Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

Yesterday I bought a dozen new roaches at a reptile show. The guy selling them didn't know the name of them or how to tell the sex of them. He did say they couldn't climb glass and although they have wings they can't fly.

I have been researching them on the forum and websites and think they are the false death head roaches (I can't remember how to spell the name, Blaberus D something) I can't find any info on sexing them at all, or if they lay eggs or are like hissers, and give live babies. I have been pretty lucky on my hisser colony and thought I'd try one of the softer bodied roaches. These guys are about the size of a half grown hisser, the adults have a tan head with a dark center. They have a dark area from the head area down the sides of the wings. The unwinged ones are speckled in row formations. They have a pattern on their heads that almost looks like a butterfly. The adults have no such pattern though.

Any advice or info on these guys would be greatly appreciated. I just bought a trio of veils and the breeder said they prefered the softer bodied roaches. I hope this was not just a sales pitch to get me to buy the roaches.

Thanks,
gaylynn

The description seems to match Blaberus discoidales (Discoid Roach). They are ovoviparous--produce an ootheca, but retract it back into the abdomen for incubation prior to hatching-out. They are very prolific & caring for them is very easy. They can not climb glass usually (as long as the glass has no imperfections or waterspots on it). Their care is almost identical to Hissers, but I provide my colonies with more protein (cat/dog chow, non-medicated chicken laying crumble). They tend to bite & nibble on each other's wings. I provide egg crating and a substrate of fir bark, but almost any organic substrate (except for cedar & other aromatic products) will work. The nymphs tend to enjoy burrowing into substrates. I provide water via vegs., greens, fruits(esp. oranges)and lightly spraying water into their bins 1-2X day. To encourage population growth, keep temps around 80-85 degrees F.
They are an excellent feeder insect & have a heck of a lot less odor than crickets. They are not as sensitive to temperature variations as crickets.
Goodluck

Hello,

Thank you for the info. Now I just need to know how to tell the males from the females. I watched them for awhile last night and noticed some flapping their wings up and down and doing a little dance. I assume these are the males but they don't have the "horns" that the hissers have and look identical to me. They all have short spikes on their butts but I don't notice any difference in size of these, or a difference in size of the legs like the hissers have. I hope I don't have a bunch of males and just one female. There are about 6 without wings and 6 with wings right now. One shed out and the shell didn't have wings but the newley emerged roach did so I have 7 with wings and 5 without now.

Thanks again for the info,

gaylynn

I believe that there is a difference in the last segment on the bottom of the abdomen. I believe, but not absolutely sure that males have a longer segment; the females last segment is shorter than the males. I believe that the wing-flapping trait is based on territoriality. You may be able to search for some info on the net re: sexing Blaberus spp.

the difference. I didn't notice it before, but as soon as you pointed it out it was easy. I was looking more at the little points that came out the side. I was thinking that some looked a little closer together and it IS the males that are like that, but your way is MUCH easier.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You solved my problems.

gaylynn