Ordering feeder insects online is easy. The part most keepers worry about is the trip in between. Dubia roaches are tough little bugs, but a box sitting on a freezing porch in January or inside a hot mail truck in July is a real test for any live insect.
The good news: a little planning goes a long way. This guide explains how we ship, when to add a heat pack or a cold pack, how to make sure your package doesn't sit outside, and what to do the moment it arrives, so your bearded dragon, leopard gecko, chameleon, or tarantula gets healthy feeders every time.
The Short Version
If you only read one section, make it this one:
- Cold weather: add a Reptile Shipping Heat Pack to your order during the winter months.
- Hot weather: add a Hot Weather Cold Pack when temperatures are expected to hit 85°F or higher.
- Ask for "hold for pickup": put a note in your order so the Post Office holds your package instead of leaving it outside.
- Be ready on delivery day: bring the box inside and open it right away.
- If any roaches arrive dead: take a timestamped photo within 3 hours of delivery and email it to team@dragonsdiet.com.
- We can't ship live insects to Florida, Hawaii, or Alaska.
Why Weather Matters When Shipping Dubia Roaches
Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) are a tropical species. They do best in warm, stable conditions, and they don't handle sudden swings in temperature well. In a heated home, that's never a problem. In transit, it can be.
Once your order leaves us, it rides in trucks, waits in sorting facilities, and sometimes sits in a mailbox or on a doorstep. Those spaces aren't climate-controlled. In winter, cold slows roaches down, and long exposure to freezing temperatures can kill them. In summer, a closed box can heat up fast, which stresses and dehydrates the insects inside.
That's why the forecast matters, not just at your house but along the whole route. A heat pack or cold pack keeps the inside of the box steadier while the outside temperature does whatever it wants.
How We Ship Your Dubia Roaches
Here's what to expect once you place an order:
- Carrier: all orders ship via USPS Priority Mail.
- When it ships: orders are fulfilled and shipped on the next business day.
- Where from: every order ships from Taylor Mill, Kentucky.
- How long it takes: most customers receive their roaches within 2 to 4 business days. Some get them as soon as the next day, depending on when the order was placed and where it's going.
- Holidays: expect delays around Christmas and New Year's, when shipping slows down across the board.
- Tracking: we email you tracking information so you know when your box is coming.
- Extras included: we add extra roaches to every shipment to help cover any that don't survive the trip.
Ordering your live Dubia roaches a few days before you run out gives you a cushion if the weather or the mail slows things down.
Cold Weather: When to Add a Heat Pack
During the colder months, a heat pack is the single best thing you can do for your order. Our Reptile Shipping Heat Pack is added to your box when we pack your roaches. Here's what it does:
- Lasts up to 40 hours, giving almost two days of warmth on the road
- Won't overheat, so it keeps roaches warm without cooking them
- Fits inside your package, so it doesn't add extra shipping cost
- Costs $3, which is a lot less than replacing a lost order
It also matters for coverage. In winter, our Live Arrival Guarantee applies only when you add a heat pack and request "hold for pickup" in your order notes (more on that below). Without a heat pack in cold weather, we can't guarantee your shipment and may not be able to help if roaches arrive dead.
Not sure if it's cold enough? Check the forecast for your area over the next few days, and remember that your package also travels through other regions on the way. If there's any doubt, add the heat pack.
Hot Weather: When to Add a Cold Pack
Summer heat is just as risky as winter cold. A box in a hot delivery truck or a metal mailbox can get far hotter than the air outside. When temperatures are expected to reach 85°F or higher, add a Hot Weather Cold Pack to your order.
- Stays cold for up to 48 hours
- Keeps things cool without freezing, so your roaches stay comfortable instead of chilled
- Reusable, leakproof refrigerant gel wrapped in an absorbent outer cloth
- Fits easily in the box without adding bulk or shipping cost
- Costs $3
To qualify for our Live Arrival Guarantee in hot weather, add the cold pack and request "hold for pickup" in your order notes. We can't guarantee shipments in extreme heat without them.
Ask the Post Office to Hold Your Package
Even with a heat or cold pack, the riskiest part of the trip is often the last few hours, when a box sits on a porch or in a mailbox waiting for you. The fix is simple: pick it up at your local Post Office instead.
- When you check out, add a note in the order notes under "Additional Information" asking for hold for pickup. You can also email us right away at team@dragonsdiet.com.
- We'll ask the Post Office to hold your shipment at your local office. We can't guarantee every Post Office will follow the request, but most do.
- Watch your tracking email. If something changes or you can't make it home, you can also try USPS's own Hold Mail website.
Be Ready on Delivery Day
If your package is being delivered to your door, plan to be home. If no one is there to accept it right away, your roaches may be stuck outside in whatever the weather is doing. A few more tips:
- Double-check your shipping address before you check out. We can't be responsible for packages sent to an incorrect address.
- Bring the box inside as soon as it arrives. Don't leave it in a hot car or a cold garage.
- Open it right away at room temperature so the roaches can breathe and adjust.
When Your Box Arrives
Open the box indoors and look things over:
- If it's been cold: roaches may be sluggish at first. Let them warm up gradually at room temperature. Don't put them under a basking lamp or on a heat mat to speed things up.
- If it's been hot: move them to a cool spot in the house (not the fridge) and give them a source of moisture like Bug Chug water crystals.
- Check the count. Remember, we include extras with every order to help cover any losses.
If your order doesn't contain enough live roaches for what you ordered, take a picture with a timestamp within 3 hours of receiving your package and email it to team@dragonsdiet.com. That's how our DOA (dead on arrival) process works. If we don't get the email, picture, and timestamp within that window, we won't be able to refund or reship.
Once they've settled in, move your roaches into a smooth-sided, ventilated container with egg crate, food, and water crystals. Our Dubia roach care guide walks through the full setup, including the right temperatures for holding roaches versus growing them.
Where We Can't Ship Live Insects
We do not ship live insects to Florida, Hawaii, or Alaska. Owning Blaptica dubia roaches is illegal in both Florida and Hawaii, and it's very difficult for us to ensure live arrivals in Alaska. If you live in one of those states, please don't place a live insect order, because we won't be able to ship it.
Seasonal Shipping Cheat Sheet
| Conditions | What to add to your order | Extra tips |
|---|---|---|
| Winter months / cold snaps | Heat pack + "hold for pickup" note | Be home or pick up promptly; open indoors and let roaches warm up slowly |
| Mild weather | Watch the forecast at home and along the route | If a cold snap or heat wave is coming, add the matching pack |
| Hot weather (85°F or higher) | Cold pack + "hold for pickup" note | Don't let the box sit in a car or mailbox; open in a cool room |
| Holidays (Christmas / New Year's) | The right pack for the weather | Order early, since shipping delays are common |
Plan Ahead So Your Reptile Never Goes Without
Winter weather can slow down the mail and knock out the power. A little planning keeps your pet fed and warm either way:
- Order before you run out. Keeping a small reserve of roaches means a late delivery is no big deal. Dubias are easy to keep for weeks with basic care.
- Store them right. A ventilated Critter Keeper with egg crate, Dubia Roach Chow, and water crystals keeps them healthy between orders.
- Have a power-outage plan. Storms that delay packages can also cut your power. Our guide on how to keep bearded dragons warm during a power outage covers what to keep on hand.
Dubia Roach Shipping FAQ
Do I need a heat pack to ship Dubia roaches in cold weather? We strongly recommend one during the winter months. In cold weather, our Live Arrival Guarantee applies only when you add a heat pack and request hold for pickup in your order notes.
When should I add a cold pack? Add a Hot Weather Cold Pack when temperatures are expected to reach 85°F or higher. It stays cold for up to 48 hours without freezing your roaches.
How long does a shipping heat pack last? Our heat pack lasts up to 40 hours and is designed not to overheat.
How long does Dubia roach shipping take? Orders ship the next business day via USPS Priority Mail from Taylor Mill, Kentucky. Most customers receive them within 2 to 4 business days, with possible delays around Christmas and New Year's.
What does "hold for pickup" mean? It means asking the Post Office to keep your package at your local office so it doesn't sit outside. Add the request in your order notes under "Additional Information" or email team@dragonsdiet.com right away.
What if some of my roaches arrive dead? We include extra roaches in every order. If you still don't have enough live roaches for what you ordered, take a timestamped photo within 3 hours of receiving the package and email it to team@dragonsdiet.com.
Which states can't receive Dubia roach shipments? We don't ship live insects to Florida, Hawaii, or Alaska. Owning Blaptica dubia is illegal in Florida and Hawaii, and live arrivals are very difficult to ensure in Alaska.
Order With Confidence, Whatever the Weather
Shipping live feeders year-round comes down to a few simple habits: add a heat pack in winter, add a cold pack when it's 85°F or hotter, ask for hold for pickup, and open your box as soon as it arrives. Do that, and your roaches will show up ready to eat. When you're ready, browse our Dubia roaches for sale in Small, Medium, Large, and Adult Male sizes, and don't forget to add the right pack for the season. Happy feeding!
