Overview
Dubia roaches are one of the most commonly used staple feeder insects for reptiles and amphibians due to their moderate protein and fat content, quiet nature, and ease of care. Unlike some pest roach species, they are noninvasive in Wisconsin’s climate.

Storage & Care
Dubia roaches do best in warm, dry conditions with access to hydration and a varied diet. They cannot climb smooth surfaces or fly, making them relatively easy to contain compared to some other feeder insects.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Dubia roaches grow through multiple nymph stages before reaching adulthood. Under proper conditions, adults may live for over a year. Adult males have wings, while females remain wingless.

Staple or Treat?
Dubia roaches are widely considered a staple feeder for many reptiles due to their balanced nutritional profile and ease of digestion. They also readily accept a variety of foods, making them easy to gut load before feeding.

Interested in Keeping Your Own Colony?
Some feeder insects can be maintained and bred at home with proper care. Learn more on our Feeder Colony Care page.

Interested in purchasing this feeder?
Visit our Shop page for current availability and pricing.

Overview
Discoid roaches are a nutritious feeder insect commonly used for reptiles, amphibians, and other insectivorous animals. They are similar to dubia roaches in nutritional value and care, but tend to be more active, which may encourage stronger feeding responses in some reptiles. Like dubia roaches, they are noninvasive in Wisconsin’s climate.

Storage & Care
Discoid roaches do best in warm, dry conditions with access to hydration and a varied diet. They cannot climb smooth surfaces or fly, making them relatively easy to contain compared to some other feeder insects.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Discoid roaches grow through multiple nymph stages before reaching adulthood. Under proper conditions, adults may live for over a year. Adult males have wings, while females remain wingless.

Staple or Treat?
Discoid roaches are widely considered a staple feeder for many reptiles due to their balanced nutritional profile, relatively soft exoskeleton, and ease of digestion. They also readily accept a variety of foods, making them easy to gut load before feeding.

Overview
Crickets are one of the most commonly available feeder insects and are widely used for reptiles, amphibians, fish, and other insectivorous animals. Their activity level and quick movement can encourage strong feeding responses in many species.

Storage & Care
Crickets do best in warm, dry, well ventilated conditions with access to hydration and a varied diet. Regular cleaning is important, as overcrowding and excess moisture can quickly lead to odor and die off. Uneaten crickets should not be left in enclosures for extended periods of time, especially with sick, injured, or shedding reptiles.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Crickets hatch from eggs and grow through multiple nymph stages before reaching adulthood. Under proper conditions, adult crickets typically live only a few weeks.

Staple or Treat?
Crickets are commonly used as a staple feeder for many reptiles and amphibians. Their activity level may help encourage natural hunting behaviors, and they readily accept gut loading and hydration before feeding.

Overview
Mealworms are a commonly used feeder insect for reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and invertebrates. They are easy to store, widely available, and have a long shelf life when kept properly, making them a convenient feeder option for many keepers. Mealworms naturally burrow into substrate and bedding materials.

Storage & Care
Mealworms are typically stored cool and dry to slow growth and extend their lifespan. They are commonly refrigerated to slow growth and extend their usable lifespan. Mealworms benefit from access to hydration and a varied diet, and are commonly kept in bran or other grain-based bedding materials.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Mealworms are the larval stage of the darkling beetle. They eventually pupate before emerging as adult beetles, which may live for several months under proper conditions.

Staple or Treat?
Mealworms can be used as part of a varied diet for many reptiles and other insectivorous animals. Due to their moderate fat content and chitinous exoskeleton, they are often best used alongside a variety of other feeder insects. Their harder exoskeleton may make them less suitable as a primary feeder for some very young or sensitive reptiles.

Interested in Keeping Your Own Colony?
Mealworms can be maintained and bred at home with relatively simple setups and are often considered one of the easiest feeder colonies for beginners. Learn more on our Feeder Colony Care page.

Interested in purchasing this feeder?
Visit our Shop page for current availability and pricing.

Overview
Superworms are a large, active feeder insect commonly used for reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and other insectivorous animals. Their movement and activity level may encourage strong feeding responses in many reptiles. Superworms are active burrowers and may quickly hide beneath loose substrate.

Storage & Care
Superworms are typically kept at room temperature in dry bedding materials such as bran or oats. Unlike mealworms, refrigeration is generally not recommended, as prolonged cold temperatures may kill them. Superworms benefit from access to hydration and a varied diet.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Superworms are the larval stage of the darkling beetle species Zophobas morio. They eventually pupate before emerging as adult beetles, which may live for several months under proper conditions. Unlike mealworms, superworms are generally not refrigerated, as prolonged cold temperatures will kill them.

Staple or Treat?
Superworms can be used as part of a varied diet for many reptiles and other insectivorous animals. Due to their fat content and chitinous exoskeleton, they are often best used alongside a variety of other feeder insects rather than as a sole feeder source.

Overview
Black Soldier Fly Larvae, also commonly called BSFL, Phoenix Worms, or calcium worms, are a popular feeder insect for reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and invertebrates. They are naturally high in calcium compared to many other feeder insects and are commonly used as part of a varied feeding routine.

Storage & Care
Black Soldier Fly Larvae are typically stored cool and dry to help slow development and extend their lifespan. They do not require feeding while being stored, though moderate temperatures may cause them to pupate more quickly.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Black Soldier Fly Larvae eventually pupate before emerging as adult black soldier flies. Adult flies do not bite, sting, or feed.

Staple or Treat?
Black Soldier Fly Larvae are commonly used as part of a varied diet and are especially popular for animals that may benefit from additional calcium in their feeding routine. Their softer bodies also make them a popular option for many smaller reptiles and amphibians.

Interested in purchasing this feeder?
Visit our Shop page for current availability and pricing.

Overview
Hornworms are a soft-bodied feeder insect commonly used for reptiles, amphibians, and other insectivorous animals. Their bright color, large size, and active movement may encourage feeding responses in many reptiles. They are especially popular as a hydration-focused feeder due to their very high moisture content.

Storage & Care
Hornworms are typically kept at room temperature with access to prepared hornworm diet. Warmer temperatures generally increase growth rate, while cooler temperatures may help slow growth and extend their usable lifespan.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Hornworms eventually pupate before emerging as sphinx moths. Their growth rate can be very rapid under warm conditions.

Staple or Treat?
Hornworms are commonly used as supplemental feeders due to their high moisture content and soft bodies. While they can be a useful addition to a feeding routine, they are generally best offered alongside more nutritionally balanced staple feeders.

Overview
Fruit flies are a very small feeder insect commonly used for dart frogs, small amphibians, juvenile reptiles, fish, and other small insectivorous animals. Due to their size and movement, they are especially popular for animals that require very small live prey items.

Storage & Care
Fruit flies are typically kept in prepared culture containers with specialized media that provides both food and moisture. Cultures are usually kept at room temperature and may continue producing flies for several weeks under proper conditions.

Lifespan & Life Cycle
Fruit flies hatch from eggs and progress through larval and pupal stages before emerging as adults. Their life cycle is relatively short, allowing cultures to produce new generations quickly.

Staple or Treat?
Fruit flies are commonly used as staple feeders for many very small insectivorous animals. Due to their small size, they are especially useful for newly established or juvenile animals that may not yet be able to eat larger feeder insects.