Roach ID (B craniifer)

[TroyMcClureOG82]

Hi, I bought some roach nymphs a couple weeks back from justbugs.com. they were great to work with and everything went smoothly. The roaches just started to mature and they don't look like the pics of B craniifer I've seen. They were sold to me as pure craniifer and I trusted that they were, but they look like they might be craniifer fusca crosses. I checked the justbugs website and they don't sell the crosses. They do sell Blaberus giganteus though and mine look kind of like the pics they have posted of those. Mine are 2.5" after their first mature molt(developed wings)

Mine look like this: (not my pic)

 

[Bob]

I have 6 B. Craniifer and I thought the same thing. Now three have molted to adult . The first one molted about two weeks ago and now is starting to turn all black......I quess it takes a while to turn black......
Check them each day...I bet they will get darker in a few weeks.

 

[laila]

Could be Blaberus discoidalis...

In general, the Blaberus species can be hard to tell, as they also hybridize (is that a real word?? :? ) within the genera.

 

[james]

Let's be clear!!!

Those are not B. craniifer. I know just bugs, myself, and many others have the B. craniifer/B. fusca crosses. The crosses have some that look like B. fusca (like your picture), some that are "almost" all black, and some that look in-between the two. I also keep pure stocks of B. fusca and B. craniifer. The true B. craniifer turn all black within a day of molting. They also are a little smaller than the crosses that carry the larger size of the fusca. I have been really busy, but will try and take some pictures this weekend. Here is the helpful hint of the day. If you not paying $3-$4 each for them, they are crosses. Very few people have true craniifer in the US and the are expensive.
James

 

[TroyMcClureOG82]

just bugs advertises the true B craniifer and they were sold to me as such The roaches I have are not turning black and are definitely crosses

 

[james]

Slow down!

I know Ken at just bugs and he is a very nice guy. I really think most people do not know the difference betwen the two. I sold my crosses as B. craniifer for some time. Roaches are still so new to the US that there is always going to be some bad info. If your using them as feeders "be happy" because the crosses breed much better. If not then I would email Ken and work something out. I'll have true craniifer for sale is six months or so, but hey are not going to be cheap!!!!
James

 

[TroyMcClureOG82]

Yes Ken is a very nice guy. He was great to work with and everything came perfect. I just wish I had the pure B craniifer. These ones will work nicely for feeders, but I figured if the pure B craniifer weren't doing to job I could always take a few out and start a seperate colony of crosses.

 

[xelda]

I went through the same disappointment. That picture on the website is very misleading.

 

[TroyMcClureOG82]

Yea it is dissapointing and the pics from the website show the real Death's head. Justbugs advertises the real Death's head in the classifieds for 4 dollars a piece (much more than what I paid). If they do have the real ones and crosses I don't know why they don't advertise them accordingly

 

[Bob]

James....thanks for you imput!

I am sure my B.Craniifer I bought for $1.50 each are not pure craniifers....some kind of "mutt" cross. Makes me kind of mad because these were pets...not feeders. These are real hyper and I can not hold them at all...not a good pet. Here is a photo of the mutts....I think I have two females and one male here.

 

[james]

Not doubt!!

100% cross. If you really want a good roach go for B. dubia. Craniifer, discoids, proticus, and most others are pretty fast and are not easy to grab. Dubia are very mellow to those others and a great roach.
james

 

[TroyMcClureOG82]

Mine look just like Bob's

 

[james]

Put you on the list.

In the future (next 6 months) I will put you on the list for the true B. craniifer if your interested. I can offer either of you a really good deal on some B. dubia if you can send Paypal. I just sorted my bins and will be shipping a bunch out Monday.
Thx,
James
james.tuttle@afc.com

 

[Bob]

My Scolopendra Gigantea is playing with his new freind!!!

 

[Drosera123]

If you want real craniifer, Ornin McMonigle is the only person I know of selling the true species. They have matured and look great!
Steve