Zephyr's Amazingly Awesome Roach Thread

[Zephyr]

It's about time I got off my bum and did this.
James brought it up a bit ago, and it sounded like a good idea, so here it goes!

Gromphadorhina portentosa
Madagascar hissing cockroach

My first roaches, this is my current setup.

Quick shot through the screen of some of the guys coming out. *I just flicked on the light*


Blaberus hybrids

I got a few of these as excess in a trade. The whole roach community doesn't know exactly what these odd hybrids are that have been drifting through the trade, but from the adult patterns I think they're either a B. fusca morph or a morph of B. craniifer.


Gyna capucina
Pink cockroach

Just a pic of the setup, these guys wouldn't cooperate and come out. x.x


Gromphadorhina portentosa
Black morph

Though they don't look it from the flash, these guys are jet black.

[adamanteus]

Excellent start to your thread! Your set-ups look really professional, Kyle. I'd be interested to see photos of the Pink Cockroaches, if you can make them co operate!

[Sputnik]

Sssh, you're going to make me feel guilty now for beginning to breed them for dragon/frog/lizard food.

My starter colony of 300 Turkistan roaches should be here by Monday.

My friend recommended someone he worked with and I paid £27.90 for them including free delivery.
What am I going to do if I get as fascinated by them as you?
My daughter really likes them and I have yet to show her the "shirt buttons"!


Those hybrids are really interesting looking. They look a little like giant woodlice or those amazing "living fossils".

[Zephyr]

Elliptorhina chopardi
Dwarf hissing cockroach

Not quite adults yet. They're living in a ventilated container ontop of my plated lizard tank. Very fast glass climbers.


Polyphaga aegyptiaca
Egyptian sand roach

The biggest one is an adult female, the other two are still nymphs.

Curious nymph. :P Note the long legs.


Gromphadorhina grandideri
Tiger hisser

Freshly molted nymph. *I have no adults yet. :P*

Sneaky nymph trying to hide.

[Stefan-A]

Those hybrids are really interesting looking. They look a little like giant woodlice or those amazing "living fossils".

You could argue that cockroaches very much are living fossils.

[Zephyr]

Blaberus craniifer
Death's head cockroach

I only have a pair of these guys, but I'm expecting nymphs soon!
I love the little Halloween face. :P


Archimandrita tesselata
Peppered roach

My all-time favorites. Only one adult as you can see, and the board is normally upright as a molting platform. Apparently they're prone to mis-molts, but so far so good.

[adamanteus]

Kyle, maybe you could write up a step by step guide for keeping/breeding/rearing these roaches, for people like Esther who are considering breeding them as feeders? Perhaps with species recommendations etc.

[Zephyr]

lol
"Zephyr's Amazingly Awesome Guide to Breeding Roaches"
XD

[tikichick]

Awesome roaches! (I can't believe I just said that, lol).

I'd love to read Zephyr's Amazingly Awesome Guide to Breeding Roaches! I just picked up a bunch of hissing roaches last night and I need to get my learn on

[Zephyr]

Awesome roaches! (I can't believe I just said that, lol).

I'd love to read Zephyr's Amazingly Awesome Guide to Breeding Roaches! I just picked up a bunch of hissing roaches last night and I need to get my learn on

Well for one, keep them with a Vaseline barrier if you're using glass. It works best at keeping them in. *I proved so in my science fair project.*
Secondly, keep things VERY warm for them. 80's is best, with semi-high humidity. Make sure there's always something to munch on. Romaine lettuce is a favorite. Also, give them plenty of multi surfaces. Egg crates work best, but you can also use paper towel rolls.