What’s your setup for hissing roaches?

[antinous]

Probably could tell that I’m picking up a few species based on my last few posts, but was wondering, what’s your setup for them like? Do you just have egg flats w/ food dishes or do you have a bioactive set up?

Currently debating if it would be easier to just put a few inches of cocofiber down, three or so egg flats ripped apart, a piece of corkbark or two, some leaf litter, and then toss in some dwarf white isopods (or some powder blue/orange) along with some springtails and call it a day (along with food for the roaches of course).

Which do you guys prefer and which would be less upkeep over time in your opinion?

thanks!

 

[DreadMan]

less upkeep over time? Bioactive setups have always worked for me, but i cant say you dont need a little maintenence here and there. Bioactive setups also look wonderful if done right, so a big thumbs up for that.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

All my roach setups look pretty much like this.

Works like a charm.

 

[antinous]

All my roach setups look pretty much like this.
View attachment 406911
Works like a charm.

Thanks for the reply! If I’m getting 3x of Halloween Hissers and 4x pairs of Black Tiger Hissers, what size tub would you recommend getting for them?

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Thanks for the reply! If I’m getting 3x of Halloween Hissers and 4x pairs of Black Tiger Hissers, what size tub would you recommend getting for them?

About shoebox or so.
Maybe a little larger.
Tall sides.

 

[goliathusdavid]

My setup is an 80qt gasket box, paper towel lining, whole ton of egg cartons, containers of cricket gel and roach chow, assorted produce. They're as easy as it could possibly get. You can do it with substrate but I personally am of the opinion that substrate doesn't do much to drastically change welfare of Hisser species.

 

[antinous]

About shoebox or so.
Maybe a little larger.
Tall sides.

Got it, was thinking of getting a 54 quart tote with a gasket (22.50” H x 16.00” W x 12.75” D), would that be overkill?

My setup is an 80qt gasket box, paper towel lining, whole ton of egg cartons, containers of cricket gel and roach chow, assorted produce. They're as easy as it could possibly get. You can do it with substrate but I personally am of the opinion that substrate doesn't do much to drastically change welfare of Hisser species.

Gotcha! I think I’ll ditch the substrate then. Do you think housing together halloween Hissers (three pairs) and black Tiger Hissers together (4 pairs) in a 22.50” H x 16.00” W x 12.75” D tub would be fine?

 

[antinous]

Also, would this be an okay source of protein for them (if I’m planning to use them as feeders too)?

 

[goliathusdavid]

Gotcha! I think I’ll ditch the substrate then. Do you think housing together halloween Hissers (three pairs) and black Tiger Hissers together (4 pairs) in a 22.50” H x 16.00” W x 12.75” D tub would be fine?

Unfortunately that will go very, very, VERY wrong very quickly. All the hisser species are sufficiently closely related that they will hybridize, which can be devastating to genetic integrity of captive populations and the hobby as a whole. Most Gromphadorina portentosa sold are all hybrids, but the Halloween and Black Tiger species still have a few pure strains around. The enclosure size is great, because they will breed EXPONENTIALLY, but if you are going get both species, they MUST be housed separately. Honestly, as someone who have seen hybrids emerge from secure colonies in the same facility, I wouldn't even keep the two enclosures in the same room.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Also, would this be an okay source of protein for them (if I’m planning to use them as feeders too)?
View attachment 406935 View attachment 406936

Yup! Cat food and dog food is great, fish flakes too, and Mazuri sells a specialty roach chow. I like to mix it up a lot, and kind of have to since the primary species I work with is Simandoa conserfariam.