N. rhombifolia

[pinkfoot]

I would appreciate any and all help regarding the successful keeping of this roach. :wall:

Details on housing, feeding and temps, in particular are of interest. I have had a colony for several months, and have less than when I started!!

 

[Takumaku]

I just started a colony and would love to have a detailed caresheet too since none seem to be available. As of right now, I'm following a generalized caresheet (temp range 70-90F, half the tank is moist, the other is bone-dry, food: fruits, oak leaves, rotten wood, grain). Again, I'm following a generalized caresheet (or the shotgun approach) and offering everything and letting the roach decide.

Maybe someone can chime in with a more detailed caresheet.

 

[pinkfoot]

Harlequin roaches

We,, for what it's worth, I have crystal gel, sliced carrot and banana for hydration, and dried animal pellets (cat, dog, mouse) , fish flakes and bread for nutrition. Temps are 80 degrees and ventilation is good.

Let's hope we both get some help with these lovely roaches. :?

 

[Alakdan]

I'm re-posting this from my other forum.

Neostylopyga rhombifolia or harlequin roaches. This is one local roach species that can be bred as feeders for your inverts. Although, our foreign counterparts keep tham as pets.

They are easy to breed and can be fed and raised with the same food items as crickets.

Just to give you an idea. I caught 5 adult specimens last Oct '06. Only 2 survived, but since then they have been laying eggs continously. This led me to suspect that they are also parthenogenic. I don't know how many they are now. I have been feeding my arboreal Ts and tokay gecko with these roaches.

They smell a bit (like fresh tomatoes) when in defensive mode, but not as bad as your typical P. americana household roach. They run real fast!

Here is my set-up:

Avg. temp. 28-30C (82-86F) RH 60-85%

Plastic food container for the enclosure, with the top ful of airholes. Since this is a climbing roach, height is more important. I then lined the lip of the container with petroleum jelly to prevent them from climbing out.

I then stacked some wood slabs to serve as climb. You may use cork or egg crates. I just simulated the habitat where I got them.

I also observed that they stick their egg cases in crevices, and this claypot serves that purpose. Also, notice the newly molted roaches. If only they will remain white, we would probably treat them differently.

Egg case

 

[Takumaku]

Thanks....

What is this other forum you speak of?

 

[Alakdan]

Thanks....

What is this other forum you speak of?

We have a local (Philippine) forum for Philippine Tarantula and Scorpion Society. The discussions there are usually bilingual, Filipino and English.

 

[pinkfoot]

Thanks for that, chum. Great info, but please detail their diet? My set up mirrors yours, but my results do not... :?

 

[Alakdan]

Thanks for that, chum. Great info, but please detail their diet? My set up mirrors yours, but my results do not... :?

Diet? I just realized that I really neglect my colony of harlequins. I tend to put more attention to my B. dubia colony.

Anyway, I feed them them same as my cricket and B. dubia colonies.

Chicken feed
oatmeal
leafy greens
apples and oranges
bread

They are not picky eaters. In the wild, where I collected them, I observed that they eat rotting leaf litter. So maybe you can experiment with oak leaves.

 

[pinkfoot]

Yep, that looks like a good balanced diet, and while I have no oak leaves nearby, I'll certainly try some other leaf litter. Thanks!