Dubia & Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Care Guide | How to Keep Feeder Insects and Pet Cockroaches | ブリちょく
Exotic Invertebrates| ✍️ BreederDirect Editorial
Dubia & Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Care Guide | How to Keep Feeder Insects and Pet Cockroaches
A comprehensive guide to caring for Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) and Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa), popular as feeder insects for reptiles and amphibians and as ornamental pets. Covers essentials from container selection and temperature management to feeding, home breeding, feeder colony maintenance, and proper disposal methods—a practical guide for successfully keeping and breeding cockroach species.
Key Takeaways
A comprehensive guide to caring for Dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) and Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa), popular as feeder insects for reptiles and amphibians and as ornamental pets. Covers essentials from container selection and temperature management to feeding, home breeding, feeder colony maintenance, and proper disposal methods—a practical guide for successfully keeping and breeding cockroach species.
What Are Dubias? The World of Pet Cockroaches
While many find cockroaches unsettling, among reptile, amphibian, and large insect keepers, cockroach species such as Dubias (Blaptica dubia) and Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa) are valued as important feeder insects. Beyond their nutritional role, these insects possess high ornamental value, and a growing community of enthusiasts enjoys keeping cockroaches as pets.
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BreederDirect Editorial
The BreederDirect editorial team specializes in care information for animals, covering veterinary care and breeding to deliver beginner-friendly guides.
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Citrus fruits (low palatability; excess can upset digestion)
For water, gel-based water crystals prevent drowning while providing stable hydration. If using a water dish, keep water shallow or place a cotton pad inside.
Breeding
Dubias are ovoviviparous (females carry eggs internally and give birth to live nymphs).
Females produce 20–35 nymphs per brood
Gestation period: approximately 65 days (at 28–30°C)
Time to maturity: 5–6 months at 28°C to 1 year at lower temperatures
Maintain a male-to-female ratio of 1:3–5 for colony sustainability. Too few males reduce mating opportunities; too many cause male-to-male competition and stress.
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Hissing Cockroach) Care
Basic Information
Item
Details
Scientific name
Gromphadorhina portentosa
Size
5–8 cm
Lifespan
2–5 years
Characteristics
Produces a distinctive "hissing" sound by expelling air through abdominal spiracles
Ideal temperature
25–30°C
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are highly popular pets due to their impressive size and distinctive hissing sound. Since they can climb walls (including glass), secure the enclosure with a tight-fitting lid.
Appeal as Pets
Slow, docile movements (can be handled)
Many individuals don't flee when touched and relax on your hand
Visually striking presence; enjoyable as display insects
Male-to-male hissing battles are a highlight to observe
Habitat Requirements
Glass or plastic terrarium (30×20×30 cm or larger)
Tight-fitting lid is essential (due to wall-climbing ability)
Driftwood or bark pieces as shelter
Damp sphagnum moss in one corner helps maintain humidity
Feeding
Feed vegetables, fruits, and commercial foods (like dog food) similar to Dubias. Offer food 2–3 times per week and remove uneaten portions the next day to prevent spoilage.
Legal Considerations and Precautions
While some non-native cockroach species including Dubias are not regulated under invasive species law, care must be taken to prevent escapes into the wild and ensure proper husbandry. If disposal is necessary, freeze the insects for 24+ hours before placing in regular combustible waste.
Home-breeding cockroach feeder insects significantly reduces the cost of keeping reptiles and amphibians. While there may be initial hesitation, many keepers find themselves developing unexpected affection for these creatures once they begin breeding.
