Post by LadyViper on Aug 30, 2007 21:03:48 GMT -6
MADAGASCAR HISSING C@ckROACH CARE SHEET (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
RANGE & DESCRIPTION:
TROPICAL MADAGASCAR. AN ISLAND COUNTRY LOCATED OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF AFRICA.
MALES ARE THE SAME SIZE AS FEMALES AT MATURITY. YOUNG ARE 3/8" AT BIRTH WHILE ADULT SIZE IS 3-4" TOTAL BODY LENGTH. MALES HAVE TWO RAISED “HORNS" ON THEIR PROTHORAX WHILE FEMALES ARE SMOOTH IN THAT REGION AND HAVE A MORE ELONGATED BODY. THEY ARE WINGLESS AND THEREFORE CAN'T FLY LIKE SOME SPECIES OF ROACHES. THE HISSING SOUND IS MADE WHEN THEY QUICKLY MOVE AIR THROUGH SPECIAL VALVES IN THE SEGMENTS OF THEIR ABDOMEN.
THEY DO NOT BITE AND, IN FACT, DO THEIR VERY BEST TO HIDE WHEN DISTURBED.
CAGING:
FOR MAINTAINING A BREEDING COLONY YOU WILL NEED......
* ONE 18-GAL RUBBERMAID TOTE
* FIVE 12"x12" CARDBOARD EGG FLATS (like come with cricket shipments)
* ONE 6" FOOD DISH
* ONE 6" HALF QUART INVERTED JAR CHICK DRINKER
ON THE INSIDE UPPER WALL OF THE PLASTIC TOTE SMEAR A 2" BAND OF VASOLINE. THIS WILL PREVENT ROACHES OF ALL SIZES FROM ESCAPING AND ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR ANY TYPE OF CAGE COVER. PLACE THE 5 EGG FLATS VERTICALLY (not horizontally or the roaches will get crushed in time) WITH LIKE SIDES FACING EACH OTHER SO THAT A CONDOMINIUM IS CREATED. THIS ALSO ALLOWS THEIR DRY FECAL PELLETS TO DROP TO THE CAGE FLOOR FOR EASY CLEANING. NOW INSTALL THE FOOD AND WATER DISHES SIDE-BY-SIDE, AT THE FRONT OF THE CAGE, IN THE SPACE THAT IS LEFT BY ONLY USING FIVE EGG FLATS. SUCH A CAGE SYSTEM CAN HOUSE 500 ADULT ROACHES EASILY.
TEMPERATURE & LIGHTING:
DAYS 85-96 F. NIGHTS NO LESS THAN 68 F. NO SPECIAL LIGHTING IS NEEDED. IF YOU ARE NOT SEEING BABIES THEN THEY ARE TOO COLD. CHECK TEMPS.
FOOD & WATER:
USE A FINELY GROUND CHICK OR HOG MEAL. KEEP FOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. FRESH VEGETABLES CAN BE USED, ALSO. REMEMBER, YOU MUST FEED A GOOD BALANCED DIET TO YOUR INSECTS INORDER TO PRODUCE HEALTHY REPTILES.
PLACE PAPER TOWELS, FOAM OR NYLON AQUARIUM FLOSS IN THE DRINKER RING TO PREVENT BABIES FROM DROWNING. KEEP WATER CLEAN AND AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.
GROWTH & REPRODUCTION:
THE 3/8" YOUNG ARE BORN ALIVE AND ARE NOT CANNABALIZED BY THE ADULTS. GESTATION IS 30 DAYS. 20-30 YOUNG ARE BORN AT A TIME. AT WARM TEMPERATURES THEY REACH ADULT SIZE IN 2-3 MONTHS. THE FEMALES PASS THE EMPTY EGG PACKET AFTER LAYING AND IT IS THEN EATEN BY THE COLONY MEMBERS. THESE ROACHES CAN LIVE AND REPRODUCE FOR 1-2 YEARS AND SOME MALES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LIVE 2-3 YEARS. ROACHES AT A SIZE OF 1-1 1/2" ARE PERFECT FOOD ITEMS FOR MANY REPTILE SPECIES.
Written by: Ron Tremper, Center for Reptile & Amphibian Propagation, Boerne, Texas
Reorder directly from Ronald's Roaches - lonestar.texas.net/~rtremper/roach.html
revised 2/00
RANGE & DESCRIPTION:
TROPICAL MADAGASCAR. AN ISLAND COUNTRY LOCATED OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF AFRICA.
MALES ARE THE SAME SIZE AS FEMALES AT MATURITY. YOUNG ARE 3/8" AT BIRTH WHILE ADULT SIZE IS 3-4" TOTAL BODY LENGTH. MALES HAVE TWO RAISED “HORNS" ON THEIR PROTHORAX WHILE FEMALES ARE SMOOTH IN THAT REGION AND HAVE A MORE ELONGATED BODY. THEY ARE WINGLESS AND THEREFORE CAN'T FLY LIKE SOME SPECIES OF ROACHES. THE HISSING SOUND IS MADE WHEN THEY QUICKLY MOVE AIR THROUGH SPECIAL VALVES IN THE SEGMENTS OF THEIR ABDOMEN.
THEY DO NOT BITE AND, IN FACT, DO THEIR VERY BEST TO HIDE WHEN DISTURBED.
CAGING:
FOR MAINTAINING A BREEDING COLONY YOU WILL NEED......
* ONE 18-GAL RUBBERMAID TOTE
* FIVE 12"x12" CARDBOARD EGG FLATS (like come with cricket shipments)
* ONE 6" FOOD DISH
* ONE 6" HALF QUART INVERTED JAR CHICK DRINKER
ON THE INSIDE UPPER WALL OF THE PLASTIC TOTE SMEAR A 2" BAND OF VASOLINE. THIS WILL PREVENT ROACHES OF ALL SIZES FROM ESCAPING AND ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR ANY TYPE OF CAGE COVER. PLACE THE 5 EGG FLATS VERTICALLY (not horizontally or the roaches will get crushed in time) WITH LIKE SIDES FACING EACH OTHER SO THAT A CONDOMINIUM IS CREATED. THIS ALSO ALLOWS THEIR DRY FECAL PELLETS TO DROP TO THE CAGE FLOOR FOR EASY CLEANING. NOW INSTALL THE FOOD AND WATER DISHES SIDE-BY-SIDE, AT THE FRONT OF THE CAGE, IN THE SPACE THAT IS LEFT BY ONLY USING FIVE EGG FLATS. SUCH A CAGE SYSTEM CAN HOUSE 500 ADULT ROACHES EASILY.
TEMPERATURE & LIGHTING:
DAYS 85-96 F. NIGHTS NO LESS THAN 68 F. NO SPECIAL LIGHTING IS NEEDED. IF YOU ARE NOT SEEING BABIES THEN THEY ARE TOO COLD. CHECK TEMPS.
FOOD & WATER:
USE A FINELY GROUND CHICK OR HOG MEAL. KEEP FOOD AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. FRESH VEGETABLES CAN BE USED, ALSO. REMEMBER, YOU MUST FEED A GOOD BALANCED DIET TO YOUR INSECTS INORDER TO PRODUCE HEALTHY REPTILES.
PLACE PAPER TOWELS, FOAM OR NYLON AQUARIUM FLOSS IN THE DRINKER RING TO PREVENT BABIES FROM DROWNING. KEEP WATER CLEAN AND AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES.
GROWTH & REPRODUCTION:
THE 3/8" YOUNG ARE BORN ALIVE AND ARE NOT CANNABALIZED BY THE ADULTS. GESTATION IS 30 DAYS. 20-30 YOUNG ARE BORN AT A TIME. AT WARM TEMPERATURES THEY REACH ADULT SIZE IN 2-3 MONTHS. THE FEMALES PASS THE EMPTY EGG PACKET AFTER LAYING AND IT IS THEN EATEN BY THE COLONY MEMBERS. THESE ROACHES CAN LIVE AND REPRODUCE FOR 1-2 YEARS AND SOME MALES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LIVE 2-3 YEARS. ROACHES AT A SIZE OF 1-1 1/2" ARE PERFECT FOOD ITEMS FOR MANY REPTILE SPECIES.
Written by: Ron Tremper, Center for Reptile & Amphibian Propagation, Boerne, Texas
Reorder directly from Ronald's Roaches - lonestar.texas.net/~rtremper/roach.html
revised 2/00