Madgascar Hissing Cockroach Care Sheet

Distribution: 
Madagascar
Description: 
Madagascan Hissing Cockroach a.k.a Madgascar Hissing Cockroach a.k.a Hissers a.k.a. Gromphadorhina portentosa.
These are one of the most popular pet roaches today, Their docile nature and calm temperament make for an excellent pet. As their name implies, hissers can make a very audible hissing sound. Unlike most other insects that make noise by rubbing together body parts, hissers actually do hiss. They exhale air through their breathing holes.
Size: 
1/8th- 1/4 inch when born, adults can attain 4 inches in length and some slightly larger.
Lifespan: 
2-3 years is average although it is not uncommon for them to live as long as 5.
Difficulty Level: 
easy/moderate
Caging: 
Hissers can climb glass and plastic so a barrier is needed or an EXTREMELY tight fitting lid. I like to house all of my roaches in rubbermaid or sterlite containers with screened lids and I use Super Slick Roach Barrier to contain them. I suggest screening 80% of the lid as you can always cover part of it with a terry cloth towel to help retain humidity.
Substrate: 
I use egg crates positioned vertically for additional floor/living space. A substrate of coconut fiber (bed a beast, coconut coir) and sphagnum moss can be used as can other soil mixtures. If you use any kind of substrate from a hardware store or garden shop, MAKE SURE IT IS CHEMICAL FREE!
Required Temperatures: 
82 - 90 dregrees
Humidity: 
40%-50% you can keep a spray bottle handy to help keep humidity up in drier areas or soak the above mentioned terry cloth towel and place it over some of the screened lid. Wetting down the substrate periodically can help maintain proper humidity as well
Food Requirements: 
Like most roaches, hissers are decomposers, feeding on ripe fruit and other plant materials in the wild. I also keep my home made dry roach food available to them at all times. When feeding any fresh fruits or vegetables, do not put in more then they can eat in 24-36 hour period to avoid problems caused by rotten food. I also provide water gel to my roaches as a water source at all times.
Maintenance: 
Keep food and water available at all times. Clean out the waste as needed. I do not allow the waste to get any deeper then 1/2-3/4 of an inch.
Breeding Notes: 
Hissers are easy to breed and can have as many as 60 babies at a time. Hissers are live bearing, incubating their ootheca, or egg case, inside their abdomen until it is ready to hatch.