Small Red Runner Roaches for Sale
Red runner roaches, Blatta lateralis (also called the Turkestan or rusty red roach), are a fast-moving feeder roach and a strong cricket alternative. This small 1/2″ size is the step up from extra small, suited to small-to-mid reptiles and growing juveniles. Their sizes track crickets closely, and their quick movement triggers a feeding response. TC breeds them from a captive colony started in 2017.
A Fast, Active Feeder
Red runners live up to their name. Their speed prompts a strong feeding response and gives reptiles some exercise. Unlike dubia, they do not burrow into substrate to hide, so they stay visible in the enclosure. They cannot climb smooth surfaces, the females are wingless, and the males only flutter, so a vented bin keeps them contained.
Nutrition and Dusting
Red runners are similar to dubia in nutrition, high in protein with moderate fat. They have also tested with useful B12. Like most feeders, they are low in calcium with an inverse calcium-to-phosphorus balance, so dust them with TC Calcium Ultra Fine and gut-load them on a quality roach feed before feeding.
Care and Setup
Keep red runners warm, around 70 to 85°F, in a vented bin with vertical egg flats and no substrate. They do best kept fairly dry, so limit fruit and veg and offer moisture with water crystals rather than an open dish. They are a tropical roach, so keep them warm, not refrigerated. A clean bin keeps any odor down.
Easy to Breed
Red runners breed quickly, so a small starter group can grow into a colony. You do not need to count males and females, though a ratio of one male to three females boosts output. Females lay egg cases that hatch in 7 to 14 days, and the nymphs live alongside the adults.
Best For
- Small-to-mid reptiles and growing juveniles.
- Keepers who want fast, visible prey over hide-prone feeders.
- A cricket alternative that does not jump or chirp.
- Growing a fast-breeding feeder colony.
Not Best For
- The smallest animals, which suit the extra small size.
- Large reptiles, which suit a larger size or roach.
- A calcium source, since red runners need dusting.
Recommended Add-Ons
- Supreme Feed to gut-load and breed them well.
- Jumbo Water Crystals for clean, spill-free moisture.
- TC Calcium Ultra Fine to dust them before feeding.
- Extra Small Red Runners for smaller animals or to start a colony.
- Red Runner Roaches to browse all sizes and counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size are small red runners?
They run about 1/2″, a step up from extra small. They suit small-to-mid reptiles and growing juveniles.
Can they climb or fly?
They cannot climb smooth surfaces. The females are wingless, and the males only flutter, so a vented bin contains them.
Do I need to dust them?
Yes. Red runners are low in calcium like most feeders, so dust them with calcium and gut-load them before feeding.
How do I keep them?
Keep them warm at 70 to 85°F in a vented bin with egg flats, kept fairly dry, with water crystals for moisture. Do not refrigerate them.
Which size should I get?
Choose 1/2″ for small-to-mid animals, the 1/4″ size for the smallest, or a larger size as your animal grows.
Learn More About Feeder Roaches
These sources cover feeder roach nutrition and biology.
- ABVP: Feeder Roach Nutrition. A veterinary overview of feeder roaches and the inverse calcium-to-phosphorus ratio common to most feeders.
- ScienceDirect: Gut Loading (veterinary overview). A reference on gut-loading and supplementing feeder insects, which supports dusting roaches.
- Blatta lateralis Overview. A reference on the Turkestan cockroach and its biology.
Red Runner Roaches Natural Habitat:
The native range includes Northern Africa and Stretches into Central Asia. Reported Invasive to southern Florida, USA.
TC INSECTS FEEDER NUTRITION TABLE
The Nutritional Contents of the Red Runner Roach will be similar to Dubia of equal size. However, this species has tested with higher levels of B12. Which helps energy and metabolism in reptiles.
|
Species |
Protein % |
Fat % |
Fiber % |
Calcium_(mg/kg) |
Phosphorus_(mg/kg) |
|
Crickets |
15.3 |
3.2 |
2.1 |
275 |
2510 |
|
Dubia |
22.9 |
7.1 |
2.8 |
798 |
2623 |
|
BSFL |
17.4 |
13.8 |
2.9 |
9380 |
3540 |
|
Superworms |
19.6 |
17.6 |
2.5 |
180 |
2350 |
|
Mealworms |
18.7 |
13.3 |
2.6 |
169 |
2980 |
|
Silkworms |
9.6 |
1.1 |
1 |
185 |
2400 |
|
Fruit Flies |
21.5 |
6 |
2 |
526 |
4000 |
|
Spikes |
17 |
12.5 |
2 |
5230 |
3540 |
|
Hornworms |
9 |
3 |
0.5 |
470 |
2000 |
Species-Specific Myths
There are rumors that this species can infest a house. However, this species has the same chances of infesting a house as a Dubia Roach. If you have a clean house, this species cannot and will not infest. Roaches need
proteins to make eggs and reproduce. So if you are not already dealing with a roach problem in your home, then this species poses you no risk. Keepers that have experienced indoor infestations from this species had to
have the ideal conditions for it to occur. Keep pet safe roach poison if this is something you might be concerned with.
