Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Blaberus craniifer arrived today, and I just hope I'll be able to breed these guys. I'm also hoping my leopard geckos will enjoy the young when I have a big enough colony, but I'll have to wait and see. I took some pictures below. Sorry they're small: I resized them since the originals are 2048x1536. They're my first roaches so I was pretty surprised by the size of the adults.
Adult After Shed:

Adult Digging:

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*Erin*

I can tell you for sure that is not a death's head roach b.craniifer. Death's head roaches have black wings and a clown/skull marking on their thorax.

There are two species that it could be, but I'm not exactly sure because I cannot guesstimate the size of the adult from your pics. The one that Iam more leaning towards is Blaberus giganteus simply because I can see the dark marking midway down the wing that is not so obvious in the other species that I think it might be, Blaberus Discoidales.

There could be some positives and some negitives to not getting B.craniifer depending on what species you acctually have. If they are the b.gigantues then you might wanna complain and get your cash back (if you are looking for a feeder) cause they grow slow and get quite large. Now on the other hand, if it is b.discoidales you got a better feeder then the death's head. They grow faster and produce more offspring, but get a little smaller.

Here is a link to a site run by the roachman and one of his friends. They have pics and a comparison of all the species that I mentioned here. This should help you figure out what you acctually have.

http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/Roaches/

You can tell how much confusion goes on with death's head from the note that goes with its pic. Just scroll down.

You sure? I bought them from Dave Huntwork, and I've only heard good things about him. I know he also keeps the other blaberus species so he knows the difference. Well, now I'm confused. Any way I can verify which species they are?

>>I can tell you for sure that is not a death's head roach b.craniifer. Death's head roaches have black wings and a clown/skull marking on their thorax.
>>
>>There are two species that it could be, but I'm not exactly sure because I cannot guesstimate the size of the adult from your pics. The one that Iam more leaning towards is Blaberus giganteus simply because I can see the dark marking midway down the wing that is not so obvious in the other species that I think it might be, Blaberus Discoidales.
>>
>>There could be some positives and some negitives to not getting B.craniifer depending on what species you acctually have. If they are the b.gigantues then you might wanna complain and get your cash back (if you are looking for a feeder) cause they grow slow and get quite large. Now on the other hand, if it is b.discoidales you got a better feeder then the death's head. They grow faster and produce more offspring, but get a little smaller.
>>
>>Here is a link to a site run by the roachman and one of his friends. They have pics and a comparison of all the species that I mentioned here. This should help you figure out what you acctually have.
>>
>>http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/Roaches/
>>
>>You can tell how much confusion goes on with death's head from the note that goes with its pic. Just scroll down.
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*Erin*

They look like Blaberus giganteus. I think the adult was too large to be the other type Don't Blaberus giganteus get huge, though? I'll have to check some more.

>>You sure? I bought them from Dave Huntwork, and I've only heard good things about him. I know he also keeps the other blaberus species so he knows the difference. Well, now I'm confused. Any way I can verify which species they are?
>>
>>>>I can tell you for sure that is not a death's head roach b.craniifer. Death's head roaches have black wings and a clown/skull marking on their thorax.
>>>>
>>>>There are two species that it could be, but I'm not exactly sure because I cannot guesstimate the size of the adult from your pics. The one that Iam more leaning towards is Blaberus giganteus simply because I can see the dark marking midway down the wing that is not so obvious in the other species that I think it might be, Blaberus Discoidales.
>>>>
>>>>There could be some positives and some negitives to not getting B.craniifer depending on what species you acctually have. If they are the b.gigantues then you might wanna complain and get your cash back (if you are looking for a feeder) cause they grow slow and get quite large. Now on the other hand, if it is b.discoidales you got a better feeder then the death's head. They grow faster and produce more offspring, but get a little smaller.
>>>>
>>>>Here is a link to a site run by the roachman and one of his friends. They have pics and a comparison of all the species that I mentioned here. This should help you figure out what you acctually have.
>>>>
>>>>http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/Roaches/
>>>>
>>>>You can tell how much confusion goes on with death's head from the note that goes with its pic. Just scroll down.
>>-----
>>*Erin*
>>
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*Erin*

I'm sure that he wasnt trying to rip you or anything, but those aren't death's heads. Send him the to the site that I gave you and inform him of his mistake. Usually dealers like to make things right.

B.giganteus get from 3-4 inches and are not a feeder species at all, more of a pet then anything. They breed slow and take long to mature. You are better off calling him up and asking for some B.discoidales.

There are a couple of ways to do this really. You could take one of the adults to an entimologist at a local university or you could e-mail the Richie the roachman, he has over 47 years experiance in keeping roaches, so I trust him.
Richie's e-mail is just send him some pics, he will tell you for sure, although I'm about 85% sure that they are gigantues even without knowing the size
roachmanwillis@aol.com

Richie said they were gigantues. They aren't 4 inches yet, I don't think, but I guess they just aren't fully grown. I e-mailed the person about it so I'll wait for their reply.

>>There are a couple of ways to do this really. You could take one of the adults to an entimologist at a local university or you could e-mail the Richie the roachman, he has over 47 years experiance in keeping roaches, so I trust him.
>>Richie's e-mail is just send him some pics, he will tell you for sure, although I'm about 85% sure that they are gigantues even without knowing the size
>>roachmanwillis@aol.com
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*Erin*

If your b.giganteus have wings then they are adults. They dont always get to be massive 4 inchers, but occasionally I find a few of mine that get close or pass it. As with most species (if not all) in this genus, when the nymphs get wings, they are adults and do not molt any more.

np

Just one more thing. I think they're smaller than what I originally thought. I've never had roaches before so any seem big, but I measured the 2 adults that I could find and they were only 2.5 inches about. Maybe these are blaberus discoidales after all? I wouldn't mind too much if they were Giants, but after looking at them, they don't seem that huge (at least the 2 that I could get to measure). I'm still waiting to see what the guy I purchased them from says, though.

>>np
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*Erin*

Can you post a pic with one of the adults next to something that is commonly seen so I can get an idea of the size (A quarter, a Ruler). Even if they are smallish they could still be b.giganteus. Lots of people are seeing smaller roaches due to inbreeding, lack of a good diet and such. I have noticed that people often try to sell small b.giganteus as "light death head morph" and things like that.

Anyway, If you could post a pic or send it to radix_malign@hotmail.com I would appriciate it.

>>Can you post a pic with one of the adults next to something that is commonly seen so I can get an idea of the size (A quarter, a Ruler). Even if they are smallish they could still be b.giganteus. Lots of people are seeing smaller roaches due to inbreeding, lack of a good diet and such. I have noticed that people often try to sell small b.giganteus as "light death head morph" and things like that.
>>
>>Anyway, If you could post a pic or send it to radix_malign@hotmail.com I would appriciate it.
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*Erin*

I received an e-mail and the person said they're a lighter strain of blaberus craniifer he has and they do occasionally have a dark one. He said he also raises blaberus giganteus and says those are larger.

>>>>Can you post a pic with one of the adults next to something that is commonly seen so I can get an idea of the size (A quarter, a Ruler). Even if they are smallish they could still be b.giganteus. Lots of people are seeing smaller roaches due to inbreeding, lack of a good diet and such. I have noticed that people often try to sell small b.giganteus as "light death head morph" and things like that.
>>>>
>>>>Anyway, If you could post a pic or send it to radix_malign@hotmail.com I would appriciate it.
>>-----
>>*Erin*
>>
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*Erin*

I am guessing you are not happy you didn't get the deathheads you wanted. The picture of your roach matches the Blaberus giganteus too much to doubt, but then again I am no expert. Someone probably sold him those roaches he has as deathheads and so he sells them as such. But doing that will give him a bad reputation of misrepresenting his roaches since people will be disappointed with the purchase not getting what they thought they were. I am sure the deathhead is more sought after than Blaberus giganteus so it would be profitable to say they were deathheads...

Anyways, I am sorry for your purchase and hope others don't feel excited of a new purchase only to be told by others that they didn't get what they were buying.

They are not discoids. I bought 3 dozen of these so called death heads from Dave. At the same time I bought his remaining discoids. I was bummed they where not death heads, but they where more of a hobby. I have a huge lobster feeding colony, even though I hate these climbers. I also have large orange spot, orange head, and 4-spot colonies. I can't preach enough how the orange spots(dubia) are the best non-climbing roach on the market. I have Besides true death heads I have most of the best non-climbers and these guys are the easy. It really helps that males and females are so different. On the giganteus you got. mine are breeding fine. You will probably just feed the babies at about a month old to your lizards. My orangeheads have also breed very well. I have noticed most East Coast people prefer discoids and death heads, and the West Coast people do better with the orangies. Must be the climate. If i could ever learn how to post pictures I will put my different species on here.
James

Interesting. Thanks for your help! Were your giganteus smaller than usual? Two of the adults I have are only 2.5 inches. Any idea what causes them to be smaller? I guess I'll just have to buy better feeders sometime in the future.

>>They are not discoids. I bought 3 dozen of these so called death heads from Dave. At the same time I bought his remaining discoids. I was bummed they where not death heads, but they where more of a hobby. I have a huge lobster feeding colony, even though I hate these climbers. I also have large orange spot, orange head, and 4-spot colonies. I can't preach enough how the orange spots(dubia) are the best non-climbing roach on the market. I have Besides true death heads I have most of the best non-climbers and these guys are the easy. It really helps that males and females are so different. On the giganteus you got. mine are breeding fine. You will probably just feed the babies at about a month old to your lizards. My orangeheads have also breed very well. I have noticed most East Coast people prefer discoids and death heads, and the West Coast people do better with the orangies. Must be the climate. If i could ever learn how to post pictures I will put my different species on here.
>>James
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*Erin*

As you are already finding out, the roaches you have are not true deathheads. Here is a post you might want to read on Allpet Roaches site that I would assume he would have known in advance that his roaches are not true deathheads.

http://members5.boardhost.com/allpetroaches/msg/247.html

I also heard that true deathheads don't breed great, but not sure if it was just one persons experience. I was going to order from this guy, but after time and someone emailing me that it is iffy that what he advertises as true deathheads are actually deathheads. It would be a shame if he keeps trying to sell them as deathheads.

Indeed, death's head roaches are not the best feeders, but they aren't the worst either. They do get some bulk to them, which is great when you are feeding larger herps/inverts. The way that I see it is that they aren't meant to be your sole supply of food for your insect eaters, but the come in handy when feeding the bigger ones. I have to say that my blaberus discoidales are my favorite feeders.

I only have a small colony of Blaptica dubia (4.7.3) for almost a month now. Still no babies and the heat here has been mean. I heat their cage at night so it doesn't drop below 80s and during the heat of the day their cage gets to about low 90s. I know it takes a while to establish but it is getting a little fustrating. I am thinking of getting a colony of discoid also.

When I first started buying roaches I learned the hard way to try to buy adults. If I was to do the whole thing over I would have bought adults and if none were available I would have bought 5 times the nymphs that I did buy.

Blaptica Dubia is definatly one of the better feeder roaches. Once you pop some adults out you will have plenty of nymphs, but I would let those nymphs grow up and have babies themselves before I used any for feeders. The whole process can take 6-12 months if you get nymphs

wow, that is a long time. Luckily I don't have any reptiles to feed roaches off to yet. I was hoping to get a colony of them going before getting something to eat them, but a year is a bit long. Either way, mine look like adults...except for the ones that are still juvie stage. I am going to give them a bigger cage this weekend so they got more room to move since a 5-gallon tank is tiny even for just the little amount I have.