Blaberus giganteus

[Michael Jacobi]

Blaberus giganteus (Linnaeus, 1758)

adult female

nymph

 

[Gigas]

Hey, you've been to the UK , what denomination of coin would you say the coin in the image is close to

 

[diadematus]

Hey, you've been to the UK , what denomination of coin would you say the coin in the image is close to

That's an American quarter, isn't it? Are you trying to compare physical size, or exchange value, or?

-Kevin

 

[Aquanut]

That is an American Quarter (or 25 cent piece) it is approx. 2.5 cm across.
I'm not sure why he would care what the exchange value is unless thats all he has to spend.
Nice looking B.G s , I'm so jealous.

 

[Drachenjager]

2 pound or so i think

 

[Gigas]

That is an American Quarter (or 25 cent piece) it is approx. 2.5 cm across.
I'm not sure why he would care what the exchange value is unless thats all he has to spend.
Nice looking B.G s , I'm so jealous.

i meant what denomination of UK coin is similar in size to the coin pictured...
but 2.5cm is fine

 

[Drachenjager]

bloomin nymph lools like a trilobite

 

[Aquanut]

Sorry, never been to UK

 

[Michael Jacobi]

That's an American quarter, isn't it? Are you trying to compare physical size, or exchange value, or?

-Kevin

Good point. My apologies to non-Americans for using a poor reference object. I will shoot new photos using a cm/inch rule. For the record, the US quarter is 24 mm in diameter. MJ

 

[Michael Jacobi]

Blaberus giganteus (Linnaeus, 1758)

adult female - 85 mm [3.35 in] long

nymph
63 mm [2.48 in] long

37 mm [1.46 in] wide

 

[Gigas]

Imagine using these as feeders
whats the reproduction rate with these like?

 

[jbrd]

Feeders?

Has anyone ever used these as feeders before, and if possible the details they used on raising them?

 

[Michael Jacobi]

This species is not a good candidate for feeder use as it takes a long time to reach maturity [12-18 months] and reproduces slowly compared to other Blaberus. I do know one tarantula breeding operation [TBP] that uses them extensively for giant South American species, and they report that if they are not attacked immediately they tend to be ignored. This is because they release a foul smell when molested. A tarantula that pounces on them seems little bothered, but if the initial attack is unsuccessful or the roach is not attacked shortly after being placed in the cage, the tarantula reacts to the chemical and its avoids the roach.

Husbandry and propagation is not much different than that of other Blaberus, except for the fact that they tend to be a little pickier in their accepted foods and have a preference for decaying oak leaf compost and soft, rotting wood.

 

[bugmankeith]

Yeah that smell they release can be pretty pungent, thats why I keep them as pets, they are much more fun to keep and observe.

 

[Gigas]

Are they quite commonly available? i don't tend to keep an eye open for roaches...

 

[bugmankeith]

Alot of sites sell them, I got mine from James, Double D's, and a local petshop.

 

[IguanaMama]

I decided to get some for myself too, I got mine from Bugchick.com. I was told that unlike some other roaches, you don't need large numbers of them for them to breed, so I only have three. I keep them with my AGBs, they eat the same thing so I thought that would make a fun community tank. I also have a colony of porcelain and green banana roaches in there too, it's busy in there, but so far so good, the porcelains and green bananas are reproducing well, the giganteus are still nymphs, but seem to be thriving.

 

[Gigas]

I don't know how available they are over here but if i can get them i think i will, i like how Blaberus sp. look but the whole breeding and maturing fast thing puts me off as i already have a roach feeder colony and would like one to look at

 

[bugmankeith]

B. Giganteus grow and breed slowly, perfect for you.

IguanaMama, did you know Porcelin adults sometimes vary in color. I saw a pic of one that was pinkish color! The usual is brown, and sometimes yellow.

 

[CopperInMyVeins]

Has anyone ever used these as feeders before, and if possible the details they used on raising them?

I've used them as feeders before, becaus there's a pretty big colony of them where I work, fed one to a Theraphosa apophysis, fed another to my Scolopendra subspinipes, in general I don't think it's worth it though, sure, they are bigger mass wise, but not a whole lot bigger than a fat B. discoidalis, most of the extra length is in the wings. Which was all that was left in my S. subspinipes tank. As for the defensive smell, one that I was holding did release it, didn't smell all that bad to me though, reminded me of something else which I can't place right now.