Madagascar hissing cockroaches: features of keeping at home

How do they look

They are really huge - they can reach 9 cm in length and weigh about 60 grams. Look at the photos, how big they are! Due to its size, the Madagascar cockroach looks more like a beetle.
Like all cockroaches, the body consists of a head, chest and abdomen. It has six legs covered with sticky villi - thanks to them, the Madagascar hissing cockroach can climb even the most slippery surface.

Their characteristic feature is the complete absence of wings at all stages of their development. Sometimes it is even difficult to distinguish an older nymph from an adult insect. The darker color of the nymph and the more dense physique may be different.

Another characteristic feature of the cockroach is a powerful chitinous shell on the cephalothorax, an extensive abdomen. The nymphs still lack the decoration of an adult male insect - outgrowths in the upper part of the chest compartment. They look a bit like horns. And of course, an indispensable attribute of all cockroaches is a long luxurious mustache that is constantly in motion - there are touch receptors along their entire length. In males, they are often broken - due to battles for the female.

In the Madagascar cockroach, the female is larger - there should be enough room in the abdomen for bearing offspring. In nymphs, it is impossible to determine the difference between the sexes.

Larvae life

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is a member of the cockroach genus that lives exclusively in Madagascar. In other countries, the insect can only be seen in terrariums.

A distinctive feature of the Madagascar is the absence of wings. Moreover, even adults do not have them, which makes them different from the overwhelming majority of "relatives", for example, the Mexican cockroach, which even knows how to fly.

The cockroach has a peculiar appearance: it has a thick belly, and the upper part of the body is hidden under a chitinous shield. But its main feature is its size - some individuals grow up to 9 cm, thanks to which the Madagascan got another name - a giant cockroach.

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The life cycle of Madagascar's effervescent cockroach is long, different from most other cockroaches. Females give birth to live individuals. They carry newborn nymphs for about 60 days until they appear as first stage impones. One female can produce 30-60 nymphs. This insect has an incomplete life cycle: eggs, nymphs, adulthood. Nymphs and adults are wingless, live from 2 to 5 years.

After 50-70 days, larvae appear, which are called nymphs. First of all, the nymphs eat the remains of the ooteca. This is their first food. For several days the nymphs stay near their mother, and then they creep away. Up to 40 cubs can appear in one brood, but not all survive. To become an adult, a nymph goes through 6 molts.

She eats her old shell every time. Adults usually do not touch small nymphs, but food should always be in the feeder - just in case. Nymphs mature in 6-12 months. It depends on the conditions of their maintenance and, first of all, on the air temperature. The lower the temperature, the slower the nymph develops. If insects are kept in the right conditions, then full-fledged Madagascar cockroaches will grow. Photos will allow you to evaluate the appearance of such a pet.

Lifestyle

Madagascar cockroach lifestyle

In natural conditions, these are nocturnal animals. During the day they hide under the bark of trees, at night they go out to fish. In case of danger to life, they snuggle tightly to the branch, it becomes very difficult to tear them off from it. Their shell is very slippery, the bird's beak slips off it. The cockroach scares off annoying pursuers with its sharp and loud hiss. It can scare even experienced terrarium keepers. During the time that the pursuer comes to his senses, the cockroach manages to hide.

Females use "battle hiss" only for self-defense purposes. Males in colonies have a clear hierarchy in relationships, frequent fights for the female. If one of the rivals admits defeat in battle, he simply turns over on his back, showing his abdomen. The opponent immediately leaves him and ends the fight. The defeated one is looking for a new female.

Under natural conditions, the Madagascar cockroach lives on average 1.5-2 years. In a terrarium, where they have no natural enemies, they can even live up to 4-5 years.

These insects are absolutely harmless to humans. They don't bite, they can't do any harm.

Description

The homeland of these insects is the island of Madagascar. In other regions of the Earth, they are not found, except that they can accidentally get there in boxes with tropical fruits. In their natural environment they live in decaying deciduous litter, in rotten logs. This is a whole class, there are about 20 types of them.

It is used by insects at the moment of danger as a way of protection from predators, when courting a female and when fighting with other males. In an insect colony, a clear hierarchy is established among males.

Home content

Madagascar cockroach at home

Madagascar cockroaches are easy to keep. As long as you have only two or three of them, a regular 3-liter jar will suit you. Place a mixture of sand and peat or pine sawdust on the bottom. Be sure to add pieces of bark, wood dust - this will bring the conditions of their maintenance as close as possible to natural ones. Do not forget to just close it tightly with a lid, because any cockroaches easily move on any, even absolutely smooth surface. The peat layer should be about 3-4 cm. If it is difficult to get peat with sawdust, use compressed cat litter sawdust.

Try not to use softwood sawdust, especially cedar. Coniferous essential oil is bad for their health.

Maintain a constant temperature regime - at least +25. Humidity is moderate - 60-65%, not lower. To do this, spray the terrarium with a spray bottle several times a day. If the temperature regime is not maintained, and it is cooler in the terrarium, the cockroaches themselves will not die, but they will not reproduce either.

The litter should be changed - it contains the waste products of cockroaches. This should be done every 3-4 weeks, depending on the number of cockroaches.

When the colony begins to grow, reaches 30-40 individuals, a larger terrarium will be needed - perhaps a small aquarium - 20x30x40cm. It also needs to be tightly covered, otherwise your pets will easily scatter around the apartment.

Cockroaches are nocturnal animals, they need to create twilight. For this, toilet paper cylinders are ideal - they can hide in them in the bright time of the day. Cardboard egg trays are also suitable, from which you can make various designs in which cockroaches can hide. In addition, such structures significantly increase the area of ​​the terrarium, this will be important when the colony begins to grow.

If he still manages to break free, do not worry too much - he is completely safe for the people and animals around him, he does not interbreed with ordinary cockroaches.The cockroach will soon make itself felt with its hiss. So you will quickly spot the fugitive.

How to make and decorate an eternal mini-terrarium out of a light bulb?

Terrariums made of light bulbs look original and stylish. For the manufacture of such a terrarium, the most common bulbs of different sizes are suitable. To get started, we recommend trying the largest light bulb.

You will need:

• Large light bulb;
• Screwdriver;
• Round nose pliers;
• Scissors;
• Long tweezers.

Be sure to protect your eyes with glasses, as pieces of glass can fly off during work.

Step-by-step manufacturing:

1. Remove the metal seal on the bulb base.
2. Then use a screwdriver to break the inside of the bulb very carefully.
3. Use long tweezers to remove the "guts".
4. Work the hole well with a screwdriver so that there are no sharp edges.
5. For the stability of the bulb, make legs by dripping 2-4 drops of silicone glue.
6. Now pour sand, dry moss through the funnel, place the plants with long tweezers.
7. Small pebbles and plastic figures can be used as decor.
8. The mini-terrarium made of a light bulb can be placed on a stand. This will make it even more effective.

Mini terrarium in a light bulb

Reproduction

The Madagascar cockroach is viviparous. The female does not lay eggs; she carries her offspring in herself for about a month. She pushes out of herself 25-30 tiny soft nymph cockroaches. They are snow-white at first, but after a couple of hours they harden and darken. Newborn nymphs weigh less than a gram and reach 3-4 mm in length.

Nymphs grow rapidly and shed several times. At about the age of 6-7 months after emergence, the nymph molts for the last time, becoming an adult cockroach. If, during growth, the temperature regime was violated and there was inadequate nutrition, the nymph stage can drag on even up to a year.

You can keep nymphs and adults in the same terrarium - there is no cannibalism among these insects.

There is a type of mite that is found exclusively on the shell of the Madagascar cockroach. For a long time, entomologists considered it a parasite that feeds on the blood of a cockroach. It turned out to be much simpler - the tick eats everything the same as the Madagascar cockroach, and uses it only as a vehicle.

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How to feed cockroaches

There are no problems here. By analogy with domestic ones, it is not difficult to draw a conclusion on how to feed the Madagascar cockroaches. They eat the same things as the kitchen ones.

The use of leftovers from the master's table is a common practice, which greatly facilitates their maintenance.

All sorts of cereals, slices of bread, boiled potatoes - everything will go to work. Insects love variety too.

Appearance

This species is included in the list of the largest cockroaches. The largest representative reaches 6-10 cm in size. Females are always larger. The body of the imago is colored light brown, dark brown, almost black. Divided into segments. Nymphs differ from adults in body size, darker color. Otherwise, they look identical.

There are long mustaches on the head - pheromone receptors. Peculiar antennas help to navigate in space, find food, the opposite sex. The sense of smell is well developed. They know how to hiss. A photo of the Madagascar cockroach is presented below.

In the wild, they live on the trunks of trees, large shrubs. They hide during the day and intensify their activities in the evening. They feed on vegetation and fruits. Life expectancy in the wild is no more than 2 years. In captivity, insects live on average for 3 years, but there are centenarians - 6 years.

On a note!

Madagascar cockroach hisses.The formation of sound occurs due to a sharp contraction of the abdomen, the passage of air through the spiracles. Males hiss when fighting with rivals, to attract females, females in this way warn of danger.

Breeding at home

The Madagascar hissing cockroach lives well in captivity. Breeding does not require significant effort. They buy several pairs - females and males, and then wait for the replenishment of the family.

Keeping at home requires a sufficiently large terrarium or insectarium. They create a climate as close to natural as possible. The temperature is within +25 - +30 degrees Celsius.

Important!

At reduced rates, insects do not die, but they do not reproduce either. Exceeding more than +30 degrees leads to dehydration, death can occur.

Insects live well in room conditions with moderate humidity. The walls of the insectarium can be sprayed periodically. The abundance of water causes rotting of the litter, the growth of mold, pathogenic bacteria. The terrarium is located in a room out of direct sunlight.

Keeping and caring for Madagascar cockroaches is very simple. The terrarium is cleaned once a week. It consists in removing the old bedding, food debris, replacing with new ones. Necessary care - keeping the terrarium clean, feeding on time.

Arrangement of insectarium, terrarium

If you need to create an exotic corner in the apartment, buy a large glass terrarium. If only cockroaches are important, you can keep them in a regular aquarium with a lid, food container, plastic terrarium with ventilation holes.

A prerequisite is the absence of large holes, cracks, cracks. The optimal size of the house for 10 adult Madagascar cockroaches is 20 * 20 cm. The ventilation holes should not be more than 2.5 mm in diameter.

On a note!

If the structure is without a lid, the walls are lubricated by 5 cm from above with petroleum jelly or vegetable oil. When trying to escape, insects will slide down.

The insectarium must have bedding. Use sawdust from a pet store, napkins, coconut substrate, granular filler for rodents, cardboard, egg packaging. Madagascars willingly eat cellulose, so cardboard, paper will become a refuge and food. A piece of damp washcloth or cotton wool acts as a drinker. It is impossible to install a container with water, insects can drown, especially small cockroaches.

Feeding

The homemade Madagascar cockroach is an omnivorous creature, but with its own individual tastes. You can feed with fruits, vegetation, protein foods.

Diet of the Madagascar cockroach:

• egg white;
• meat;
• cottage cheese;
• diet sausage;
• fresh fruits, vegetables;
• cookies;
• dried fruits;
• bread crumbs.

To ensure adequate nutrition, pets are offered cucumbers, bananas, apples, lettuce, pear. They are treated to tangerines, pineapples, crackers, bread, boiled chicken. The huge mute does not differ in gluttony. Food in the terrarium is eaten for a very long time, so periodically it needs to be cleaned up, put fresh food.

Breeding process

For the right to possess a female, males arrange deadly battles. In the fight, they make frightening sounds, bite. In Madagascar cockroaches, only strong individuals mate. The seminal fluid in the female's body is stored in a special bag, from where it is gradually consumed. In the future, mating is not necessary for fertilization of eggs.

Embryos develop in a special department - ootheca. The larvae are born from the mother's body. She then drops the empty capsule. Newborns eat it.

From the moment of mating to the birth of cubs, 55 days pass. In one brood there are up to 30 pieces, but some of them die during molting.After giving birth, the birth of small cockroaches, the female takes care of them for a long time, protects them, fiercely hisses when trying to stroke, and can bite on the finger.

Lifestyle, appearance of cubs

Newborn Madagascar cockroaches constantly hide, eat very little. Outwardly, they are very small, light, almost white. After a few hours, the carapace hardens and darkens. In the second week of life, the cubs do not leave their mother, some of them climb onto their backs.

The larvae grow, periodically molt. Up to the adult stage, 8 molts are to be passed. The process is quite complex, requires maximum effort, so not all nymphs survive. The transformation of a larva into an adult takes from several months to 1 year.

Molting begins from a crack in the back. Gradually the seam diverges, the insect arches its body, slowly stretches its head and legs. The entire release process lasts 40 minutes. The cockroach comes out white with black eyes. For a day it becomes the same as other relatives.

Conditions for breeding in a terrarium

Subject to temperature requirements, humidity conditions, insects mate well, give birth, and develop. Adults, nymphs of different ages, larvae can be bred in one insectarium. Cannibalism in Madagascar cockroaches is not. You can regulate the number of insects using temperature. If it is below 20 degrees Celsius, adults feel fine, but do not reproduce.

On a note!

Madagascar cockroaches brighten before death. If such a nuance is noticed in pets, it is necessary to urgently change the conditions for the existence of insects. Otherwise, they will die>.

Differences between a female and a male

You can determine the sex by the appearance of insects, lifestyle, behavior. Females are several centimeters larger, the body is wide at the end, the color is brighter, on the head there are long, straight whiskers. Males have small processes on their heads - horns, whiskers are long, but broken, uneven, color is light brown. A pregnant female has an ooteca at the posterior end of the body, which she periodically pokes out of the anus, allowing the cubs to breathe.

You can distinguish a female from a male by behavior. Females are calmer, hissing only at the sight of danger. Males are aggressive towards each other, periodically arrange fights. You can determine the sex of maturing nymphs through several molts.

Reproduction features

The unusual breeding process of Madagascar cockroaches lies in the tendency to carry eggs inside the body. The eggs formed after fertilization stick together and form a separate compartment - the ooteca. It is found in the abdomen throughout the entire period of ripening and has a yellowish or white color.

Madagascar cockroaches make hissing sounds

On average, this period lasts about 50-70 days (about three months). The female is able to pull her out to ventilate. Pregnancy can be judged by the increased size of the individual and its swollen abdomen.

The gestation period depends on the climatic conditions. In warm climates, it is much less. The larvae begin to get out of the eggs inside the female, squeezing out with the remains of the ooteca. After birth, the beetles are white in color and up to several millimeters in size.

Immediately after birth, the insects feed on the remains of the ooteca, gradually acquiring the color characteristic of an adult beetle. In one litter, the female produces about 25 larvae. Subsequently, she vigilantly protects them. For several days they sit next to their mother, but as they grow older they leave to explore new territories.

The larvae molt up to 6 times during maturation. The shell cannot stretch, so it cracks and falls off as the insect grows. Beetles eat it, gradually acquiring a dark color.

The newly grown cover gradually hardens. Molting depends on the external conditions of habitation and lasts from six months to a year in general.The surface cover has 10 segmental areas articulated by soft tissues. The break along the back allows the formation of a new carapace.

One female Madagascar cockroach gives birth to 25 individuals at once

After the appearance of a new body, the head and eyes appear. At this time, they can be seen, although they were previously hidden. After that, the mustache and paws begin to stretch. The abdomen is in the shell longer than all parts of the body. The appearance of the insect changes significantly half an hour after molting.

The cockroach expands in breadth and acquires a flat structure. Its body is shortened, the folds between the segments are smoothed out, the abdomen is stretched. The entire period of forming a new look takes no more than 40 minutes. Individuals eat the discarded shell. It is necessary to strengthen the new shell and change its color. On the second day after molting, the individual will not differ from the rest of the larvae.

Message, report about cockroaches what to write?

Many of us have come across such an unpleasant insect as the cockroach. These unpleasant creatures live in human habitation. Currently, there are fewer cockroaches, thanks to modern pesticides. Previously, these parasitic insects lived in people's apartments, in the kitchen.

Animal cockroaches belong to the class of insects, the order of cockroaches. They are very ancient. Cockroaches have been familiar to people since the Paleozoic era.

The insect has a flattened body, reaching a length of six cm. The abdomen of the insect is elongated, soft. The legs are long, with five members. The cockroach runs very fast, thanks to the structure of its legs. There is even a cockroach race, as an attraction for the amusement of the public.

The cockroach has organs of vision and a well-developed oral cavity. The cockroach's mouth is equipped with an upper lip. And also it has jaws, with teeth, with which the cockroach successfully bites off and grinds solid food. The lower jaw is used by the insect to hold food inside the mouth. The cockroach has long antennae. Insects, with the help of whiskers, communicates with their relatives. The digestive organs of this insect are well developed. It has salivary glands, trachea, stomach, and intestines. At the end of the abdomen of the cockroach, hearing organs are developed.

In total, there are about 300 species of cockroaches in the world. There are about 53 species in Russia. Most of the species of cockroaches were brought to us from warm countries. Therefore, cockroaches live only in warm rooms. In human dwellings live: black, red and American cockroach. Cockroaches spread not without human help. They like to hide in his clothes or bag and thus move to another place.

A cockroach definitely needs warmth and moisture. But they do not like light, so they are nocturnal. Cockroaches feed on food and human excreta.

Cockroaches are very prolific. An adult female lays many eggs, a nymph emerges from them, which, after a few more stages, turns into an adult insect. The insect grows from two months to 7 years.

Cockroaches are carriers of many diseases, namely helminthiasis, dysentery and typhoid fever.

It is believed that cockroaches have evolved on Earth for millions of years. According to archaeological evidence, the early fossils, which closely resemble cockroaches, date from 350-400 million years ago. Thus, these insects thrive on Earth, experiencing all unfavorable conditions, since time immemorial. Scientists believe that cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion. Even though this is one of the unproven facts about cockroaches, research shows that these insects have a much higher radiation resistance than humans.

Cockroaches belong to the Blattaria order of insects. There are more than 4,000 species of cockroaches and among them about thirty species live side by side with humans.These insects are one of the most common pests in the home, but you may be surprised to learn that only four out of 4,000 species are common and common pests.

Food

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is not picky about food, it is easy to feed it - herbaceous plant food, fruits, leaves, flowers are suitable. Although, like all cockroaches, Madagascar is omnivorous, you should not offer them something completely inedible. Mix a little flour with water - the cockroach will love this food. So there will be no problems with its nutrition at any time of the year. It is only important to ensure that there is always free access to clean water in the terrarium - without moisture, the cockroach dies very quickly. But just putting a bowl of water will be wrong - the cockroach will drown in it. For them, you need to put a drinker, into the reservoir of which water will flow in droplets. Better yet, place a damp foam pad or sponge in the terrarium. Keep it moist at all times. Water from it will be enough for your pets.

If the colony is large, place several of these sponges.

It is also important to make sure that he does not have faded products.

Interesting information about cockroaches

These insects have a flat and elongated body. They have a very small head, most of which is the mouth. These insects have two eyes, two antennae and six legs. While some have two pairs of wings, other species may have only one pair or no wings at all.

The chitin of most cockroaches is black or brown. But, some of the tropical species are bright chitin, red, green or yellow in color. Sometimes you may come across albino cockroaches. These are cockroaches that shed chitin during the molting period. These insects molt several times a year when they outgrow their skins, and during this period they are white with black eyes. They restore chitin within 8-10 hours.

Cockroaches have white blood that flows freely through their body. In other words, they do not have blood vessels for conducting blood. Even the heart of this insect is represented by a single tube that pumps blood from the front to the back of the body.

Cockroaches have different senses on their bodies. While the antennae help them find food by recognizing smell and paving the way, the senses on the body help them sense touch. They have compound eyes that enable them to recognize movement. The eyes of this insect have about 4,000 lenses that help them see in all directions at the same time.

Cockroach data

The claws facilitate movement. The hairs on the legs are thought to act as sensitive sensors. You may have heard that a cockroach can live without a head. In part, this is so, since the insect's brain is not in the head, it is all over the body. The loss of the head will result in the loss of a small part of the blood for the insect, but the pests die within ten days, due to the lack of water, since it loses its mouth and organs for drinking, respectively.

Most cockroaches are nocturnal and avoid light, with the exception of the Asian group of insects. These insects prefer humid and warm places, while some of the tropical species adhere to high temperature environments. They can also leave an unpleasant odor behind. Since pests carry germs on their bodies, they can also carry diseases. In some people, the presence of cockroaches in an apartment can cause an allergic reaction. Thus, the infestation and spread of cockroaches must be prevented and controlled. These insects are believed to spend most of their time (about 70%) resting.

It has been observed that while resting, they keep their antennae pointing upward, spaced at a 60-degree angle. While cockroaches are eaten in some cultures, they are also used in traditional medicine. Cockroach tea is used to treat dropsy, and roasted cockroaches with garlic are used to treat indigestion. In some regions, oriental cockroach species are used in dry powder form to treat urinary tract diseases. Some species are used as a poultice on wounds. But they also have their own unique features. They can live for a month without food. They can hold their breath for more than forty minutes.

These insects can swim. One of the most common household cockroaches is the American cockroach. These are the largest insects of their kind, parasitizing the household. While most of them are omnivorous, there are some species that feed on wood, for example. Others eat everything, human food, paper, glue, clothing, paint, leather goods, soap, and even feces. You may have heard that cockroaches do not make a sound, but this statement is not true. While the cockroaches of Madagascar are famous for their hissing, others also know how to make noise. Hissing insects are used as pets. It is also one of the largest cockroach species. Australian giant cockroaches are one of the heaviest and largest species in the world.

We hope you find this information about cockroaches interesting and amazing. There are many other facts about these insects, and if you are very interested, you could do some in-depth research on this topic.

In the whirlwind of modern trends, exotic pets are gaining more and more popularity and, along with cats or dogs, become real pets. More and more extravagant pets can be found in apartments and houses. This includes the Madagascar hissing cockroach.

The insect emits characteristic sounds, which is why it is called hissing. Cockroaches are distinguished by their simplicity of content, but still, before, it is necessary to study in detail the features of their existence.

Molting

Insects often molt until they reach their maximum size. They undergo up to 8 molts per year. The body, enclosed in a chitinous shell, grows.

When the shell for an individual becomes tight, it bursts; a transverse crack appears on the back. You can determine that the pet will begin to shed by the color of the shell. It turns black.

The insect stretches its head, antennae, and forelimbs. Then, it frees the abdomen and hind limbs. A faded white specimen. All fabrics are soft. The pigmentation and hardness of the shell appears within 2-4 hours.

The white cockroach remains motionless for some time. He straightens the body, dries up, begins to gnaw chitin. The shell contains salts, protein and vitamins, which are necessary for individuals to form a new shell.

Exotic pet care is minimal. They need to be fed, to withstand a certain microclimate for them. The terrarium is cleaned once every 1-2 weeks. You don't have to arrange a drinker for them. Insects extract moisture from food.

The natural habitat of the insect and the features of life

Giant cockroaches live only in Madagascar, in the tropical forests of the island. In the process of evolution, the wings of insects completely disappeared, since there was no longer the need to fly from tree to tree. Hissing cockroaches have adapted to life under foliage, in rotten stumps and under driftwood.

They feed on the remains of fruits and vegetation. At the same time, the insects themselves are frequent prey of birds, so they hide during the day and go out at night in search of food.If the predator is nearby, the "Madagascan" tries to snuggle as tightly as possible to the surface of the earth, and the sliding shell prevents the bird from grabbing the prey with its paws.

In addition, the Madagascar cockroach is capable of making characteristic sounds if it senses an approaching danger. Through special organs (spiracles), the insect pushes out a portion of air, as a result of which a hiss appears.

Protective sounds can be made by females and males. Males also hiss while fighting for females. You can get acquainted with the habits of the Madagascar giants by watching the video.

Population and status of the species

Photo: Madagascar hissing cockroach

The Madagascar cockroach plays a role in the disposal of large amounts of decaying plant and animal matter in the rainforests of Madagascar. This species is part of the nutrient cycle in Malagasy forests. These forests are important sources of timber, water quality and other natural products.

Madagascar cockroaches are listed as Least Threatened by the IUCN, the world's leading conservation organization. This species is well known in Madagascar and has adapted quite well to changes in its habitat. However, deforestation is considered the most significant long-term threat to this and other forested species in Madagascar.

Since the Madagascar cockroach is only found in Madagascar, little effort has been made to conserve this species. This is due to political unrest. Since the Malagasy people were driven out by French colonialists in the 1960s, the country has gone from dictatorship to democracy. It is difficult for field biologists to explore the area due to the sparse network of passable roads. In recent years, thanks to "liberation" and international assistance to biologists, it has become easier to study Madagascar with an emphasis on the hissing cockroach. Madagascar cockroaches crowd in the forest. These foci of natural forest are dying from degradation and fragmentation, making Madagascar a top priority for conservation biologists.

The Madagascar cockroach is a large wingless cockroach from Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa. It is an interesting insect due to its appearance, behavior and way of communication. The Madagascar cockroach is easy to maintain and grow, making it ideal for keeping at home as a pet.

Tags:

• Blaberidae
• Blaberoidea
• Gromphadorhina
• Gromphadorhini
• Oxyhaloinae
• Panarthropoda
• Polyneoptera
• Bilaterally symmetrical
• Animals of Africa
• Forest animals
• Animals of Madagascar
• Animals starting with the letter M
• Animals starting with the letter T
• Animals of the Subequatorial Belt of the Southern Hemisphere
• Animals of the tropics
• Rainforest animals
• Animals of the Tropical Belt of the Southern Hemisphere
• Equatorial animals
• Interesting animals
• Winged insects
• Shedding
• Small animals
• Unusual animals
• Newwing insects
• Protostomes
• The smallest animals
• Cockroach
• Cockroach
• Trachein-breathing
• Amazing animals
• Arthropods
• Six-legged
• Exotic animals
• Eukaryotes
• Eumetazoi

Keeping the Madagascar cockroach at home

As a pet, the tropical giant has established itself on the positive side, since it does not require special care and high costs. You just need to know the habits and features of his life. Even a beginner in this business can take care of an insect.

They are absolutely harmless to humans: insects do not bite and do not emit toxic substances. Many owners have such pets specifically for feeding other domestic inhabitants: snakes, iguanas, spiders. Also, Madagascar cockroaches are bred for the purpose of participating in an entertaining action - cockroach races.

How to equip an exotic pet "shelter"?

A plastic container (insectarium), a terrarium, or even an ordinary aquarium covered with an oxygen-permeable mesh will do as a dwelling. Various structures are placed inside such a house for a reliable shelter for insects. It can be:

• driftwood;
• bark;
• cardboard cylinders;
• egg trays;
• facilities for aquariums.

It is better to grease the edges of the glass dwelling with sunflower oil or other slippery substance to prevent escape. It must be remembered that for the normal life of one individual, it is necessary to provide a space with a volume of 1 liter.

Cockroaches climb perfectly on any smooth surfaces, since their legs are equipped with special tenacious pads. During the day, pets hide in shelters, and at night they are activated. Their housing is best located away from direct sunlight.

Small sawdust should be used as bedding, since cockroaches prefer to live in places where a pleasant woody aroma reigns. Coconut substrate, sand, small pebbles are also suitable.

In this case, it is necessary to provide a suitable temperature regime (25-30 degrees) and humidity (65%). Such conditions are as close as possible to their habitat - the tropics of Madagascar - and contribute to effective reproduction.

To create normal humidity, it is necessary to spray the insect dwelling from the inside with warm water from a spray bottle once a week and periodically change the litter. Cockroaches can live at temperatures from 18 degrees, but the maximum value on the thermometer should not exceed 32 degrees.

What and how to feed and water a cockroach?

"Madagascars" are unpretentious in food. They happily eat pieces of fruits and vegetables, unsalted cereals, bread and corn sticks. They eat with appetite:

• bananas;
• carrot;
• apples;
• boiled eggs;
• dry food for fish;
• buckwheat;
• cabbage;
• dandelions.

The owner needs to ensure that the pets constantly have a variety of food. This is due to the peculiarities of some species of cockroaches, which sometimes prefer to eat their relative for lunch. If vegetables and fruits are absent in the diet of hissing cockroaches, they will die.

Do not feed exotic pets with dry cat food. This can harm cockroaches. It is forbidden to put a container with water inside the dwelling, since insects often drown in drinkers. It is enough to put a damp sponge on the bottom. You can put a shallow container with water, but lay out cotton wool there for safety.

How do tropical cockroaches breed at home?

Cockroaches are very fertile and viviparous, and do not require careful maintenance. The insectarium should have a temperature that resembles their native habitat (25-30 degrees). Then the insects will bear offspring.

The female bears eggs fertilized by the male in a special compartment of her abdomen called "ooteca". How many babies there will be and how soon they will be born is influenced by the temperature in the terrarium. Periodically, the female pushes the larvae into fresh air through the anus, then hides them back into the abdomen.

The period of gestation of larvae varies within 50–70 days. One offspring can consist of 20-30 two-millimeter cockroaches, covered with a soft layer of white carapace. The newborns eat the ooteca and soon become like their adult mother.

The white shell does not increase in size, so the nymphs throw it off several times and then eat it. Each "molt" adds a brighter color to the baby. In total, the individual will have 6 molts. Over time, the white Madagascar nymphs turn dark brown. This happens after 6-12 months.

Is it worth having such a pet

Whether or not to keep a Madagascar cockroach in the house is a rhetorical question.

If a hobby does not bother others, then why not.However, it is worth considering before you get such an original pet, weigh the pros and cons.

All for

The Madagascar hissing cockroach at home will not bring much trouble. Keeping it easier than, say, fish in an aquarium or canaries in a cage.

• they do not fly, unlike other cockroach species;
• do not emit an unpleasant odor;
• easy to hide the insect tray so as not to shock guests;
• easily reproduce, which is important if insects are bred to feed the inhabitants of the home terrarium - snakes, iguanas;
• do not get dirty in the house;
• do not bite, they cannot harm a person;
• you can sell quality individuals to the organizers of cockroach races.

Agencies for organizing holidays in Ukraine offer such an attraction, this is a new type of business.

While it is not very widespread, it is not cheap, and therefore the consumers are people with incomes above average. This entertainment is often arranged for corporate guests.

With such an attribute, in particular, the day of March 8 is celebrated, because the running season is precisely this spring month, in winter the insects are not active enough.

There are many countries in the world where cockroach racing is a common form of entertainment for the lower strata of the population, and it does not have to be a Madagascan.

In addition to the ones listed above, there are 2 more uses for cockroaches:

• for food;
• as a living decoration in the form of necklaces.

All against

There are no special contraindications. But if there are family members in the house for whom the neighborhood with these insects does not bring, to put it mildly, pleasure, then the answer is unequivocal - no. In addition, indoor cockroaches have been shown to cause asthma.

Whether this applies to the Madagascars is unknown. But in order to avoid trouble, if there are allergy sufferers in the house, it is better to refuse the content of Madagascar cockroaches.

Advantages and disadvantages of an unusual pet

Such exotic inhabitants do not bother their owners. Among the advantages of their content are:

• unpretentiousness in food;
• the possibility of existence in small containers;
• lack of unpleasant odors;
• safety for humans;
• low cost of individuals;
• originality and originality.

Some owners breed such insects for feeding to other exotic animals, since cockroaches give large offspring at a time. They are also high in protein.

Another reason for the acquisition of Madagascar cockroaches is their participation in the cockroach race. Some owners are very reckless and interested in breeding hardy and strong individuals - future champions of cross-country competitions.

Research has shown that the process of caring for and observing insects at home benefits human psychological health. Besides, keeping exotic pets is very fashionable.

There are practically no drawbacks in keeping an exotic animal. It must be remembered that some people may be allergic to insects, so if there is such a problem, it is better to give up the pet.

Today, buying a Madagascar cockroach is not a problem. They are sold everywhere:

• in pet stores;
• in poultry markets;
• in online stores.

Long-distance shipment can kill the insect, so you need to choose the seller who is as close to the house as possible. In addition to Madagascar cockroaches, marble, Turkmen, Mexican cockroaches are in demand among breeders.

To make cockroaches comfortable

The optimum temperature for cockroaches is 26-30 degrees. Cockroaches are very fond of warmth, so you need to make sure that they are comfortable. Try not to put the insectarium next to a window. Firstly, the coolness uncomfortable for pets can come from the window. Secondly, Madagascar cockroaches do not like bright light, since they are mainly "nocturnal" inhabitants.To maintain humidity in the insectarium, it is necessary to spray it with water at room temperature every other day.

Cockroaches are very accommodating, in order to avoid the escape of exotic pets, care must be taken to ensure that the insectarium is reliably protected. The insectarium can be covered with gauze, covered with a mosquito net, or made of a breathable wood or glass cover.

Cockroaches love a variety of hiding places. Create conditions for them that are as close to natural as possible with an abundance of foliage, twigs and fallen bark. By the way, pieces of tree bark in the insectarium will not only delight your pets, but also look beautiful, creating a special flavor.

Birch bark is ideal as it bends easily, providing a safe haven for Madakascar cockroaches.