Questions about Hissing Roaches

[mercury]

Hello! I’m new to posting here so I apologize if the formatting is wrong or anything. I have a few questions about keeping hissers. I had a trio a while ago (not anymore unfortunately) and I’m looking to get another. Here’s my ideal set up followed with questions:
For substrate I’d have a layer of pebbles, then charcoal, then peat moss, and dirt on top. I really want one or two live plants - possibly spinach since I know it’s safe but if anyone else has suggestions for small, low matinence, nontoxic plants that’d be great! Herbs are another option since they grow so easy but many are used for insect repellant so that’s been tricky...
Also is there any way I can house a halloween hisser with Madagascar hissers? I read the halloween ones are a little softer so I don’t want it to get hurt but they’re so beautiful.
And my final question: are there other bugs, rolly pollies or something, that I can safely keep with hissers for clean up duty? If I have a live plant I’ll want to avoid disturbing the substrate too much I figure!

Thank you and I look forward to any and all replies!

 

[VolkswagenBug]

I don't know that pebbles are the best idea. They would scratch up burrowing roaches and they aren't really necessary for any of those elements.
Cockroaches that live in the same environment are easily housed together for virtually all species. Male hissers can sometimes be aggressive to other males, but if there's enough space I don't think it should be harmful.
Springtails are harmless cleaning crews that work well. Isopods aren't the best choice for most bugs because they are capable of attacking a molting arthropod.

 

[mercury]

I don't know that pebbles are the best idea. They would scratch up burrowing roaches and they aren't really necessary for any of those elements.
Cockroaches that live in the same environment are easily housed together for virtually all species. Male hissers can sometimes be aggressive to other males, but if there's enough space I don't think it should be harmful.
Springtails are harmless cleaning crews that work well. Isopods aren't the best choice for most bugs because they are capable of attacking a molting arthropod.

Thank you! I was reading a little more on "bioactive vivariums" and found out about hydrorocks - would that perhaps be better, especially if I put a screen layer over it? It seems drainage layer would be easiest for longterm keeping of plants which is important to me.
Also springtails seem like they might easily escape if I am handling my hissers (is this a valid concern?) but that you for the information about the isopods! I hadn't thought of that!

 

[Polenth]

The cockroaches will eat the plants, so are not good candidates for tanks with plants in them. Spinach is popular with my cockroaches, in a way you don't really want.

 

[VolkswagenBug]

Thank you! I was reading a little more on "bioactive vivariums" and found out about hydrorocks - would that perhaps be better, especially if I put a screen layer over it? It seems drainage layer would be easiest for longterm keeping of plants which is important to me.
Also springtails seem like they might easily escape if I am handling my hissers (is this a valid concern?) but that you for the information about the isopods! I hadn't thought of that!

If what I'm seeing when I look up "hydrorocks" is correct, then those should be softer and probably wouldn't do any damage. But like Polenth says, live plants may not be the best choice for roaches anyway. A mantid might be a better idea, since they don't eat plants.
I don't think springtails can climb (or at least, they don't want to) the sides of a cage, and they'd be harmless in your home.

 

[mercury]

The cockroaches will eat the plants, so are not good candidates for tanks with plants in them. Spinach is popular with my cockroaches, in a way you don't really want.

Okay! Does that go for every type of plant? If I put in some moss do you think they'd just go for anything?

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

Hissers aren't burrowing roaches. You can keep em on loose substrate and they'll always be on top of it.

 

[VolkswagenBug]

Hissers aren't burrowing roaches. You can keep em on loose substrate and they'll always be on top of it.

Oh, good to know. I haven't kept portentosa before and I've only had one hisser, so I'm speaking more from a general roach perspective.

 

[Polenth]

Okay! Does that go for every type of plant? If I put in some moss do you think they'd just go for anything?

Moss would at least not show chew marks as much, but I think you'd be better just not thinking of this as a planted tank. Start with the animals and their requirements and plan the tank based on that, rather than trying to do it the other way around. For hissers, keeping them a bit drier stops the mites from getting out of control and reduces the chance of food going mouldy. That isn't very compatible with moss.

You can make a tank that looks more natural than the average roach tank if you want, but think more of things like using cork bark instead of cardboard. You could also cover the substrate in hardwood leaf litter if you want a forest floor look (they'll chew on that too, but you can just top it up when they get through it).