Why does fast shipping matter for feeder insects?

Live roaches lose vitality with every day in transit. Long shipping means temperature swings, stress, and dehydration that cut their lifespan and nutritional value. Faster delivery means they arrive fresh and last longer in your colony.

Do discoid roaches need heat or cold packs?

In extreme weather, yes. They're tropical and do best around 70 to 80°F in transit. Reputable sellers add heat packs in winter and gel/cold packs in summer, and pause shipping when conditions are too severe to ship safely.

Can discoid roaches climb out of their bin or fly away?

No. Discoid roaches cannot climb smooth walls and cannot fly. A smooth-sided plastic bin with vented lid contains them completely, no Vaseline barrier or escape-proofing tricks needed.

What should I do the moment my roaches arrive?

Open the box promptly, check for lethargy or off smells, and move them into a prepared bin with hides, food, and a water source. Don't leave the package sitting in a hot or freezing spot.

How do I store them so they last?

Keep them at 78 to 88°F with 50 to 60% humidity, egg-flat hides, fresh produce plus dry chow, and a water gel or sponge. Clean out waste and old food regularly to prevent odor and mites.

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Feeder Insects

Ordering Discoid Roaches Online: Shipping, Sourcing, and Care

By Matt Goren · Updated June 26, 2026

Care at a glance

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

I order live feeders regularly, and discoid roaches are the ones I worry about least in transit, they're hardy. But "hardy" isn't "indestructible," and how they're shipped and what you do the day they land decides whether they thrive or trickle off. Here's how I order them and set them up.

Why discoid roaches are worth ordering

Discoid roaches (Blaberus discoidalis) are a Central and South American feeder species that's become a staple for good reason: high protein (~20 to 25%), low fat, low chitin so they digest easily, odorless, silent, and, critically, they can't climb smooth surfaces or fly. That last point makes them one of the safest feeders to keep indoors, an escapee is a dead roach, not a household infestation. They breed steadily in warmth, so one order can seed a self-sustaining colony for bearded dragons, leopard geckos, monitors, tarantulas, and more.

Why delivery speed actually matters

Feeder insects are living animals, and shipping is stressful for them. The longer they're in a box, the more they face:

Temperature swings that tropical insects tolerate poorly.
Dehydration that drains their moisture content, the same hydration you're feeding your pet for.
Stress and die-off that shortens how long the survivors last in your bin.

Fast delivery minimizes all three, so roaches arrive fresh, full, and ready to last. It also keeps your own feeding schedule on track, which matters for animals that get stressed or finicky when meals shift around.

How to vet a supplier

Speed is worthless if the stock is bad. Before I order, I check:

Reputation: look for consistent positive reviews on quality, delivery speed, and how complaints get handled, patterns matter more than any single review.
Health and breeding practices: a good seller will describe a clean, chemical-free colony and tell you what the roaches eat.
Live-arrival guarantee: non-negotiable for live insects. Read the policy and know how to file a claim.
Weather handling: they should offer heat/cold packs and be willing to hold shipping in dangerous temperatures.
Tracking and packaging: ventilated, insulated containers and a tracking number so you can be home to receive them.

Placing the order

It's straightforward once you've picked a supplier:

Choose the right size and quantity for your animals, don't over-buy; overcrowding stresses roaches and shortens lifespans.
Confirm shipping covers your area, offers the speed you need, and guarantees live arrival.
Enter accurate delivery details so a live shipment isn't left sitting out.
Check the total including shipping before you pay through a secure checkout.
Save the confirmation with your order number, delivery date, and tracking.

The day they arrive: setup that works

Have the bin ready before the box lands:

Enclosure: a smooth-walled plastic bin with a secure, vented lid. Because discoids can't climb smooth plastic, those walls are your containment, no Vaseline ring required.
Hides: stacked cardboard egg flats for surface area and hiding.
Temperature: 78 to 88°F, with a heat pad or lamp on one side so they can self-regulate.
Humidity: 50 to 60%, light misting if it drops, never soaked bedding.
Food: fresh fruits and vegetables plus a commercial insect chow; pull anything that molds.
Water: water crystals or a sponge in a shallow dish, never an open dish that drowns nymphs.

When the package arrives, open it promptly, look for lethargy or sour smells (a little stillness after a cold trip is normal), and transfer them straight in. Then spot-clean weekly and remove old food to keep odor and mites away.

A note on legality

Discoid roaches are non-invasive and legal in most U.S. states, they're even permitted in Florida, where many feeder roaches are banned, because they can't establish in the wild. Still, confirm your own state's rules before ordering.

Where to order and learn more

For guaranteed-live-arrival stock with proper weather packing, AAC's discoid roach collection is where I buy. If you want to understand why non-invasive species like discoids ship freely while others are regulated, the USDA APHIS guidance on regulated organisms and permits lays it out.

Once they arrive, keep them thriving with my full discoid roach care and breeding guide, and browse the exotic animals hub for more.

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