Gromphadorhina portentosa (Madagascar hissing cockroach)

Although the name of origin suggests tropical rainforests, the habitat of the Madagascar hissing cockroach is limited to the dry thorn forests in the east, which have a long dry season.

The animals are quite undemanding when it comes to keeping them, which of course doesn't mean that we can't have fun with the design. You can put them in a box with egg cartons and e.g. Use beech shavings as bedding. However, we clearly recommend deciduous forest humus with a layer of beech and oak leaves. Cork tubes and cork boxes for hiding and climbing.

The ventilation should be chosen so that no condensation forms on the lid or the panes. Very little is sprayed.

Everything is eaten. We offer fish flakes and wheat bran as dry food in bowls. In addition, once a week, for example. Blackberry vines, carrots, zucchini and potatoes. We advise against eating meat as it can lead to unwanted guests (humpback flies, maggots) and smells.

The temperature can be reached if, for example, Make a heating mat from the outside on one side of the container. This gives you a nice temperature gradient from left to right.

The animals are extreme disc climbers! So make sure that there is no possibility of escaping from the container/terrarium.

Gromphadorhina portentosa lives in symbiosis with a type of mite that usually sits on the legs and neck region and cleans the cockroach of leftover food. The mites die as soon as their host is no longer alive and do not suck blood from other animals.

They get their name from the hissing sound they produce by forcing air through their trachea at high pressure.

information

• Origin: Madagascar
• Size: 5-9cm
• Temperature: 24° C to 30°C
  
• Humidity: 40% to 70%
• Soil: Deciduous forest humus
• Terrarium/Box: At least 30x30x30 for 1-2 males and 3-4 females