What Roach Species Do You Keep?

[cacoseraph]

i'm on a giant local kick. though i keep like 5-6 exotic species what i really want to talk about is a local desert roach

Arenivaga investigata

i am still not finished but hopefully will get all the pics done later today... stay tuned
wastelands 2007 - Feb - 18
I wanted to catch some scorpions for someone and took a trip to the Wastelands today. i got sun sick a bit, but it was well worth it! Since it wasn't middle of summer sun and heat i tried a new method of storing collected bugs. I kept all the containers of bugs i caught in a carryall and made sure to keep the carryall out of the sun. Well.. i made sure my trusty sidekick, Issa, kept them out of the sun


DESERT COCKROACH
*sigh* i killed it already. i was hydrating it up and apparently it is rather easy to over do it with these things... poor little guy looks like a water balloon now! learning curve.
I have seen these dull dust covered roaches a few times before, in the Wastelands... usually partially dismantled and in a web or something... Today i finally caught a good sized (from what i have seen) individual and boy am i glad!
Site of Water Vapor Absorption in the Desert Cockroach, Arenivaga investigata
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arenivaga_investigata

zoom

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so far i have managed to kill all three that came into my possession, including that big beautiful (probably) adult pictured above. *sigh*

 

[Louise E. Rothstein]

Dear GSC,
I keep Panchlora nivea.
Soon after several "Weird Wings" appeared I began to separate the "Weird Wings" from my colonies in order to breed them separately.

Chilling and crowding facilitate the expression of all "Weird Wing"factors.
Environmental factors make a big difference.

These include the crossbreedings that occur because "Ordinary" and "Weird
Wings" really do look alike until they are ready to breed.
Many female "Weird Wings" breed ordinary males before I can separate them.
Since many of my immatures may not be purebred now I say that I keep
"Panchlora nivea" and Panchlora nivea variety "Weird Wing Factors."

 

[Louise E. Rothstein]

Dear Cacoseraph,

Desert insects need dry shelter.
They hide under things that HAVE to be present;and that MUST be dry.
Please do not "hydrate" their surroundings.

Try drops of water (they may drink dew);and try plant materials...
Some "drink" plant juice(s) that they free by chewing plant parts.

Let us know what happens next.

Yours very truly,
Louise Esther Rothstein.

 

[cacoseraph]

Dear Cacoseraph,

Desert insects need dry shelter.
They hide under things that HAVE to be present;and that MUST be dry.
Please do not "hydrate" their surroundings.

Try drops of water (they may drink dew);and try plant materials...
Some "drink" plant juice(s) that they free by chewing plant parts.

Let us know what happens next.

Yours very truly,
Louise Esther Rothstein.

i've only ever found them in somewhat moist soil under water trapping structure... thus i don't think they HAVE to have a dry hide. virtually all the bugs i have found in desert/chaparal setttings have been in the moistest microhabitats available. this rehydrating strategy was adopted after i had a few real beat up looking collectees die after reaching my house. since then i have not had a problem with any of my recent collects dying.

i also rehydrate recently imported WCs to good effect


*this* particular species as a special adaptation that allows them to draw moisture out of the air... i think this is what has caused the problems. i am going to do a hydrogradient tank next, with a moist and dry side and let them sort themselves out

 

[petshopguy]

my list - also willing to trade for species I don't have

Here is my list of what I have -

B. Giganteus
B. discoidalis
Blaptica dubia
G. portentosa
Nauphoeta cinera
Eublaberus posticus
Blaberus craniifer Black Wing (True Deaths Heads)
Gyna lurida
Neostylopyga rhombifolia
Bantua robusta

The following is being shipped to me this week -

Therea grangeni
Blatta lateralis
Archimandrita tesselata
Bysotria rothi
Blaberus bolivenus
Elliptorhina chopardi
Eublaberus distante
Rhypharobia maderae golden

 

[Gsc]

Dear GSC,
I keep Panchlora nivea.
Soon after several "Weird Wings" appeared I began to separate the "Weird Wings" from my colonies in order to breed them separately.

Chilling and crowding facilitate the expression of all "Weird Wing"factors.
Environmental factors make a big difference.

These include the crossbreedings that occur because "Ordinary" and "Weird
Wings" really do look alike until they are ready to breed.
Many female "Weird Wings" breed ordinary males before I can separate them.
Since many of my immatures may not be purebred now I say that I keep
"Panchlora nivea" and Panchlora nivea variety "Weird Wing Factors."

Sounds pretty cool...keep everyone informed on your project!

 

[Gsc]

Here is my list of what I have -

B. Giganteus
B. discoidalis
Blaptica dubia
G. portentosa
Nauphoeta cinera
Eublaberus posticus
Blaberus craniifer Black Wing (True Deaths Heads)
Gyna lurida
Neostylopyga rhombifolia
Bantua robusta

The following is being shipped to me this week -

Therea grangeni
Blatta lateralis
Archimandrita tesselata
Bysotria rothi
Blaberus bolivenus
Elliptorhina chopardi
Eublaberus distante
Rhypharobia maderae golden

Awesome list! The T. grangeni should be great...I have 25 small nymphs that I'm raising up. I cannot wait to have an adult producing colony! B. rothi is going to be one of the next species I add to the collection...they are great! Looks like your a roach nut also- these darn things are addicting.

 

[sidguppy]

Currently only
Achrimandrita tesselata (breeding colony)
and
Blaptica dubia (ditto, these are feeders)

I've kept:

-a small group of nympha from Blaberus giganteus; wich were very fragile and eventually all died. only one reached adulthood. since this roach is very rare in Europe, there are serious inbred issues.

-Gromphadorhina portentosa of course, but they always managed to escape. my colleagues (the roaches live in the school were I teach) were not amused, so I had to ditch these.

-Ellipthorhina chopardi came and went for similar reasons.
both species I started with a little group and bred very slow, until I got some more females for both and turned up the heat. then, once they started breeding in numbers, the escaping nympha really got out of control.

a shame, cause both are very nice species! yes, I did use vaseline to smear on the top 2" of the inside glass. yes, I did use a fine-mesh hood on the tank. they just lick up the vaseline, pile on top of each other, chew through the mesh, squeeze through openings less than a hairbreath (nymphs do that) and got away.....

I also kept and bred Periplaneta australicae wich were even worse. I really like this species as well, but these combine glassclimbing and vaseline/mesh eating habits with lightning speed and the habit of being a pest. they went to a guy with a huge tarantula breeding 'factory'.

currently I'm trying to get Macropenesthia as my third species.

 

[Chrysopid]

I have Blaptica dubia, also. My first starter colony they are all still nymphs. They are for pets and not for feeders

 

[PeriplanetaAmer]

Hey Cacoseraph, nice roach! . The roach still a ninph, it isn´t an adult.

Probably, next roaches I´ll buy are:

N. rombypholia
Rhyparobia maderae
Rhyparobia maderae "gold" (I only have a few ones)
Simplose pallens

Therea gandejani and Therea petiveriana are two of the best roaches for me:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: .

Have you luck with your colonies!

 

[Atrax robustus]

Bit late joining this discussion but here's my list in no particular order :-

Blaberus discodalisLucihormetica subcincta
Macropanesthia rhinoceros (just produced around 12 babies )
Therea petiveriana
Blaberus giganteus
Heminauphoeta brunneria
Panesthia augustipennis
Blaptica dubia
Elliptorhina chopardi
Rhyparobia maderae
Archimandrita tesselata
Nauphoeta cinera
Gromphadorhina portentosa
Eublaberis distanti
Eublaberus prosticus
Byrsotria fumigata
Gyna lurida

AR.

 

[Gsc]

Macropanesthia rhinoceros (just produced around 12 babies )
Panesthia augustipennis

Freakin' awesome...two of my favorite species... they are "top shelf"... you haver a GREAT species list.

Graham

 

[petshopguy]

updated list

Here is my updated list. If I have an asterisk next to the roach species, it is available for trade/sale.

Archimandrita tesselata
Bantua robusta *
Blaberus boliviensus
Blaberus craniifer - Black Wing (True Deaths Heads)
Blaberus discoidalis *
Blaberus giganteus
Blaberus rothi
Blaptica dubia *
Blatta lateralis *
Byrsotria rothi
Elliptorhina chopardi
Eublaberus distante
Eublaberus posticus *
Gromphadorhina portentosa
Gyna lurida
Nauphoeta cinera
Neostylopyga rhombifolia
Rhypharobia maderae golden
Therea grangeni

I will update my list as I add species and as they reproduce to where I can trade/sell that species.

 

[Aquanut]

I have Blaberus discoidalis for feeders and a newly acquired Archimandrita tesselata colony for pets/show/fun. My 12 year old daughter has always liked the roaches since i got the first discoids 4 years ago to replace crickets, but they are kind of fast moving for a child to like to hold for long. She picks up the largest Peppered roach (Mr. B. short for Mr. big) every day and holds him and he just hangs out. Cant wait for the final molt.

 

[Stickytoe]

here's my list:

Blaptica dubia
Blatta lateralis
Blaberus craniifer
Princisia vanwaerbecki
Panchlora sp. (large)
Deropeltis paulinoi
Eurycotis decipiens
Gyna capucina
Therea petiveriana
Lucihormetica subcincta


looking to add 'harlequins' and 'gold maderans'

__________________
Nicole Chaney
www.stickytoegecko.com

 

[JGTC MX6]

I just keep hissers, lobsters, and turkistans as feeders.

I can only say "WOW" on the number of types everyone else seems to keep.

 

[roberto]

For a pet species I have several adult pairs of M. rhinos. For feeders I have B. dubia.

 

[Gsc]

I just recieved a few new species...here is my updated list...most are still being established or maturing BUt in the next year or so I should have a kick butt selection for trading...lol

1. Blaberus craniifer Black Wing
2. Blaberus giganteus
3. Byrsotria rothi
4. Deropeltis paulinoi
5. Hemiblabera sp.
6. Lucihormetica subcincta
7. Lucihormetica verrucosa
8. Macropanesthia rhinoceros
9. Neostylopyga rhombifolia
10. Panesthia angustipennis spadica (Japan)
11. Polyphaga aegyptiaca
12. Polyphaga obscura (Turkmenistan)
13. Princisia vanderbeckie
14. Therea grangeani
15. Therea petiveriana

 

[Stickytoe]

I just received more as well
Here is my updated list

1. Blaptica dubia (Guyanan orange spot). favorite feeder for knobtail geckos

2. Blatta lateralis (Turkestan runner). fav feeder for T's and Rhacodactylus geckos

3. Lucihormetica subcincta (Glow-spot roach). 'collector' species. They remind me of beetles with their heavy armor and shape. Love the colors!

4. Therea petiveriana (Domino roach). beautiful display species...they always seem to be running around the enclosure.

5. Gyna capucina (Pink roach). Still establishing colony.

6. Eurycotis decipiens (Costa Rican Zebra roach) AWESOME display roach!

7. Blaberus craniifer-black wing (Death's head roach). Love the looks! Kinda skittish.

8. Panchlora sp 'large form'. (green banana roach). My chameleons and Avicularia species LOVE these and for me they make a great display also.

9. Deropeltis paulinoi (ornate velvet roach). One of my favorites! Great display roach!

10. Neostylopyga rhombifolia (Harlequin roach). Beautiful patterns-very striking! Still establishing.

11. Rhypharobia maderae 'goldens' (Gold Maderan roach). Still establishing.

12. Princisia vanwaerbecki (Tiger Hisser). Still establishing

It's not my goal to have EVERY species of available roach out there, but just the ones I find beautiful, interesting, or unique!!

___________________
Nicole Chaney
www.stickytoegecko.com

 

[Gsc]

I just received more as well
Here is my updated list

1. Blaptica dubia (Guyanan orange spot). favorite feeder for knobtail geckos

2. Blatta lateralis (Turkestan runner). fav feeder for T's and Rhacodactylus geckos

3. Lucihormetica subcincta (Glow-spot roach). 'collector' species. They remind me of beetles with their heavy armor and shape. Love the colors!

4. Therea petiveriana (Domino roach). beautiful display species...they always seem to be running around the enclosure.

5. Gyna capucina (Pink roach). Still establishing colony.

6. Eurycotis decipiens (Costa Rican Zebra roach) AWESOME display roach!

7. Blaberus craniifer-black wing (Death's head roach). Love the looks! Kinda skittish.

8. Panchlora sp 'large form'. (green banana roach). My chameleons and Avicularia species LOVE these and for me they make a great display also.

9. Deropeltis paulinoi (ornate velvet roach). One of my favorites! Great display roach!

10. Neostylopyga rhombifolia (Harlequin roach). Beautiful patterns-very striking! Still establishing.

11. Rhypharobia maderae 'goldens' (Gold Maderan roach). Still establishing.

12. Princisia vanwaerbecki (Tiger Hisser). Still establishing

It's not my goal to have EVERY species of available roach out there, but just the ones I find beautiful, interesting, or unique!!

___________________
Nicole Chaney
www.stickytoegecko.com

VERY nice list Nicole.... I'm trying to establish my Deropeltis paulinoi colony...maybe 30 individuals I've purchased from a few places... any tips on establishing them... are you keeping them moist or dry? What substrate? Thanks in advance...