Just how damp-G. portentosa

[tarantulas118]

Hi so my question with Madagascan hissing cockroaches is how damp do the y like the substrate do they like it
A. A little damp but not moist dries out easily
B. higher than A can create mold but still good amount of moisture
C. Like a swamp where you feel it and it’s totally WET not damp, WET
Or something in between?? Also how do you know if it’s settled and one more question when I pick him up I have never heard a hiss should I be worried??? Is it better to use cardboard egg crate or cork bark?

 

[Patherophis]

D. - I ve always kept them bone dry.

 

[tarantulas118]

D. - I ve always kept them bone dry.

Really I always thought there supposed to be damp since their from tropical habitats and I’ve read there supposed to be damp oh my I’ve been keeping my roach wrong

 

[Patherophis]

Really I always thought there supposed to be damp since their from tropical habitats and I’ve read there supposed to be damp oh my I’ve been keeping my roach wrong

For years I have succesfully kept ten species of tropical roaches, including G. portentosa, and except for Lucihormetica and Panesthia kept all of them dry. You generally only needs to care for humidity for egg laying species or sensitive species. Neither is the case with portentosa.

I am not saying that they would not apreciate a bit of moisture (a bit! by no way wet or swampy!), but you have to think about conditions and enclosure design. In a breeding box with small amouth of substrate and egg crates humidity would be quite disaster, in box/terarium with lot of substrate and bark, a bit of moisture would be ok. Keep in mind you want to awoid any paper mold and excessive feces mold.

 

[Stylopidae]

I always kept mine bone-dry as well, using egg carton hides.

I supplied water by giving them frozen/thawed apples once per week.

All roaches can be kept pretty much the same way.

 

[Hisserdude]

I usually keep a third of their substrate humid, the rest bone dry, and make sure they have lots of ventilation. Granted, I live in high desert, so if my air humidity weren't so abysmally low, I could probably get by keeping them even drier.