Roaches safe in vivariums

[Jimbob]

This has probably been asked a bunch of times, searched a little, but didn’t find any definite answers.

Are there any certain plant safe roach species that would do well in vivs? Arid or tropical… just curious if anyone has tried it with success. Would be cool to add a unique roach species as a CuC for something else. I’ve kept about 50+ species of roaches at some point in the past(only have 3 species now in very small bins), but never tried them with plants. Wouldn’t want to build a nice vivarium, introduce a species of roach, just for them to eventually multiply and wreck the plants.

 

[Raghild]

I have Dubia roaches living in my bearded dragon enclosure. They have been leaving the plants alone, but they also have access to preferable food options.

I found a baby one under a piece of cork bark with some isopods the other week, so they actually managed to successfully reproduce at some point.

I have a pet cam in the enclosure, so I can monitor population sizes. They come out at night to eat when the bearded dragon is asleep.

I don't see why you wouldn't have success with roaches in a vivarium, which will actually be closer to their natural environment than my semi-arid bearded dragon enclosure.

I would just aim for a frugivores species. They tend to prefer root vegetables and fruits over leafy plants.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Orange head roaches are pretty picky. I doubt that they would eat plants.. I could test out a few leaves.

 

[Jimbob]

Thank you both. I was thinking something along the lines of panchlora or even one of the emerald roach species(which I haven’t kept yet). Something that would make an interesting addition to the enclosure without being too voracious.