Anyone keep question mark roaches?

[Damein1234]

Almost 2 years ago, I had gotten about 12 question mark roaches as a gift from a friend. I raise dubia as feeders, but I figured these would make fantastic pets rather then food.

Everything had started off great. I have them In a 30 gallon tote, filled to the brim with dead/dried leaves. The ground is eco earth.
I knew they were a slow growing species, so you can guess my excitement when I went in and found that 2 of the roaches had molted into adults.
I was ecstatic!

Since then, I have had NOTHING but trouble. I CAN'T keep an adult alive. Every time I glance in, all I find are the shells left over.
2 years later, and I just dug through the bucket after not touching it for over 3 months. I was surprised to find anything alive.
There were 6 nymphs of all different sizes, the smallest being about 1/4 of an inch.
So obviously they had to have bred at some point?

I would love to see this species thriving and I want to give them another go.
Does anyone have any tips or pointers?
For the last few years I have kept them in a 30g tote, with a 5g heating pad on one corner just to raise the temps a small bit. The tote has no ventilation, but being in colorado, any moisture or humidity is immediately lost, so I didn't know what else to do but not add vent holes.

Any help you guys can give would be very much appreciated.

 

[draconisj4]

I don't have question mark roaches but have a very small colony of domino roaches and I believe the care is similar. Mine are in a small sterilite enclosure with deep substrate of mixed cocofiber and rotten hardwood with oak leaf litter mixed in and on top. The top quarter of the sub is dry with the rest kept moist. The lid has has a screened cut out for ventilation. I have a slanted piece of cork bark for the adults to climb. I also keep a small dish of water crystals and offer supplemental food of carrots, apples and oats or dried roach food. I have seen the nymphs and adults eating out of the food dish on occasion. I also mist a couple of times a week.

 

[Damein1234]

Thanks for the reply!
Do you do any kind of heat? Did you buy the rotten hardwood from anywhere or do you just have it around?
I had originally put a dish of roach food in the cage, but I never thought they were eatting it. But looking at your dominoes, maybe I was wrong. I'll try it again

 

[draconisj4]

Thanks for the reply!
Do you do any kind of heat? Did you buy the rotten hardwood from anywhere or do you just have it around?
I had originally put a dish of roach food in the cage, but I never thought they were eatting it. But looking at your dominoes, maybe I was wrong. I'll try it again

No supplemental heat, just room temperature around 70-75. I buy the proper roach substrate, extra flaked hardwood and leaf litter from Bugs in Cyberspace. It wouldn't be cost effective for a large enclosure though. We only have evergreen forests around here so I can't collect it. You can collect it from the wild if you live in the right area and you are sure it's pesticide free.