I'm back with a bigger list than ever before! Any time is a great time to become a roach enthusiast!
To order, contact me at:
raptorandclawz@aim.com
Elliptorhina chopardi
Dwarf Hissing Roach
These guys are cute. I mean, really cute. The adults barely pass 1.5 inches, making them ideal for small children to handle (they aren't as prickly as the larger hissing roaches.) Strangely enough, these guys hiss just as loud as (if not louder!) than their larger cousins, and do so more often. The males court the females with a very low, almost undetectable hissing, and the whole ritual lasts much longer than that of
Gromphadorhina portenotsa. Although a very slow breeder, this species can produce 65 babies in a single ootheca! Both the adults and nymphs climb glass, with the nymphs climbing the best. Adulthood is reached after 3-8 months.
Small nymphs: $2/each
Large nymphs: $3/each
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Hemiblabera tenebricosa
Broad Key's/Horseshoe Crab Roach
A very timid species, these guys stay buried most of the time. You're most likely to see them early in the morning or late ate night, especially the adults. Males have an adorable courtship dance; they flap their little wing stubs up in down in front of the females, making them look like Mickey Mouse! This species ranges from 1.2" (very small males) to 2.5" (BIG females). One of the things I like most about these guys is that they tolerate very cool temperatures and will breed prolifically at them.]
Small nymphs: 3/$5
Large nymphs: 4/$10
Oxyhaloa duesta
Red-Head Roach
A quick breeder, this species stays at under an inch. Compensating for its lack of size are its breeding speed and colors; adults and older nymphs are a mysterious dark plum color with reddish-orange heads. The nymphs and adults can climb but the adults cannot fly. Care is simple: High humidity, plenty of hiding places, and crowding will keep this species breeding at optimal levels.
Starter culture (30 mixed): $25
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Polyphaga aegyptiaca
Egyptian Sand Roach
This roach requires patience; nymphs can take up to 2 years to reach adulthood! Males may fly but tend not to in captivity, and females have only wing remnants. This species loves to burrow and needs a dry, loose substrate. Once females start cranking out egg cases, they never seem to stop! Females live for 2 years while males seldom live 1. They have an interesting uprighting mechanism; their long back legs scoot like boat oars.
Small nymphs: $3/each
Large nymphs: $4/each
Eublaberus sp. "Ivory/White"
Ivory-Head Roach
This is a very rare species that has only recently begun to surface in the standard hobby. Very similar to
Eublaberus distanti, this specie's care is the same; a good 2" of chunky substrate and plenty of fruits and veggies. The adults and nymphs cannot fly or climb, and the females give live birth. The nymphs are engineered marvels of nature; their forelimbs are specially modified for digging and have only a tiny "foot;" the rest is a spiky spade.
SALE! Starter set (15 mixed): $10
Starter colony (40 mixed): $20
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Eurycotis floridana
Florida Skunk Roach
Don't let the name trick you; Although this species produces a defensive odor, I find it one of the most pleasant odors on earth. It smells like a combination of rose petals, brown sugar, and amaretto! The adults can climb but cannot fly; the nymphs have the strange ability to climb over thick barriers, so a good lid is necessary! The egg cases laid are huge; about 1/3 the size of the parent! They need to be kept moist but will do well at room temperature.
Starter culture (10 mixed nymphs): $15
Large culture (25 mixed nymphs): $30
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Pycnoscelus surinamensis *Parthenogenic*
Surinam Roach
This little roach is excellent to have around; The entire colony consists of only females, so every individual can reproduce, and the nymphs are just the perfect size and texture for hungry 'slings. They love to burrow and can climb, however the nymphs don't tend to do the latter. A good 2" of substrate will increase production. This is probably one of the most low-maintenance roaches out there; just throw food on the surface and a swarm of hungry roaches will devour it! Any discarded exoskeletons or deceased kin will be ravenously eaten, too!
Starter culture (25 mixed): $6
Large culture (100 mixed): $20
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Gromphadorhina grandidieri "Black"
Black Tiger Hisser
These are black tiger hissers; they breed truer than black common hissers (
Gromphadorhina portentosa) do. Care is exactly the same. Adults and nymphs can climb; the nymphs climb the best, though.
Starter colony (10 nymphs) $15
Large culture (20 nymphs) $25
Gromphadorhina grandidieri
Tiger Hisser
This striking roach shares its care requirements with the common hisser (
Gromphadorhina portentosa) and is an absolute necessity for any roacher's collection. The coloration is very consistent with only a slight bit of variation in pronotum margin patterns and abdomen striping thickness.
Nymphs: $3/each
Adult pairs: $10/each
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Aeluropoda insignis
Flat-Horn Hisser
Although the "confirmed" common name of this species is the flat-horn hisser, they certainly resemble pancakes more; For such a wide body it sure is flat! This species likes heat and climbs well. The nymphs gain their pancake-like form right before the last molt.
Starter set (10 nymphs): $20
Large culture (20 nymphs): $35
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Periplaneta australasiae
Australian Cockroach
Don't judge this roach by its cousin; This species will not infest your house! They require heat to reproduce and dry out easily. If kept hot and humid they will thrive. The adults can fly and climb, while the nymphs can only do the latter. The young go through a variety of beautiful color changes; from black with a single white band, to marbled yellow, red, and orange, to red-orange with yellow dots and dashes. Strangely, this species has the exact same pronotum coloration/pattern as
Eurycotis decipiens.
Starter culture (10 nymphs): $10
Large Culture (30 nymphs): $30 shipped
Rhyparobia sp. "Malaysia"
Gold Medal Roach
This is a roach for the true roach hobbyist. The adults can flutter-fall and do so often, and both the adults and nymphs can climb. They have a murderous onslaught of defenses; First, they will squeak. Next, they will emit a hideous defense odor that smells like old cigarettes. Finally, if that didn't stop you from touching them, they will flick poop at you. However, to counter all these nasty detriments, they have a few redeeming qualities; they are perhaps the best display roach. The adults exhibit parental care for the babies, guarding them and tugging food over to them. They talk to each other by thumping their abdomens. Finally, there is the most obvious; they are a brilliant golden yellow.
Starter set (10 mixed): $15
Large culture (25 mixed): $30
Gromphadorhina portentosa
Madagascar Hisser
This is the classic hisser. Big, beautiful, and easy to breed/care for, this species is a long-time hobby staple. Both adults and nymphs can climb. I have been specifically breeding for the "giant morph" gene in this line, which can produce males over 3.5 inches long!
Small nymphs: 2/$1
Medium nymphs: $1/each
Large nymphs: $1.50/each
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Blaberus boliviensis
Bolivien/Double-Dot Roach
Here we have yet another feeder species; A close relative of the discoid roach (
Blaberus discoidalis) this species is a bit smaller but wider. They reproduce well under most any conditions. 15-40 babies are born every 2-4 months depending on temperature, nutrition, etc. The species gets one of its common names from the eerie eye-like red dots on its pronotum. This species cannot fly or climb.
Starter set (35 mixed): $20
Starter colony (100 mixed): $40
Blaberus giganteus
Giant Cave Roach
The longest roach in the hobby (females can get 4"+!), this species can be tricky. Rotting wood is a necessity for healthy nymphs. A substrate of at least 2 inches is recommended. This slow-reproducing, huge species is subject to mysterious die-offs right after molting to adulthood. However, adult females live relatively long (I've had several hit 1.5 years and still reproducing!) and can produce anywhere from 10-50 babies per litter. It's important to keep crowding to a minimum with this species, as well as giving molting subadults plenty of vertical areas to drop their wings from. This species does not climb but does fly sporadically.
Small nymphs: $3/each
Medium nymphs: $4/each
6 mixed nymphs: $20
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Eublaberus distanti
Six-Spot Roach
This plump species contends for the record of bulkiest roach. The nymphs are little tanks, bulldozing through substrate. The adults like a lot of moisture in their diet, and a deep, coarse substrate (3" or more) is recommend for optimal breeding. One of the most amusing parts of keeping this species is feeding time; Anything placed on the surface of the substrate is dragged under by a hoard of hungry nymphs. Adults and nymphs cannot climb or fly.
Starter set (15 mixed): $10
Starter colony (40 mixed): $20
Archimandrita tesselata
Giant Peppered Roach
Perhaps the best beginner species, this species is very easy to care for, breed, and they get huge! Adult males commonly reach 3", while females are slightly shorter but much wider and heavier. Males can fly but don't tend to, while females get too heavy to fly. Neither the nymphs nor the adults can climb. A nice, coarse substrate about 2 inches is sufficient, with plenty of crushed, dried, dead hardwood leaves. The females live for 1-2 years, while males only live one; A single female will produce a litter of 20-50 young two to three times a year.
Small nymphs: $2/each
Medium nymphs: $3/each
Nauphoeta cinerea
Lobster Roach
This little roach has made a name for itself due to itself incredibly fast, steady reproduction, softness, and palatability. Although this species can climb, it's fairly bad at it and is easily stopped by a slick barrier. Females can reach 1.5 inches long and can give birth to 15-40 babies. This is probably the easiest roach to care for: All that's needed is a container, something to hide under, and food! Heating will dramatically increase production.
Starter set (100 mixed): $10
Starter culture (500 mixed): $40
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"African Bullet Roach"
I've got to admit, when I first saw this species, I thought "Pfft, just another little roach." But after acquiring a few and watching them, they've become one of my absolute favorites. Intelligent and curious, these roaches have a cool hierarchy system with one or two males at the top. Adding to their appeal, the nymphs have blobs of red-orange down their sides that look like somebody dribbled paint on them! The females will lay egg cases prolifically, and anywhere from 7-15 young will hatch per case. This species can climb and is, as its name suggests, very fast, but a pleasure to watch.
Starter culture (10 mixed): $20
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Pycnoscelus nigra *Parthenogenic*
Shadow Roach
This lovely little species is almost identical to the surinam roach (
Pycnoscelus surinamensis.) Like its cousin, it is parthenogenic, and thus colonies can grow rapidly. The two species can be distinguished by
Pycnoscelus nigra's overall darker coloration, as well as the lack of a blotch of color on the last ventral abdominal segment. Care is the same as its cousin.
Starter culture (15 mixed): $20
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Byrsotria rothi
Roth's Giant Burrowing Roach
This species is big AND beautiful! The males' wing coloration ranges from black to brown to a beautiful light tan. The females get huge: Some of my girls are pushing 3"! This species likes a decent amount of chunky substrate and reproduces slowly. Good temperature and a steady supply of fruit will keep them happy. Although the adults have wings/stubs they cannot fly, and neither the adults nor the nymphs can climb.
Starter set (10 mixed): $20
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Schultesia lampyridiformis
Firefly Roach
In its native South America, this species mimics toxic fireflies to prevent being eaten. In captivity, they make decent feeders. The females have small litters but have them often, making cultures grow quickly. Good humidity, heat, and a loose substrate are vital to breeding these little guys. The females are twice the size of the males, with the largest barely hitting an inch. This species can climb and flutter, but they are fairly slow when climbing and do not tend to fly.
Starter colony (10 mixed): $15
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Byrsotria sp. "Cuba"
Cuban Burrowing Roach
Often mislabeled as
Byrsotria fumigata, this amicable species has males of two wing forms: long and short. Tiny males will be approximately 1.2" with the largest ones reaching 1.5". The females are huge compared to the males, reaching 2.25". This species breeds relatively quickly but is good for those in need of a feeder that reproduces steadily but won't swamp them with babies. The young take anywhere from 3-8 months to reach maturity with males hitting it long before females. Although the adults have wings/stubs they cannot fly, and neither the adults nor the nymphs can climb.
Starter set (10 mixed): $10
Large culture (40 mixed): $35
Elliptorhina javanica
Halloween Hissing Roach
New to the hobby and still quite rare, this species is a must-have for any enthusiast. The adult males and females come in two forms; red-pronotum (pictured) and black pronotum. The nymphs start off a faded black color and grow through a series of intriguing color changes, eventually becoming light yellow, orange, and black striped. Maturity is achieved after 3-7 months, and adult females will give birth to 15-30 nymphs every 2-3 months. Both the adults and nymphs can climb.
Large pairs: $10
Ophistoplatia orientalis
Red and Black Roach
That scientific name sure is a mouthful! This shy species likes things dark and somewhat damp. The nymphs undergo an astonishing metamorphosis of color. They start off a light tan and may sometimes turn slightly gray. Once they molt to adulthood, they become a stunning black with white borders on the pronotum and red ones on their abdomens. The females reach a little over 1.5" with males anywhere from 2/3 to 1/2 this size. The adults of this species are skilled climbers but the nymphs cannot climb at all.
Mixed nymphs: $4/each
6 Mixed nymphs: $20
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Panchlora nivea
Green Banana Roach
These are a nifty little roach. The adult males are about 3/4" long and the females are 1". Both sexes can climb and fly as adults; nymphs cannot do either. They love things hot and humid; they give live birth and reproduce incredibly well and make excellent feeders for chameleons and mantids.
Sold Out! These should be available again in 1-2 months!
To order, contact me at:
raptorandclawz@aim.com
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