Roaches

[Dark]

Hi, Over the past few weeks I have been getting various species of roaches. Right now I have a very small Colony of Madagascan Hissing Roaches, Ten Neostylopyga rhombifolia (harlequin roachs), and a pair of Panetheisa sps. All Three Species I have are thriving and I find them very Fascinating. As most hobbist I feel I want to have more selection then just the three species I am currently Posses. I have been looking over various sites that sell roaches and have found very few pet roach species that I have not been interested in. The only problem is I still live with my parents. . Anyways I have finally decided that I should get 2 or three final species of roach to keep me busy till I move out. . So Far I narrowed down to four species I would like to get. Here are the four species Blaberus Craniifer (True Death Head), Blaberus giganteus, Eublaberus prosticus (orange head roach), and Blaberus fusca. I have already decided I was definatly getting the True Death Heads, but I am still not sure which of the other three I want. (Note I can only order two different species, and yes if i can i will get all four lol).

Right Now I am leaning towards Blaberus Fusca and Eublaberus prosticus ( I want Blaberus giganteus the most personally but there a tiny bit more expensive and I am short of cash )


Which Would you get as the Secound species?
Please post why you chose the species you picked

Thanks!
Eric

(If you are interested in pictures of first three species I have here is a link to previous threads I started with pictures http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=75086)

 

[Takumaku]

Well, I would be pick neither for "pets". I personally don't like blaberus species so anything blaberus is off my list.

For a true pet, I would suggest Archimandrita tesselata (a.k.a. peppered roach) or Polyphaga aegyptica (a.k.a. desert roach). These are two new species that I bought as "pets". They are extremely slow growing, extremely long lived, and are calm enough to be handleable.

I also bought Byrsotria Fumigata (Cuban Burrowing roach) as a "pet", but I'm planning to use them as a treat feeder.

John

 

[Dark]

I have no patients and love to watch colonies grow so most species people keep as feeders I keep as pets. The four species I listed before I am going to buy a few of each (The True Death heads and one of the other three speicies) and try to start a colony and If the colonys grow very large I wouldn't hesitate to feed some of other species (other then the True Death heads) off. For the few species you mentioned as pets, its a little expensive to try to start a colony with those species

 

[Takumaku]

Depends on what you consider expensive. I payed $0.75 each for my Brsotria Fumigata and Polyphaga aegyptica and $3 each for Archimandrita tesselata. I know some breeders are charging $4 each for Polyphaga aegyptica, but then again some aren't. Just got to ask around or not be afraid to ask if they will take a lower price.

I didn't really need alot of them so price wasn't an issue for me (only spent $20 w/ shipping) since I already have a nice colony of dubias and prosticuses.

 

[Dark]

Hmm, I have looked up some of the species that you mentioned and don't find them very interesting (no offense). I am mostly Interested in fast breeders who grow to large size.

Thanks for reply

Eric

 

[Takumaku]

Hmm, I have looked up some of the species that you mentioned and don't find them very interesting (no offense). I am mostly Interested in fast breeders who grow to large size.

Thanks for reply

Eric

Spoken like a true American... I like them big. ^_^ No offense taken. If size is what you are after, Blaberus giganteus would be a specie you might like.

 

[psionix]

Blaberus gigantea FTW! they don't really breed very fast, but the wait is definitely worth it!

 

[IguanaMama]

To me, getting more than one or two blaberus species is redundant. They aren't that different from one another. Deathheads are my favorite, just because I like the looks the best. If you like the orange heads, check out the six-spots, they are the same genus, they are almost the same but the six-spotted are just a little prettier (I think) and don't require the same protien so they don't wing bite. My five year old loves dubias because the nymphs are calm, and they are also very pretty, lots of variety. I also have hissers and harlequins, I love them. A species I like a lot are the black velvets. Something very similar to them are the Deropeltis paulinoi, same genus. James is having a sale on them. The black velvets are prolific, so I am assuming these are too. Ask James about them. Good luck.

Jodi

 

[IguanaMama]

The peppered roaches grow really big, don't they!!??!!

 

[BigToach]

i would get B. crainifier and B. fusca and make your own hybrids. what the hell throw a few B. gigantus in the mix also.

 

[Stickytoe]

Here is a pic of some Costa Rican Zebra roaches Eurycotis decipiens

They are a great display roach due to their colors and the fact that they seem to be 'out' most of the time. I've had mine for a short time and they seem to be fast breeders.

They are, however, glass climbers and the nymphs are extremely fast. I've had no problems keeping them contained with some vaseline around the top edges of the cage.......

___________________
Nicole Chaney
www.stickytoegecko.com

 

[bugmankeith]

I have blaberus giganteus and they are pretty cool roaches in my opinion. I ordered just 3 from James because I didnt want to breed them (just as pets) and they are not that expensive, just be sure to get them in warm weather so you dont need to buy a heat pack. They eat people food (lettuce,apples,bread) and dry dog or cat food, so that means cheap feeding since your parents buy the food for you . Sometimes petstores will sell them as feeders or in the back rooms where you cant see them. I went to one store and the reptile guy had true b.giganteus in the back room nobody knew about, and when I asked he gave me one for just $1.00, it was healthy too. I got a nymph too for 50cents but it died from unknown causes, the other one is now a healthy adult male though, and hisses sometimes.

I purchased dritwood in the fish section (I think) screwed to a stand, and the roaches love to climb on them and hide in the small holes.

 

[Texas Blonde]

I wouldnt go with Blaberus fusca as they are (Im pretty sure) really just the same thing as B craniifer, just a different color morph.

Should you get B gigantea? MOST DEFINATLY! Hehe. They are a truely awesome species, and you wont regret it.

I love my E prosticus. IMO they are one of the prettiest roaches out there. Same with B craniifer. I dont know if I would be able to pick between the two. But since you can only get two more species, I would (myself) pick one Blaberus sp, and one of another genus.

 

[Dark]

AAAAHH!!! So many Cool Roaches So limited amount I can get. I have made my decision, I am going to wait a week for when I get more money and see if I can get a few of each species (Orange Headed, Costa Rican Zebras, B. gigantea, and some B. Fuscas)

Oh and bugmankeith I know a great petstore where I live who has The b.giganteus in the back aswell, but hes low on adults and needs to get his colony established.

Thanks All For The Replies and Awsome Pictures!

I Look Forward to some how getting most of these species lol.

Eric

 

[Dark]

i would get B. crainifier and B. fusca and make your own hybrids. what the hell throw a few B. gigantus in the mix also.

Also want to keep the roaches I get only with there own species so I don't get Hybrids

(don't want to run out of the orginals before I get a normal colony going but once I get lots of each species I might get one small tank and put one of each species and see what happens )

 

[Dark]

Here is a pic of some Costa Rican Zebra roaches Eurycotis decipiens

They are a great display roach due to their colors and the fact that they seem to be 'out' most of the time. I've had mine for a short time and they seem to be fast breeders.

They are, however, glass climbers and the nymphs are extremely fast. I've had no problems keeping them contained with some vaseline around the top edges of the cage.......
[/url]

Those Roaches really cool looking but where can one buy them? I asked someone About them and they said they escaped too easy, Are they Able to Infest ones home?

Thanks
Eric

Also here is a picture of some of my Madagascan Hissing Roaches,

 

[Canfire]

Were can I buy roaches in canada?

 

[Dark]

I would think most people who sell roaches in the United States would most likely have no problem selling to canada. You can check Arachnoboards Online Dealer Reviews and see if there are any sites that sell to canada.
Good Luck

Eric

 

[Dark]

I finally Decided that I am going to buy ten Blaberus fusca, a decent number of Eublaberus prosticus (Orange Head roach), six True Death Heads, and six Blaberus giganteus.

If I get only six True Death Heads and six Blaberus giganteus, Will I be able to start a colony of both those species with only three males and three females of each species?

For the Eublaberus prosticus (Orange Head roach), Will they breed well in 80-85 degrees fahrenheit? Will They breed well in a ten gallon tank?
Thanks!

Eric

 

[bugmankeith]

Well considering mabye 30 nymphs come out of of each ootheca, times 3 =60 nymphs for each species. I'd say thats a good start, the longest part is waiting for nymphs to mature to adults.