Are Madagascar hissing cockroaches social or solitary?
When scientists Zuzana Varadinova, Daniel Frynta and Vaclav Stejskal undertook research focused on cockroaches, they proclaimed Blattaria to be universally gregarious insects, and some species are notably sociable critters. Not so Madagascar hissing cockroaches, despite the fact that they live in large colonies. Madagascar hissing cockroaches belonging to the Gromphadorhina-Princisia clade are perfectly content to live alone.
Like introverted humans, they are willing to hang out within their communities living solitary existences, with sex and reproduction one of the few reasons they mingle. Nocturnal and so intolerant of interlopers, marking and protecting their territory is a full-time job, even females tolerate their offspring just so long before the desire for solitude overwhelms their maternal instincts, a feeling understood by most parents.
Can Madagascar hissing cockroaches live alone?
They can and they do routinely, say hobbyists preferring these creatures to dogs and cats because they are so low maintenance. Owners say that their little pets don’t seem to get lonely and are perfectly content as long as they are kept warm, watered and fed. Further, solo living means they won’t be disturbed by tank mates when they molt, an activity that is best done alone because it is a sensitive process that, if interrupted, can stress hissing cockroaches and possibly harm them in the process.
Will they fight internally or eat each other?
New York Post journalist Jasmin K. Williams was given the unenviable task of profiling Madagascar hissing cockroaches, so she set off to grill Josh Charleton, assistant curator of mammals at the Bronx Zoo. His expertise filled in blanks that included the facts that these roaches are purely vegetarians. Unlike other roach species, cannibalism is not practiced. Their diet? Fruits, veggies and plant debris.
On the topic of conflict, these hissing cockroaches have a lot more in common with humans than you might think. They will fight over females and territory, reserving their most menacing hiss for interlopers who dare to approach, infiltrate or mess with either their space or their females. Charleton says that according to his observations, “When fighting other males, winners hiss more than losers.”
What happens in fight club stays in fight club
Assuming you’ve adopted a large quantity of roaches and that you would like to keep the fighting to a minimum, learn to recognize the signs that a female or territory is about to trigger a skirmish. Once you hear the telltale hiss, what follows isn’t pretty: males crash into each other, push, hiss and brawl. As a rule, nobody gets hurt, and you can tell the winner by the way he raises his body off the ground so there is no mistaking his dominance.
What’s an ideal number of hissing cockroaches; how much space do they need?
This is purely a matter of personal preference since these critters can do really well on their own, but if you’ve got a huge colony and you don’t mind doing some math, you can house up to 30 adult roaches comfortably within a 10 gallon aquarium or tank. Use that as a starting point when you shop for your container, terrarium or tank.
It’s okay to house a single hissing cockroach in a container this large, just as long as you choose one with a secure screen lid since they’re vertical climbers and won’t hesitate to escape. If your hissing menagerie is smaller, entomologists suggest you use a ratio of 12 adult roaches per 2.5 gallon tank or aquarium.
How to choose a terrarium
Even if you own a single roach and have no intention of adding more, your guy still needs room to function. Experts suggest lining the premises with between 1 and 2 inches of organic potting soil or reptile bedding and keeping the environment slightly moist. Replace the lining material monthly and keep tabs on potential mildew or mold buildup.
Hissing roaches need hiding places — whether they’re alone or in a crowd. Just about any organic material will do, so consider their needs a great way to recycle items like paper towel/toilet tissue rolls, egg crates, wood chunks and other materials that will allow the roaches to burrow and hide.
If you have yet to order your roach(es) and want to make sure the habitat will fit, remember that these are the largest cockroach species on the planet, with the potential to grow to 3-inches long, so no claustrophobic home turf, please.
How to maintain your hissing cockroach home
No “home sweet home” sign required if you follow simple instructions that kick in once you have acquired a proper container and lining materials. Your next step is using a petroleum jelly product along the edges of the tank because this barrier will deter even the most dedicated escape artist. Keep your home’s temperature between 70- and 85-degrees since these insects are native to Madagascar where rain forests remain hot and humid most of the year.
You don’t have to invest in a humidifier unless you insist because if you mist the enclosure every other day, that should take care of the environment within your roach community. That stated, if you are raising your pets in an area that is perpetually dry (think Nevada), your hissing roaches will appreciate a daily misting most of all.
Just for the ultimate hissing cockroach lover
Unless you live near the Bronx Zoo in New York City, you probably haven’t heard of the facility’s annual Valentine’s Day tribute to the humble Madagascar hissing cockroach. For $15, you can name one of the zoo’s 50,000 giant cockroaches housed in the Madagascar exhibit.
Spend a little more cash and snag a roach candle, roach-printed socks or both for the love of your life, but simply by naming a roach for your love could do the trick on its own. On the other hand, if you’d like to spend that money on yourself, you know how many more hissers could add to your family if you just skip the whole zoo thing, right?
