Hissing cockroach heating and climbing?

[CyborgVulture]

Hey there,

So I have a few questions about hissing cockroaches based on some info I’ve gotten from different care videos and pictures of enclosures.

What kind of heating is best for these guys? I saw a picture of someone’s set-up and they had a heating lamp, but would that hurt them to have direct light?

Also, if they were in a glass tank with wire mesh lid do you still need to put jelly around the top to discourage climbing? Can they chew through the lids like tarantulas?

Thanks!

 

[Arachnotroik]

I don't think they chew? Since a friend of mine has about 5-10 colonies of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, and all of them are in a bin with a plastic wire mesh. He never had a problem, but they do climb and sometimes just hang in the screen all day.

 

[craze horse]

The only time you'll have issues is if they breed. The young are tiny and will get through unless your mesh is super fine.

 

[Psydeus565]

And depending on where you live, you won't need any heat. I've had a colony for around 10 years and don't use heat in the winter when it reaches around 50-60F, though if it goes below that I would get a ceramic bulb or heat pad. Their breeding stops at that point, but that is a good thing if you don't have anything that eats them. Also, if you are breeding, those babies fit in the tiniest of cracks and you will want a barrier.