You Just heard the Hiss of the:

MADAGASCAR HISSING COCKROACH 

(Gromphadorhina portentosa)

MALES ARE THE SAME SIZE AS FEMALES AT MATURITY. YOUNG ARE 3/8" AT BIRTH WHILE ADULT SIZE IS 3-4" TOTAL BODY LENGTH. MALES HAVE TWO RAISED "HORNS" ON THEIR PROTHORAX WHILE FEMALES ARE SMOOTH IN THAT REGION AND HAVE A MORE ELONGATED BODY. THEY ARE WINGLESS.  THE HISSING SOUND IS MADE WHEN THEY QUICKLY MOVE AIR THROUGH SPECIAL VALVES IN THE SEGMENTS OF THEIR ABDOMEN.

Habitat:

ON THE INSIDE UPPER WALL OF THE PLASTIC TOTE SMEAR A 2" BAND OF VASELINE. THIS WILL PREVENT ROACHES OF ALL SIZES FROM ESCAPING AND ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR ANY TYPE OF CAGE COVER. PLACE THE 5 EGG FLATS VERTICALLY (not horizontally or the roaches will get crushed in time) WITH LIKE SIDES FACING EACH OTHER SO THAT A CONDOMINIUM IS CREATED. THIS ALSO ALLOWS THEIR DRY FECAL PELLETS TO DROP TO THE CAGE FLOOR FOR EASY CLEANING. NOW INSTALL THE FOOD AND WATER DISHES SIDE-BY-SIDE, AT THE FRONT OF THE CAGE, IN THE SPACE THAT IS LEFT BY ONLY USING FIVE EGG FLATS. SUCH A CAGE SYSTEM CAN HOUSE 500 ADULT ROACHES EASILY.

TEMPERATURE & LIGHTING:

DAYS 82-96 F. NIGHTS NO LESS THAN 68 F. NO SPECIAL LIGHTING IS NEEDED.

FOOD & WATER:

Hard chunk dog food works great and they love it. KEEP FOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. Carrots and Romaine lettuce will be devoured happily and the Romaine lettuce seems to help in speeding up reproduction. Misting the open area lightly a couple times a week away from the egg crates as to keep them dry helps give a higher humidity which seems to put a smile on their little faces and aids in the reproductive process

Use a sponge cut to size in the drinker ring of the chick waterer TO PREVENT BABIES FROM DROWNING. KEEP WATER CLEAN AND AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.

GROWTH & REPRODUCTION:

THE 3/8" YOUNG ARE BORN ALIVE AND ARE NOT CANNIBALIZED BY THE ADULTS. AT WARM TEMPERATURES THEY REACH ADULT SIZE IN 2-3 MONTHS. THESE ROACHES CAN LIVE AND REPRODUCE FOR 1-2 YEARS AND SOME MALES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LIVE 2-3 YEARS.

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