Exotic Cockroaches

[RandomWiktor]

Someone in my welcome thread asked about my hobby of breeding exotic cockroach species, so here are my current breeding projects. I'd really like to one day breed a large # of ornamental roach species, but right now space doesn't allow for much more than this.

H. subcincta. JUST got a starter colony from Steve, hoping it goes well!

T. petiveriana. This colony was very slow taking off (their growth rate is painfully slow), but I have a fresh crop of adults and a TON of nymphs now.

T. olegrandjeani. This colony has been very successful so far, lots of babies and several adults (including a number of females!). Good progress from the starter stock.

P. nivea. The adult foundation stock has died out, but I have sub crawling in nymphs and subadults so I'm not too worried

B. giganteus. These guys have EXPLODED in population since I moved them to the new set-up. The naturalistic one was nice but I kept getting mold.

G. portentosa. I have... lots. However, they're lovely colors, as you can see from these two very different specimens. If anyone ever wants hissers let me know, I'm crawling with juvies and nymphs right now.

 

[Tamara]

Those are some crazy looking Cockroaches.... I could never probably come to your house as I'm a *bit* scared of them though... hehe. Thanks for sharing your photos. I wouldn't imagine that some of those bugs were even cockroaches since they don't look like them!

 

[Emmilyy]

^^ I'm with Tamara, i wouldn't be able to stay near them, but they are pretty interesting. I didn't know there were so many types of them!

 

[hsmoscout]

Exotic cockroach breeder...that's one job I've never heard of! Very cool, though!

 

[Birdiemarie]

I'm afraid to ask this but how big do the ones you are breeding grow to?

 

[Gilraen]

I don't think I ever commented at UB, but I love the olegrandjeanis and the petiverianas. They're so neat looking

 

[Jadie]

woah! These are awesome! I've always wanted hissing cockroaches, I would be thrown out the house though unfortunately lol!
How did this hobby come to be? If you don't mind me asking?

 

[Renae]

Agh!!

 

[Blazeybird]

Gross..... lol

 

[Kristy]

I just had to take a peak.

Who buys these critters? Museums? Zoos??

 

[Quiverful]

I never knew there were so many different types or cockroaches. I just cannot get over the fact that they're roaches, you know? LOL

 

[RandomWiktor]

Haha, thanks (mostly) for the comments! Cockroaches are very diverse; there are over 4,000 species; only four are common household pests and only 25 are even regularly found in association with humans. Mostly they are physiologically and behaviorally fascinating creatures! These are only my "fancy" species I should mention; I breed two feeder species for my reptiles and amphibians as well.

Birdiemarie, the biggest species I breed gets to about 3.5" in length.

Jadie, I started keeping hissers when I was in grade school after my teacher gave me two of the "class pet" colony as a present. The love just grew from there!

Kristy, I don't sell much yet as I really want to build up my colonies, but I mostly sell to private individuals. Cockroach keeping is pretty popular, and fancy varieties can get quite lucrative.

 

[Nikki]

Um.... I like the ladybug looking one.

 

[Kirby26]

Definitely interesting to look at, but I'm not sure I would ever be able to handle them

I didn't even know there was such a large variety of cockroaches before this though!

 

[rockoko]

 

[Ranyart]

That's absolutey fascinating and gosh who knew they're kinda beautiful in their own buggy way. How long have you been into them? Too cool. I'm amazed at all the different 'other species' kept here on the Avenue.

 

[Sarin]

They look great! Very nice collection you have got there. Please keep us updated on their progress. I love seeing/hearing about things like this.

 

[Mommyofgus]

Ok, so I had to look too. I wasn't going to but was drawn to it. lol They are different and in a way you have to admire their creator for making so many different kinds. Sorry but they still give me chills. lol I am glad you are so interested in them. I will just admire your pictures....from a distance.

 

[Archiesmom]

Cockroaches...honestly I commend you on your interests, and there are some very beautiful bugs you have pictures of! But I myself am not a bug person...we have a little colony of cockroaches that we keep too, but they are strictly for feeding purposes. Our tokays got too big to be satisfied with crickets (we were feeding 15-20 a day, the male has a ridiculous appetite) plus the cockroaches have more nutrients when we gutload them. But I don't touch them or go near them! That's all Paul!

 

[Gen120]

wow, I would be kinda scared of those, LOL!
They are interesting, but I have never liked cockroaches, hehe!