African bullet roaches...

RVS

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
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Aug 11, 2005
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I recently purchased a few African bullet roaches (sorry I do not have the latin name as I've never seen it for this species, apparently they are newly described), and I was wondering if they have any special care requirements I may be missing. I have less than a dozen nymphs (I think I counted ten) in a ten gallon aquarium. I have around three inches of semi moist peat covered with a layer of partially decomposed oak leaves and a few slabs of hardwood bark for hiding spaces. I've been feeding them a mix of fresh salad greens, baby tomatoes, carrots, and celery as well some dog food on occasion. I've been keeping them at around 75 degrees farenheit, and misting their enclosure twice a week.
Is this set up fine?
I eventuallly plan on getting more. Is this species aggressive towards one another? How many can I comfortably fit in a ten gallon aquarium?
 

OldHag

ArachnoHag
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Sep 8, 2003
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1,711
Ill be interested in knowing this too! I just got some too, they are fun to watch! They chase eachother around and posture and flap their cute little wing stubbs at eachother. They crack me up!!
Sounds like you have a good set up though.
 

angus

Arachnoknight
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Nov 24, 2005
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do someone know the latin name of this species???
thx~
 

hurley0816

Arachnosquire
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Nov 26, 2005
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dont know anything about them bu,t would like to see some pics if you have them.{D
 

Brian F.

Arachnobaron
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Oct 19, 2004
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I just got a few of these myself, pretty cool species.

I went to the allpet roaches site to look for these. There was a decent photo, but unfortunately no scientific name. I'll update my post if I can find it. Good luck with them though.
 

RVS

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
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Aug 11, 2005
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442
Bantua robusta could possibly be the latin name, but I'm not entirely sure.
 

Gsc

Arachnobaron
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Jul 22, 2004
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I also have a colony of the African Bullet Roaches... never seen a latin name either. My "set-up" as far as substrate, leaf litter, and wood is identical to yours... I use the "Bucket cage" method described in "Allpets Roaches"...

I personally feed a dried roach diet along with fresh salad greens once a week to mine... I keep them semi moist... my substrate is alittle deeper (~5"+) and this allows for a pretty good humidity gradient.

My colony is still getting established...only about 30 roaches so far, but they seem to be pretty hardy.

Seems like your doing fine with them..... It also takes a group time to establish itself before you really start to see the colony "explode". Good luck...I'm very pleased to have them as an addition to my list of roaches.



On a side note...I've added crumbled rotten wood and leaf litter to my regular "peat" substrate with very good success in all my roach species (along with millipedes & isopods)... It REALLY helped to get my colony of Green Banana Roaches going. It's just a personnal observation...the "bugs seem to like it"...
 

Gsc

Arachnobaron
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Jul 22, 2004
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538
RVS- I did a google search on "Bantua robusta"...I believe you may be right... although the US hobby hasn't been using a latin name, it seems that Europe is using Bantua robusta for "African Bullet Roach"... I didn't see any pics... I'll probably start using the name...They are an exciting new species to hit our roach hobby recently.
 

ROACHMAN

Arachnosquire
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Sep 23, 2002
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90
Bullet Roaches

HEY I an so glad you guys like them i got them in a couple years ago i think only 20 or so of them with in a year the 20 grow into 1000 very fast breeders all sorts of reptiles and spiders and such love them gave some to my good buddy Orin who name them the bullet roach lol and the rest is history thats how all of you got them enjoy and happy holidays to all and to all a roachy night
 

angus

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 24, 2005
Messages
207
thx for your guys info.~
its a very cool species and i hv already put it in my waiting list..
hope i can start a small group later on~~
 
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