As a bearded dragon owner, you already know how important it is to provide the right food for your reptile. The type of feeder insect you choose can have a significant impact on your bearded dragon’s health and longevity.
While cockroaches may not sound like the most glamorous option, they offer nutrients that can benefit your reptile. In addition, the value of cockroaches can be improved through gut-loading and dusting.
While cockroaches like Dubia provide high protein, other insects such as earthworms supply valuable calcium. Feeder insects should not be relied upon individually but should be part of a mixed diet that includes different species and life stages.
Caution needs to be exercised when using cockroaches for bearded dragons prone to gout due to the risk of uric acid buildup.
Key Points
- Cockroaches offer one of the highest protein contents of any feeder insect, with Dubai cockroaches providing up to 96.9% crude protein.
- Gut-loading your cockroaches before feeding them to your bearded dragon ensures reptiles receive the proper nutrients.
- The value of cockroaches is improved by gut-loading with foods rich in vitamins and omega-3s, like carrots and leafy greens, which can significantly boost their nutritional value.
- Cockroaches naturally have a poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, so dusting with calcium is critical to prevent health issues like metabolic bone disease.
- Cockroaches provide important minerals like iron and magnesium, but without proper gut-loading, they may lack essential vitamins like vitamin A.
- Chitin, found in cockroach exoskeletons, can be challenging to digest, so it’s important to choose species with lower chitin content.
- Some cockroach species, like discoid cockroaches, contain 5-10 times more uric acid than crickets, making moderation key for bearded dragons prone to gout.
- Variety is essential in feeding your bearded dragon. Only cockroaches can lead to nutritional imbalances, so mixing in other insects is recommended.
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The Value of Cockroaches as Popular Feeder Insects
Like other feeder insects, cockroaches are packed with protein and essential amino acids, making them an excellent food source for bearded dragons. The value of cockroaches is different based on their species and stage of life stage (nymph or adult).
For example, adult dubia cockroaches are absolute powerhouses when it comes to protein, offering an impressive 96.9% crude protein (Cerreta et al., 2021). To put that in perspective, that’s much higher than popular feeder insects like crickets, which have around 64.3%, and mealworms, which have 51.9%.
On the flip side, earthworms are much lower in protein, sitting at 32.5%, but they make up for it with great calcium content, which is why they’re still a valuable part of a balanced diet (Cerreta et al., 2021). Mixing insects like these can help ensure your bearded dragon gets everything they need!
But while Dubai roaches are great for their protein content, it doesn’t mean they are good in other nutritional aspects. Cockroaches should not be fed exclusively due to their other limitations, such as low calcium content (Cerreta et al., 2021).
Essential amino acids, such as leucine, lysine, and arginine, are abundant in cockroaches and are crucial for reptiles that cannot synthesize them. These amino acids are necessary for growth, immune function, and tissue repair.
The value of cockroaches properly gut-loaded and dusted is reasonable, but no single insect should make up the entirety of your bearded dragon’s diet. It’s all about balance, mixing species, gut load and dusting to ensure a balanced diet for insectivores (Cerreta et al., 2021).
Choosing the Best Cockroach for Your Bearded Dragon
When it comes to the value of cockroaches, it’s important to consider the nutritional differences between species. Each type of cockroach offers its benefits, so let’s break down the key options for your bearded dragon.
Dubia Cockroaches (Blaptica dubia) are the best for protein.
- Protein: Dubia roaches are one of the best high-protein feeders, offering up to 96.9% crude protein (CP) on a dry matter basis (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- Fat: Adults are a low-fat option with just 13.3% fat, whereas nymphs are higher.
- Calcium: Dubia roaches have relatively low calcium levels, so make sure to gut-load and dust them with calcium powder before feeding.
Turkestan Cockroaches (Blatta lateralis) offer a good mix of protein and fat.
- Protein: Adults have relatively high protein (77.1% CP) and moderate fat levels (17.6% fat), which makes them a decent option for protein but not as energy-rich as other species. Nymphs of this species are lower in protein and contain more chitin, which may make them less digestible for some insectivores.
- Fat: These cockroaches offer moderate fat content, so they’re a good middle-ground between Dubia and Giant roaches.
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa) offer a good mix of protein and fat.
- Protein and Fat: A well-rounded option with moderate levels of both protein and fat. These are a great choice for bearded dragons with general nutritional needs.
Giant Cave Cockroaches (Blaberus giganteus) are high in fat.
- Protein: These roaches have lower protein levels, which makes them less ideal for reptiles needing high protein.
- Fat: A high-fat option, with nymphs containing up to 46.8% fat. They’re great for reptiles that need to gain weight but should be fed sparingly.
- This species is not recommended as a staple feeder due to its low calcium content and high fat content.
The Value of Cockroaches for Your Bearded Dragon
The value of cockroaches is not just in protein—they provide a variety of nutrients that benefit your bearded dragon.
Each cockroach species brings unique nutritional benefits, whether your bearded dragon needs protein or essential minerals. By gut-loading and dusting, you can optimize the value of cockroaches as part of a balanced diet for your pet.
Protein: The Building Block of Life
Why it’s important: Protein is essential for growth, muscle repair, and body maintenance in bearded dragons.
The value of cockroaches: Different species of cockroaches provide varying protein levels, with Blaptica dubia (dubia roaches) being one of the highest at 96.9% crude protein (CP) on a dry matter basis. This makes them a superior feeder compared to crickets (64.3% CP) and mealworms (51.9% CP) (Cerreta et al., 2021). Even superworms (Zophobas morio), another popular feeder, contain only 43.1% CP.
Best cockroaches for bearded dragons for protein: Dubai roaches are an excellent choice for bearded dragons who need a high-protein diet. They offer more protein than other common feeders and are easy to maintain.
Fats and Fatty Acids: Choosing Low-Fat Cockroaches for Your Bearded Dragon
Fat is critical in providing energy for your bearded dragon, but too much fat can lead to obesity, liver disease, and other health problems. Many pet bearded dragons are already overfed on high-fat insects, so it’s important to carefully choose low-fat feeder insects to keep your reptile healthy and fit.
The value of cockroaches: Cockroach species can vary widely in their fat content, and it’s best to select those with lower fat to avoid excessive calorie intake:
- Dubia cockroach adults have lower fat content at 13.3% fat, making them ideal for bearded dragons needing a leaner diet. Nymphs have a slightly higher fat content of 29.8%, but still lower than many other species (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) adults contain 17.64% fat, and their nymphs are even lower at 8.72% fat (Siddiqui, 2024), making them another great low-fat choice for your bearded dragon’s diet.
- Giant cockroach nymphs contain a whopping 46.8% fat on a dry matter basis, while adults have 34.0% fat (Cerreta et al., 2021). These high fat levels make them unsuitable for bearded dragons that are prone to obesity or need to maintain a lean diet.
Good vs. Bad Fats: Fatty Acids for Bearded Dragons: Not all fats are created equal, and cockroaches contain different types of fatty acids:
- Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs): These are considered “good fats” and can support healthy skin and energy metabolism. American cockroaches are rich in MUFAs, with 47.84% of their total fat being monounsaturated, mainly oleic acid, with 45.76% (Siddiqui, 2024).
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): PUFAs, such as linoleic acid (omega-6), help reduce inflammation and promote healthy skin. Dubia cockroach subadults contain 10.6% linoleic acid, while American cockroaches provide 24.17% linoleic acid (Siddiqui, 2024; Oonincx & Finke, 2020). PUFAs account for 26.09% of fat in American cockroaches, with linoleic acid (24.17%) as the dominant PUFA (Siddiqui, 2024).
- Saturated fatty acids (SFAs): These fats, while necessary in small amounts, should be limited. For example, Dubia cockroaches contain 22.8% palmitic acid (C16:0) and 7.8% stearic acid (C18:0), two common saturated fats (Kulma et al., 2016). Excessive intake can contribute to unhealthy fat accumulation.
Omega-6 and Omega-3 Balance: Cockroaches tend to have high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, like linoleic acid, but relatively low omega-3 levels unless they are gut-loaded with an omega-3-rich diet (Oonincx & Finke, 2020). This is important because a balance of both fatty acids is needed to maintain proper health and reduce inflammation.
When choosing cockroaches for your bearded dragon, it’s a good idea to stick to low-fat options like dubia cockroaches or American cockroaches. These species give your pet the nutrients they need without packing on too much fat, which helps you avoid the risk of obesity. To get the most out of their nutritional value, make sure you’re gut-loading them and paying attention to their fatty acid balance. These small steps make a big difference in keeping your bearded dragon healthy and thriving!
- American cockroaches are unique because they can synthesize both linoleic (omega-6) and linolenic (omega-3) acids, making them a more versatile feeder insect (Oonincx & Finke, 2020). They naturally contain 11.51% linoleic acid (omega-6) and 9.61% linolenic acid (omega-3), making them more nutritionally versatile compared to other species (Siddiqui, 2024).
- Dubia cockroaches accumulate less omega-3 unless specifically gut-loaded with foods rich in omega-3s (Oonincx & Finke, 2020). For better nutritional balance, it’s a good idea to gut-load your Dubai cockroaches with foods like flaxseed or fish oil to boost their omega-3 content.
Uric Acid: Managing the Risks for Your Bearded Dragon
Why it is essential: Uric acid is a waste product that reptiles like bearded dragons excrete. However, when uric acid builds up to unhealthy levels, it can lead to gout. In this painful condition, uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints.
The value of cockroaches: Cockroaches are known to store high levels of uric acid in their fat bodies compared to other common feeder insects like crickets and locusts:
- Discoid cockroaches store 5 to 10 times more uric acid than other feeders, making them a higher-risk insect for bearded dragons prone to gout (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- This high uric acid content means feeding too many cockroaches could lead to excessive uric acid accumulation, particularly in bearded dragons already prone to the condition (Cerreta et al., 2021).
Best Species of Cockroaches for Bearded Dragons: Limit the number of cockroaches in your bearded dragon’s diet, especially species like Discoid cockroaches, with their notably high uric acid content to reduce the risk of uric acid buildup.
- Dubia cockroach is a better option due to its lower fat and moderate uric acid levels.
- Avoid overfeeding cockroach species with a a higher uric acid content, such as Discoid cockroaches cockroaches, especially for bearded dragons prone to gout.
How to Prevent Uric Acid Buildup: To keep your bearded dragon healthy and prevent gout:
- Limit the number of cockroaches in their diet. While cockroaches are a nutritious option, they should only form a small part of a varied diet.
- Rotate feeder insects: To balance the diet, mix in other insects like crickets or mealworms, which contain lower levels of uric acid.
- Hydration is critical. Ensuring your bearded dragon has access to plenty of fresh water helps to dilute and flush out uric acid through the kidneys.
Fiber and Chitin: Supporting Digestion
Why it is important: When it comes to digestion, fibre plays a key role in your bearded dragon’s health. In insects, fibre comes in the form of chitin, which is found in the cockroach’s exoskeleton. Chitin can be hard for bearded dragons to digest, so striking the right balance is important.
Cockroaches have varying amounts of chitin based on their species and life stage. For example, Dubai cockroaches are easier to digest because their acid detergent fibre (ADF), which measures indigestible fibre, is lower at 15.3%. Compare this to giant cockroaches with an ADF of 34.7% (Cerreta et al., 2021).
The chitin content of cockroaches is similar to crickets (Wang et al., 2005, cited in Kulma, 2016) and grasshoppers (Wang et al., 2007, cited in Kulma, 2016).
The value of cockroaches: The amount of chitin and fibre in cockroaches varies depending on the species and life stage:
- Dubia cockroaches are the easiest to digest, given their lower chitin and fibre content, than species like giant or discoid cockroaches. Dubia cockroach adults contain 15.3% acid detergent fibre (ADF), which measures indigestible fibre, including chitin, making them easier to digest compared to other species with higher fibre content (Cerreta et al., 2021). Dubia cockroach adults contain 22 g/kg of chitin, while subadults have 20 g/kg (Kulma, 2016).
- American cockroaches cockroaches are also relatively digestible, especially in the nymph stage, due to their lower fibre content. American cockroach adults contain 16.2% ADF, while nymphs have slightly less at 14.3% (Siddiqui, 2024). This lower fibre content in the nymph stage makes younger cockroaches somewhat easier to digest. This variation indicates that younger cockroaches may be somewhat easier to digest due to lower fibre content.
- Giant cockroaches (adults) have a much higher ADF content at 34.7%, meaning they contain more chitin and are harder to digest for bearded dragons (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- Turkestan cockroach subadults contain 18 g/kg chitin, with a higher concentration of indigestible fibre (ADF at 53 g/kg for subadults and 59 g/kg for adults) (Kulma, 2016).
- Discoid cockroaches have 33 g/kg chitin in subadults and 26 g/kg in adults, making them a higher-chitin option (Kulma, 2016).
For bearded dragons with sensitive digestive systems, it is recommended that they stick to lower-chitin species like dubia cockroaches while avoiding higher-chitin species like giant cockroaches, which may help prevent digestive issues.
Minerals: Understanding the Nutritional Value of Cockroaches for Bearded Dragons
Why it is important: Minerals are essential for maintaining the health of your bearded dragon, supporting functions like bone strength, immune health, and overall well-being. However, cockroaches, like many feeder insects, have varying mineral content based on their species and life stage.
For bearded dragons, maintaining a proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is critical to prevent metabolic bone disease. Ideally, your bearded dragon’s diet should have a ratio of 1.5:1 or 2:1 (Cerreta et al., 2021). Cockroaches, in general, fall well below this mark, so gut-loading with calcium-rich foods or dusting is essential.
The value of cockroaches: Cockroaches offer a wide range of essential minerals, but the most important ones to focus on for bearded dragons are calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. While they offer good amounts of some minerals, their calcium levels are often low, which makes calcium supplementation essential.
- Madagascar hissing cockroach adults offer a Ca ratio of 1:3.0 in adults, making them a relatively better option than other species (Cerreta et al., 2021). However, this still falls short of the ideal 2:1 ratio for reptiles, so calcium supplementation is necessary. The Madagascar hissing cockroach has the highest zinc content at 317 ppm, which helps with immune function (Cerreta et al., 2021). Comparatively, Turkestan cockroach nymphs have lower zinc levels at 127 ppm.
- Dubia cockroaches provide 0.22% calcium in nymphs and 0.15% in adults on a dry matter basis (Cerreta et al., 2021). Their Ca:P ratio is 1:2.8 in nymphs and 1:4.2 in adults (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- Giant cockroach adults have the lowest calcium content at 0.08% dry matter (Cerreta et al., 2021), making them less ideal as a primary feeder unless properly gut-loaded or supplemented. The Ca:P ratio is 1:6.8, indicating that without proper gut-loading or calcium supplementation, they should not be a primary feeder (Cerreta et al., 2021)
- Turkestan cockroach (Blatta lateralis) nymphs offer a better Ca ratio of 1:4.7, but adults drop to 1:5.6 (Cerreta et al., 2021).
Value of Cockroaches: Calcium-to-Phosphorus Ratios
Other Essential Minerals
Cockroaches also provide additional important minerals, though they vary by species:
- Magnesium: Dubia cockroach adults contain 110 mg/100g of magnesium, while Turkestan cockroach adults offer 90 mg/100g (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- Zinc: Madagascar hissing cockroaches have the highest zinc content, at 317 ppm (Cerreta et al., 2021), which supports your bearded dragon’s immune health.
- Iron: Dubia cockroaches are a good source of iron, with 105 mg/100g in adults (Cerreta et al., 2021).
Zinc: Supporting Immune Health
Zinc plays a vital role in immune function and enzyme activity for insectivores like bearded dragons. Zinc content can vary greatly between cockroach species:
- Madagascar hissing cockroach adults have the highest zinc content at 317 ppm, making them a good choice for boosting your dragon’s immune system (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- On the lower end, Turkestan cockroach nymphs contain only 127 ppm zinc, much less than Madagascar hissing cockroaches (Cerreta et al., 2021).
Vitamins: Boosting Your Bearded Dragon’s Health with Gut-Loaded Cockroaches
Why it is important: Vitamins are essential for your bearded dragon’s overall health, supporting critical functions like growth, immune response, and vision. The vitamin content in cockroaches can vary significantly, depending mainly on their diet and whether they are gut-loaded with nutrient-rich foods before being fed to your pet.
The value of cockroaches: Cockroaches can provide several important vitamins for your bearded dragon, but their levels are highly dependent on the quality of food they consume. Gut-loading your feeder insects is the key to maximizing their vitamin content, ensuring that your bearded dragon gets the necessary nutrients.
- B-Vitamins: These vitamins, like riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3), are essential for converting food into energy and supporting proper growth in reptiles. When gut-loaded with nutrient-dense diets, research shows that insects can be a good source of B vitamins (Oonincx & Finke, 2020).
- Gut-loading tip: Feed your cockroaches leafy greens and grains rich in B vitamins to ensure your bearded dragon gets the necessary nutrients for energy and growth.
- Vitamin A: This vitamin is crucial for your bearded dragon’s vision, immune system, and skin health. Cockroaches, especially dubia cockroaches, can provide vitamin A when they consume plant materials rich in carotenoids, which are converted into retinol (vitamin A) by your dragon’s body.
- However, the actual vitamin A levels in cockroaches are directly influenced by the plants they eat. Without proper gut-loading using carotenoid-rich foods, the natural levels of vitamin A in cockroaches might not be sufficient for your bearded dragon’s dietary needs (Oonincx & Finke, 2020).
Best Practices for Gut-Loading: To maximize the vitamin content of your cockroaches:
- Gut-load with carotenoid-rich vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash to boost their vitamin A levels. This will help ensure your bearded dragon receives adequate vitamin A to support their vision and immune health.
- Use leafy greens and other nutrient-dense foods to increase the B-vitamin levels in the cockroaches, helping your bearded dragon grow and maintain their energy levels.
- The plants used to gut-load the cockroaches must contain sufficient carotenoids (Oonincx & Finke, 2020). Without proper gut-loading, the natural vitamin A levels may not be enough to meet your bearded dragon’s dietary needs.
How to Improve the Nutritional Value of Cockroaches for Bearded Dragons
No cockroach species on its own can meet the calcium requirements of bearded dragons, so all cockroaches should be gut-loaded and dusted with calcium to balance their calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Cockroaches naturally have a low calcium content and an imbalanced ratio, which makes supplementation necessary to ensure your bearded dragon stays healthy.
Why Gut-Loading is Important: Gut-loading refers to feeding feeder insects nutrient-rich foods—such as calcium and vitamin supplements—for 24-48 hours before offering them to your pet. This practice significantly improves the nutritional value of cockroaches, making them safer and healthier for your bearded dragon (Cerreta et al., 2021).
How Gut-Loading Improves Nutrition: By gut-loading cockroaches with nutrient-dense diets, you can manipulate their nutrient composition. This is especially effective for increasing mineral and vitamin concentrations, improving the overall nutritional profile of the cockroaches you feed to your bearded dragon (Cerreta et al., 2021).
- Gut-loading can boost the levels of calcium, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids in cockroaches, making them a more complete food source.
- Calcium and Vitamin A: Ensuring cockroaches are fed foods high in calcium and carotenoids (which convert to vitamin A) can significantly enhance their value as feeders.
Best Practices for Gut-Loading and Dusting
To get the most nutritional value from your feeder insects:
- Gut-load cockroaches 48-72 hours before feeding them to your bearded dragon.
- Use a nutrient-dense diet for the cockroaches, rich in calcium, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- After gut-loading, dust the cockroaches with a calcium powder or other supplements to ensure your bearded dragon receives the right balance of nutrients.
4 Steps to Improving Nutritional Value by Dusting
Even with gut-loading, dusting your cockroaches with calcium and vitamin powders is essential to ensure your bearded dragon gets the nutrients they need. Bearded dragons fed with cockroaches may require extra supplements, as the natural levels in insects may not be enough, even with a proper gut-loading diet. Dusting helps fill those gaps and ensures your pet gets a balanced diet.
Here’s how you can dust your cockroaches to maximize their nutritional value:
- Prepare Your Dusting Container
- Use a small plastic bag or container to hold your cockroaches. Sprinkle calcium powder or vitamin supplement into the container. You only need a small amount—about 1/8 teaspoon per meal—to lightly coat the insects. Alternate between calcium powder and vitamins on a regular schedule for balanced nutrition.
- Add Cockroaches
- Place the desired number of cockroaches into the container based on your bearded dragon’s feeding needs.
- Shake Gently
- Close the bag or container securely and shake gently to evenly coat the cockroaches with the powder. Ensure all insects are lightly covered without excess powder clumping.
- Feed Immediately
- Feed the dusted cockroaches to your bearded dragon right away to ensure they consume the vitamins and calcium while the coating is fresh and intact.
Recipe 1: Nutrient-Boosting Gut-Loading Recipe for Roaches
See the recipe for crickets in the post.
Freezing Gut-Loading Recipe for Busy Pet Owners
Freezing gut-loading diets to feed cockroaches can make life so much simplier. See freezing procedures to ensure nutrient preservation when preparing larger batches of the gut-loading recipe for cockroaches.
How Many Cockroaches Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Cockroaches vary in weight by species and stage of life. Cockroaches should not be more than 50% of the insect portion of the diet. Based on the table in the post ‘Best Insects for Bearded Dragons: Nutrition & Feeding Guide‘ in the section “How Many Insects Can a Bearded Dragon Eat?”
A juvenile bearded dragon can eat 1 to 7 sub-adult cockroaches or 1 to 4 adults, depending on the weight of the cockroach. The table below expands on the number of cockroaches a bearded dragon can eat based on life stages.
However, large cockroaches should be offered by feeding tongs to ensure the bearded dragon can break the feeder insect into pieces suitable for eating without choking. Holding the cockroach in feeder tongs will give something for the bearded dragon to pull against.
| Cockroach Stage | Juvenile total of 2.6 gm | Young Adult total of 1.9 gm |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Cockroach (Blaptica dubia) subadult | 1.41 | 1.03 |
| Dubai Cockroach (Blaptica dubia) adult | 1.08 | 0.79 |
| Discoid Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis) subadult | 0.88 | 0.64 |
| Discoid Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis) adult | 0.89 | 0.65 |
| Turkestan Cockroach (Blatta lateralis) subadult | 7.56 | 5.52 |
| Turkestan Cockroach (Blatta lateralis) adult | 6.36 | 4.65 |
| American cockroach (Periplanata americana) adult | 2.50 | 1.83 |
Assessing How Many Cockroaches to Feed a Bearded Dragon Depends on their Weight
Below are some weights of cockroaches that can be used to estimate how many cockroaches a bearded dragon can eat. For more accuracy, place 10 of your cockroaches in a bag and weigh them on a scale. Deduct the bag weight from the final figure and divide by 10 to estimate the weight of your feeder cockroaches.
| Species | Stage | Average mg | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American cockroach (Periplanata americana) | Adult | 1041 | ||
| Dubai Cockroach (Blaptica dubia) | subadult | 1846 | 2034 | 1659 |
| Dubai Cockroach (Blaptica dubia) | adult | 2412 | 2213 | 1279 |
| Discoid Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis) | subadult | 2951 | 3290 | 2612 |
| Discoid Cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis) | adult | 2912 | 3612 | 2212 |
| Turkestan Cockroach (Blatta lateralis) | subadult | 0.35 | 398 | 290 |
| Turkestan Cockroach (Blatta lateralis) | adult | 0.4 | 552 | 267 |
Conclusion: Balancing the Nutritional Value of Cockroaches for Bearded Dragons
While cockroaches offer high protein and certain beneficial nutrients, they also come with limitations that every bearded dragon owner should consider. Their naturally low calcium content and potential for high uric acid buildup mean that they can’t be relied on as the sole food source for your reptile. To truly maximize the value of cockroaches in your bearded dragon’s diet, it’s essential to practice gut-loading and dusting with calcium to fill in those nutritional gaps.
The value of cockroaches lies in their versatility and protein content, but they should always be part of a varied diet that includes other feeder insects like crickets, mealworms, and earthworms. By combining cockroaches with other insects and taking proper care with gut-loading and supplementation, you can provide a well-rounded, healthy diet for your bearded dragon. With these steps, cockroaches can be a vital, but not exclusive, component of your pet’s overall nutrition.
References
Cerreta, A. J., Smith, D. C., Ange‐Van Heugten, K., & Minter, L. J. (2021). Comparative nutrient analysis of four species of cockroaches used as food for insectivores by life stage, species, and sex. Zoo Biology, 41(1), 26–33.
Kulma, M., Plachý, V., Kouřimská, L., Vrabec, V., Bubová, T., Adámková, A., & Hučko, B. (2016). Nutritional value of three Blattodea species used as feed for animals. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, 25(4), 354–360.
Oonincx, D. G. A. B., & Finke, M. D. (2020). Nutritional value of insects and ways to manipulate their composition. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 7(5), 1–22.
Siddiqui, S. A., Hadus, M. C. I., Fitriani, A., Guleria, V., Kuppusamy, S., Bhattacharjee, B., Yudhistira, B., & Maggiolino, A. (2024). Edible cockroaches as food and feed – A systematic review on health benefits, nutritional aspects and consumer acceptance. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, -1(aop), 1–43.
Sule, S. O., Ojetayo, T. A., & Sotolu, A. O. (2020). Cockroach (Periplanata americana) Meal Nutritive Composition. FUW Trends in Science & Technology Journal, 5(1), 238–240.
