Dubia roaches are far more beneficial to feed a pet than wild roaches, they are rich sources of protein, fiber and calcium and while it could quickly be assumed that hedgehogs can snack on them, being the insectivores they are, some insects can be far more beneficial for your spiky friend than others.
Centipedes for example look quite similar to hornworms, especially from a hedgehog’s point of view, however the former provide no nutritional benefits while the latter is a great recommended food source for a hedgehog.
It is therefore important not to feed hedgehogs just any insects and to know which are beneficial, and which can be potential health hazards because of their biology and where they have been in the wild.
So where does this leave the popular dubia roach and how healthy really is it? Down below is all you need to know about what dubia roaches are and how best to safely feed them to your hungry round friend.
What’s The Difference Between Dubia And Regular Roaches?
Unlike most feeder roaches that all have nutritional benefits for the animal they are being fed to, regular roaches provide very few because they come from the wild, picking up parasites and being based on a diet of their choosing, which may have no benefits for your pet to eat.
Dubia roaches, on the other hand, grow around humans and are specifically selected and bred for their nutritional value.
They grow larger, remain cleaner and are fed foods that will ensure the hedgehog gets all the benefits required from just one roach.
Dubia roaches also have a lot less fat than wild roaches which means your hedgehogs won’t get too heavy when eating them as long as they are fed in moderation.
Some other popular feeder roaches include the Red Runner and Discoid Roaches.
Discoids are largely the same as Dubia, possessing much the same nutritional value, however they also have less fat and chitin and so are more suited to slimming down pets, while dubias can fill a pets stomach far easier.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Dubia Roaches?
Because they grow around humans and are well maintained to grow to the right levels, dubia roaches are a great option to mix into your hedgehog’s insect and meat based diet.
They are very rich in fiber, protein and calcium with all three being essential to maintaining a healthy diet and keeping hog happy and fed.
These basic nutrients will also increase a hedgehog’s stamina, allowing them to move around that little bit faster during a midnight stroll, and can help them stay up to experience more of the daytime.
Always make sure to try and stop your hedgehog eating any wild roaches as they can be very common to spot in the backyard, or even worse, in the house.
Convince your hedgehog to stay away from these kinds of roaches as they could have bacteria and parasites that could give your hog an upset stomach and a moody day ahead.
Never assume that any roaches you spot entering the house are therefore edible and can be immediately fed to your hedgehog, dubia roaches should always be either raised by you or bought from a reliable retailer to ensure your hedgehog does not digest anything that could make them unwell.
When feeding, always hold the roach in tongs until your hedgehog starts biting, and serve them at least once daily three times per week to give the hedgehog their needed nutrition amounts.
Raising Dubia Roaches
Unfortunately, while they are a great nutritious snack for hedgehogs, dubia roaches can be sometimes rare to find in readily available pet stores, making them not very reliable to buy week after week or to buy in bulk.
It is always worth checking but if this is the case, you may consider raising dubia roaches yourself to provide a great and reliable steady food source for your prickly friend.
Dubia roaches can’t climb, so a large, opaque, plastic cage will work nicely to keep the roaches in.
These often come with detachable lids and should be kept at a room temperature from 70 to 90 degrees, the warmer they are the quicker they will grow.
Low protein foods for the dubia roaches like bits of veggies and fruits encourage them to live longer and stay gut fed by the time they reach the hedgehog.
To maintain a steady source of food it can also be worth preparing a breeding colony, for one hedgehog the best method is to start with 20 breeding females and if more are needed, add more breeders into the colony gradually.
Conclusion
Dubia roaches are a great and healthy occasional treat for hedgehogs, just make sure your roaches have been grown around humans and that your hedgehog is not nibbling on a roach who has wandered in from the back garden to avoid any upset stomachs.
