There are many reasons why Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are fantastic pets for children and adults. They are harmless, docile, easy-to-care-for creatures and are an excellent introduction to the world of insect keeping. Hissing cockroaches have fascinating behavior and thrive in captivity, living alone or in a group. If you’re considering bringing one of these cute little critters home, dive into the list below of eight facts about keeping Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches.
1. Hissing Cockroaches Are Giant Insects
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are also called Giant Madagascar Cockroaches or Hissers. They are a species of arthropod. These giant bugs grow up to four inches long and have a hard exoskeleton, which comes in many shades of brown, red, and black. As their name suggests, they are native to Madagascar, where they live in tropical forest undergrowth. Hissers don’t have wings, so they can’t fly or jump. Domestic roaches live for up to five years and are most active at night.
2. Hissing Cockroaches Are Excellent for Beginners
There are many reasons why Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are an excellent choice for beginner pet insect keepers. These unique inverts are incredibly hardy and adaptable, rarely get ill, and thrive in captivity. They have simple care needs, seem to enjoy being handled, and are inexpensive and readily available. Before choosing a hissing cockroach, however, you should check the laws of owning one in your state. Some states have regulations about Hissing Cockroaches, and you may need a permit to keep them.
3. These Cockroaches Are Easy to Maintain
Hissing Cockroaches are easy to care for because they don’t have complex care needs, and their setups are straightforward and inexpensive. You need a five-to-ten-gallon enclosed vivarium or terrarium to keep them in with a secure lid and plenty of ventilation.
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches need a warm environment of around 75 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so you may need to use a heat mat if you live in a cooler climate. They like a humid environment of around 60 – 70 percent; if they get too dry, you may have to mist the chamber with a spray bottle. A dehydrated cockroach looks dry and wrinkled, and dehydration is the most common health issue with Hissers.
If you want to keep these insects as pets, the best substrates are aspen wood shavings, orchid bark, or coco fiber. You can also use beech chips, soil, or sand, but avoid pine or cedar shavings because they are toxic to Hissers. The substrate should be one to two inches deep because they like to burrow and hide under the surface.
4. Hissers Love Hiding
Hissing Cockroaches are active creatures and love hiding, so if you want happy roaches, you must provide plenty of hiding spaces. You can use leaves, branches, driftwood, and even small cardboard boxes or toilet paper tubes for them to hide in. Hissers live among leaves and branches in the wild, so you can also boost environmental enrichment by adding these to their enclosure. Roaches also love climbing and appreciate rocks to scurry over. Hissers are nocturnal creatures and don’t like bright light, so use warm, ambient lighting and never keep them in direct sunshine.
5. Hissers Have a Simple Diet
Madagascar Hissers have a simple diet and thrive on high-protein pellets with fresh fruit and veggies three to four times weekly. You can buy purpose-made roach pellets, but many owners give their Hissers dry dog food. You must wash fruits and veggies to remove pesticides before feeding them, and remove leftovers after 24 hours because rotten food attracts harmful bacteria.
Roaches must always have a fresh supply of non-chlorinated water, and the best way to give it to them is in a small, shallow dish. It’s a good idea to add a few rocks or ledges so they can climb out.
6. Hissing Cockroaches Are Easy to Handle
One of the most appealing things about keeping hissing cockroaches is that they are easy to handle. These docile creatures fit in the palm of your hand and aren’t fearful, so they don’t scurry away. Hissing Cockroaches don’t sting or bite, but you may feel a tickle as their legs grip your skin. Handle your roaches over a soft surface to prevent injury if you drop them, and always wash your hands before and after interacting with them.
The only time you shouldn’t handle Hissers is during molting. Young roaches molt several times before maturing at around six months old. Because of their soft, vulnerable body, roaches may be quiet and hide during this time. You must leave them alone when they shed.
7. Males Hiss More Than Females
If there’s one thing that makes these giant cockroaches stand out, it’s their unique hissing sound. The males hiss more than females, and they produce this quirky sound through breathing tubes called spiracles. Most insects breathe through spiracles, but hissing Cockroaches have modified ones, allowing them to make a hissing sound.
Female roaches only hiss when they feel threatened, while males have several different hisses to communicate with each other. Males hiss to attract females, to challenge males or when they feel threatened or alarmed. Sometimes, the whole group will hiss together. Hissing is perfectly normal behavior and a sign of a happy roach.
8. Hissing Cockroaches Love Living Together
Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are sociable insects and love living in a colony. If you keep a large group, you must give them plenty of space, and avoid keeping too many males together because they will fight. Hissers also seem to do well living alone.
Madagascar hissing cockroaches are prolific breeders, so if you don’t want hundreds of baby cockroaches, you shouldn’t keep males and females together. Females are less problematic than males, so unless you want to breed, you should keep a female-only group. Males are likely to fight with each other.
