Is Breeding Your Own Livefood Worth It?
The cost of feeder insects adds up quickly, especially if you keep multiple reptiles. Breeding your own can save significant money — but only for certain species. Here’s the honest cost breakdown.
ℹ️
The Bottom LineBreeding Dubia roaches and mealworms saves the most money. Silkworms are harder to breed but worth the effort for the nutritional savings. Crickets are cheap to buy and annoying to breed — often not worth it.
Monthly Cost Comparison (Single Reptile)
Monthly Livefood Cost — Buying vs Breeding
Crickets (buy)
£8-15/mo
Good
,
Crickets (breed)
£2-4/mo
Excellent
,
Dubias (buy)
£12-20/mo
Moderate
,
Dubias (breed)
£1-3/mo
Excellent
,
Silkworms (buy)
£20-35/mo
Poor
,
Silkworms (breed)
£5-10/mo
Good
,
BSFL (buy)
£10-18/mo
Moderate
,
Mealworms (buy)
£5-10/mo
Good
,
Mealworms (breed)
£1-2/mo
Excellent
Best Feeders to Breed
💰
Dubias
Best ROI — easiest colony
,
🌾
Mealworms
Cheapest to maintain
,
🐛
Silkworms
Best nutritional savings
,
🪰
Fruit Flies
Essential if you need them
Setup Cost vs Ongoing Savings
1
Dubia Colony — Setup: £30-50
A starter colony of 50 adults, tub, egg flats, and heat mat. Produces surplus roaches within 3-4 months. Annual saving: £100-200 for a single reptile.
2
Mealworm Farm — Setup: £10-20
Three plastic tubs, bran, and a bag of mealworms. Self-sustaining within 3 months. Annual saving: £40-80.
3
Silkworm Breeding — Setup: £20-40
Eggs, chow, containers. Requires more attention and mulberry access. Annual saving: £150-300 (silkworms are expensive to buy).
4
Cricket Breeding — Setup: £20-30
Large tub, heat mat, egg-laying substrate. Noisy and smelly. Annual saving: £50-100. Many keepers find the hassle isn’t worth the relatively small saving.
💡
The Sweet SpotBreed Dubias for your daily staple (virtually free after setup), buy silkworms and BSFL in bulk online for nutrition, and skip breeding crickets unless you have dedicated space. This balances cost, effort, and nutritional quality.
References
- Finke, M.D. (2002). “Complete nutrient composition of commercially raised invertebrates.” Zoo Biology, 21(3), 269-285.