantee.
2. ◆Confirm stock and the same-day cutoff before you check out.
3. ◆Choose the size that fits your animal.
4. ◆Double-check your address — a misdelivered live box is a dead box.
5. ◆Track it, and be home for the handoff so it isn't baking on a porch.

Set up before the box arrives

Don't wait until the roaches are in your hands to build their home. Have this ready:

• ◆Container: a smooth-sided plastic tub. Because discoids can't climb smooth plastic, a simple ventilated lid is all you need — no petroleum jelly, no locked seal.
• ◆Hides: egg-crate flats or cardboard tubes stacked vertically to maximize surface area.
• ◆Heat: keep the bin at 75–85°F for holding. A low-watt heat source helps in a cool house.
• ◆Humidity: aim for 40–60%; a light mist as needed.
• ◆Food and water: fresh vegetables and a dry grain-based chow, plus water crystals or a damp paper towel — never an open dish, which drowns them.

After they arrive

Open the box promptly and check condition. A few dead in transit is normal; a mostly-dead box is a guarantee claim — photograph it and contact the seller. Tip the healthy roaches gently into their prepared bin, give them a day to settle in a quiet spot, then start feeding your animals. Before offering roaches to a reptile, gut-load them for a day or two and dust with calcium, since like nearly all feeders they're phosphorus-leaning.

You can order gut-loaded, Florida-legal discoid roaches with a live arrival guarantee from All Angles Creatures. For the nutrition rationale behind calcium dusting and Ca:P balance, the Merck Veterinary Manual's reptile nutrition section is a solid, non-commercial reference.

New to the species? Start with the discoid roach care basics and the common questions in can discoid roaches fly?.