$400 in 40 Days

[Zephyr]

A roach can be cuddly? Do they bite?

Yes.
They can be cuddly, especially if there's food around, but then again garters do the same. XD
And to stop any possible rumors...
ROACHES DO NOT AND WILL NOT BITE YOU.
They think the smell of human is repulsive. Go figure.
However, if you happened to soak your hand in strawberry juice for a half hour then left it (lol) in a colony of lobster roaches, I'm pretty sure you'd be missing plenty of skin after around 3 minutes.

[Aundrea]

WOW I think that is so weird that they dont like our smell LOL Thats kinda funny

I never thought a Roach could be cuddly LOL

Now why do the hissers hiss? Just for the hell of it? LOL

[Zephyr]

Now why do the hissers hiss? Just for the hell of it? LOL

YES.
GOOD QUESTIONS!!!
The primary use is defense; a predator is a lot less likely to grab onto to a throbbing spikey mass that's suddenly started hissing at them. They get really mad if you grab them wrong and males are the worse; they push air through modified spiracles, or air holes, on their sides and that makes the sound. Many other roaches can do it but hissers do about 10 times as often.
The second use is courtship. The male hisses to assert dominance over an area (While bumping and fighting with rival males using modified ridges on the head shield, or pronotum) and seduces the female with a gentler hissing. If they start doing the dirty deed and the male stops hissing, the females stop being receptive and that's the end of that.

[Aundrea]

WOW that is very interesting. Im learing LOL. I have never heard them hiss. Is it loud?

You should change your name from Zephyr to Mr Roach Man LOL

[Zephyr]

WOW that is very interesting. Im learing LOL. I have never heard them hiss. Is it loud?

You should change your name from Zephyr to Mr Roach Man LOL

Some of the little ones have somewhat startling hisses, but I have a big boy who can scare you from across the room. :P

[Lori P]

I found a big huge beetle at work a while back that hissed!! It was so cool to hear such a loud hiss from such a little thing.

Kyle, could you please post detailed care instructions for peppered roaches?? :-) Just, you know, for informational purposes.... LOL

[Aundrea]

WOW.. Damn I really want to see your collection I know if I saw one of them hissers and it hissed at me I would run away screaming LOL

[Zephyr]

Kay!
Scientific name: Archimandrita tesselata
Common name(s): Peppered cockroach, giant peppered cockroach, giant brazilian cockroach
Adult stats: Males 3 - 3 1/2 inches Fully winged; capable of short "flights"; longer visually than females; 12-30 month lifespan
Females 2 1/2- 3 inches Fully winged; capable of gliding if given the oppurtunity; short n' stubby 12-40 month lifespan
Diet: Mainly oak leaves, but likes fresh fruits, dog food, and veggies.
Temps: 72- 82 Fahrenheit.
Setup: Lots of burrowing space for nymphs; last instar nymphs require a vertical molting platform to ensure the wings don't retain fluid or deform. No supplemental heating is required. Substrate should consist of only oak leaves for an easier to clean setup, or oak leaves on top of potting soil for a more aesthetic setup. Copulation will occur almost immediately after the final molt if a male and female are together. Nymphs will appear anywhere from 4-8 months after copulation.
**EDIT- For water, you can lightly mist lightly, give them a very shallow dish of water, or use water crystals. Or keep a dish of fruit/veggies always available.
Here's my "conservative" setup. There's a lot more oak leaves now, and I secured the plank in the background.

[Aundrea]

WOW.. Well im shocked to say this but they are kinda neat looking LOL

[Zephyr]

WOW.. Well im shocked to say this but they are kinda neat looking LOL

That's step number one to roachdom. lol
The adult in that pic just molted; they turn a dark tan color with peppered spots, hence the name, when the tannins in their "blood" dry.