[BoomerSub]

Species name:Gromphadorhina portentosa

Common name:Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Maximum size: 3", usually closer to 2.5"

Suggested cage size: a 5gallon bucket with a specially modified lid or 10 gallon aquarium for less than 20 adults, larger colonies should be housed in large rubbermaid tubs with modded lids. An inch-thick ring of petroleum jelly should be smeared a couple of inches below the top of the enclosure to help prevent escapes.

Native location (I suggest either "original habitat" or "home range", "native location
' just sounds wrong"): Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. May have been introduced into the southern US, and has been banned from several states as a result.

Temperature: 75-90�F, 85�F+ recommended for breeding.

Diet (Change to food/feeding?): Anything organic, high-protein diet recommended during breeding to avoid cannibalism.

Breeding: Females lay an ootheca (egg case) more or less monthly, which will release twenty or so nymphs. Nymphs are very similar to the adults as far as care goes, and reach maturity in around four months.

Gender differences (Change to sexing?):
Males have two bumps on top of the false head that the females lack, see here.
Male on top, female on the bottom.

Notes: likes to climb, stack cork bark or egg cartons to allow for this. Frequently shows up in movies or television whenever a cockroach is needed. Emits a suprisingly loud hiss (caused by a rush of air from the spiracles) when disturbed, hence its common name. Makes an excellent food source for large lizards and fish.

Pic (mine):


-PK