Roach substrate

[Matts inverts]

I recently got Madagascar hissers and I know the babies need substrate but I don’t know what to use. One website said to mix aspen and coco. Another said coco and cypress or rotten wood. Please help. So confused

 

[DomGom TheFather]

They do not require substrate.

 

[Matts inverts]

I heard the babies like to burrow and eat substrate

 

[DomGom TheFather]

They may need to eat frass but i have had no problems breeding them in a bare bottom bin with eggcrate.

 

[BoyFromLA]

No need to be confused about it.

You can have substrate if you choose to, if not you do not have to.

I used to keep them on coco fibers, but nowadays on dried oats.

It all depends the purpose of your keeping I guess. Is this for keeping them as pets? Or is this for keeping them as feeders?

 

[Matts inverts]

Both. I want to produce enough to keep and feed my frog

 

[BoyFromLA]

Both. I want to produce enough to keep and feed my frog

In my experience with them, I had more reproduction rate with light coco fiber substrate with large flat cork bark, and constant misting.

 

[BoyFromLA]

They can/will climb, even on glass wall, so make sure you have no escape routes.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Egg flat paper towel set up will work well as will a few inches of coconut fiber. They are really not picky. Both can produce extremely high breeding results.

 

[Hisserdude]

Standard hissers like Gromphadorhina "portentosa" hybrids or pure G.portentosa aren't that picky and can breed with or without substrate. If you use substrate, I'd go with plain coconut fiber.
Some of the more finicky hisser species probably only breed in containers with substrate, due to the humidity retention of substrate and the fact that a lot of the more finicky species seem less completely dry tolerant.

 

[Matts inverts]

Out of coco fiber right now. Can I use reptisoil

 

[isopodgeek]

Reptsoil is fine. It is actually better than coco fiber as it is more than just dirt. It has peat, sand, dirt and carbon. Like everyone else said, these roaches really aren’t picky when it come to substrate. Any dirt safe for invertebrate and reptiles is fine. You don’t need substrate but I feel the roaches would prefer to burrow in something so substrate is a better choice.

The thing more important then the substrate is the humidity. Spraying the enclosure every other day will achieve proper humidity.

 

[RoachCoach]

Be careful feeding them to frogs. Was told not to feed the larger ones to my toads because of their strength and leg spines by the amphibian specialist from Josh's Frogs. They don't need substrate, but it will help keep the "unique" scent they have to a minimum.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Yes, forgot to mention. Smell is a factor.

 

[Matts inverts]

Was only going to feed small ones and will be careful of the leg spikes