Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches For Sale UK (Gromphadorhina sp) - Nymphs / Adults

• Madagascan Tropical Origins: Native to the tropical island of Madagascar, specifically the humid forest floors and rotting logs of the island's diverse ecosystems. Biologically, they are adapted to a life of scavenging in the leaf litter, where they play a vital role in nutrient cycling by breaking down fallen fruit and decaying wood. There are around 20 species of hissing cockroach, with G. portentosa, and G. grandidieri being the most common in the pet trade. However, these species commonly interbreed creating hybrids, making identification extremely challenging at times!

 

• Heavily Armoured Anatomy: Reaching lengths of up to 7.5cm, these are among the largest cockroach species in the world. They possess a thick, chitinous exoskeleton and a broad, shield-like pronotum (the plate behind the head). Males are easily distinguished by their prominent "horns," which they use to wrestle for territory and mates. 

 

• Intraspecific Competition and Evolutionary Trade-offs: Interestingly however, new research has shown that males with smaller horns compensate with larger gonads which may help when fertilising female hissers! This suggests a dual-mating strategy where "major" males invest energy into physical weaponry to guard females, while "minor" males with smaller horns invest in higher sperm production to ensure reproductive success—a classic example of nature balancing physical strength with biological fertility.

 

• The Hissing Mechanism: Their most famous trait is the ability to produce a loud "hiss" by forcefully expelling air through specialised respiratory openings (spiracles) on their abdomen. In the wild, this is used as a sophisticated communication tool with different types of hisses used for different situations, with the most commonly observed being mating, fighting, and responding to threats. Males will hiss at each other during fights, with the dominant male able to hiss more frequently. If one male refuses to back down, then both males will butt horns until one eventually gives up and runs away.

 

• Nymphs: Nymphs are a dark brown / black in colour, and undergo 6 moults before reaching adulthood. They are a lot faster and shyer than the large adults.

 

• Symbiotic Mite Relationships: Hissers have a symbiotic relationship with a species of mite, Gromphadorholaelaps schaeferi, which are believed to keep the exoskeleton clean of certain debris and food that encourages fungal growth. So, if you notice small mites on your hissing cockroaches, do not panic and leave them be! Studies suggest that removing these mites can actually decrease the overall health of the colony, making them a vital, microscopic part of your ecosystem.

 

• Climbing and Surface Area: These cockroaches are exceptional climbers, equipped with specialised pads on their feet that allow them to scale almost any surface, including smooth glass and acrylic.

 

• Internal Incubation and Ootheca Ventilation: Unlike many cockroach species that drop a leathery egg case (ootheca) and leave it to hatch, Gromphadorhina exhibit a fascinating form of ovoviviparity. The female produces a long, pale ootheca containing up to 60 eggs, which she then pulls back into a specialised internal brood pouch to incubate. In a remarkable biological display, she will periodically extend the ootheca back out of her abdomen to provide the developing embryos with fresh air and regulated humidity. This internal protection ensures a significantly higher survival rate for the nymphs, who eventually emerge as tiny, white, fully formed "miniatures" of their parents. The young emerge from the females’ abdomen and can stay near the mother for some time. We notice that gravid females will tend to eat more leafy greens and have visibly plumper abdomens, and females can have up to three litters per year under the right conditions.

 

• Long-Term Companions: With proper care, Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches can live for 3 to 5 years. They are a hardy, rewarding species that provides constant activity and interest in a well-maintained bioactive display.

• Lifespan: 2-5 years
• Adult Size: 6-9cm
• Status: captive bred
• Place of Origin: Madagascar
• Temperature: 22-30˚C
• Humidity: 60-80%
• Diet: hardwood leaf litter, various fruits and vegetables (melon, banana, pear, apple, cucumber, squash, carrot), mushrooms, various greens (romaine lettuce, cabbage, spinach), rotting hardwood, lichen, seed pods, protein (fish pellets, bee pollen, dried mealworms, fish flakes), jelly pots

The EntoScapes Way

 

• We keep a colony of around 20 adults and many nymphs in the same 60 x 40 x 40cm tank which is a converted aquarium with mesh covering any escape points, at 22-26˚C and 70-80% humidity, depending on time of year. 

 

• You can use a heat mat on the SIDE of the tank if your house is on the cooler side. A smaller colony of 5-10 roaches will be just fine in a 30x20cm tank. 

 

• We like to use plenty of large cork bark, fake and live plants, and lichen branches to provide both climbing and hiding opportunities. These hissers are nocturnal and are naturally found hiding in rotten logs in the wild, so they will greatly appreciate it!

 

• We suggest keeping the substrate damp (not soaking!) by misting 1-2 times a week or when the top layer of substrate is dry.  

 

• We have had success using both our Rainforest and Millipede Edible substrates for these, but a substrate that is rich in organic material and can hold moisture well is also suitable. A substrate depth of around 5cm is sufficient, but deeper allows the adults and nymphs to bury themselves more comfortably if need be.  Leaf litter, moss and botanicals can be added on top of the substrate for a more natural feel and will also be munched on by roaches.  

 

• We feed our colony twice a week with fresh fruits and veggies, along with a good sprinkling of protein around the whole enclosure to encourage foraging. You can also provide food in dish. Start with a small amount of food and monitor how long it takes your colony to finish it before increasing portions. Not only does this help you reduce food waste it also prevents outbreaks of mites and fruit flies.  

 

• We recommend staying on top of spot cleaning and remove any uneaten food and waste from the enclosure before it moulds, which is around twice a week for us. Roaches are prone to fungal infections and a dirty environment is a quick way to harm your colony. Substrate can be changed once every 1-2 months or when it needs it. 

 

• We advise adding a clean-up crew like springtails and dwarf white isopods to help keep the substrate maintained and your tank clean and healthy!  

• More in depth info on shipping and returns can be found on the shipping and T&Cs, and FAQ page

 

• Our shipping rates are determined by the total weight of your cart at checkout.

 

The shipping bands are:

 

• 0-1kg - £4.99

• 1-2kg - £5.99

• 2-10kg - £7.99

• 10kg+ - £9.99

 

• Live orders and dry goods will be posted every TUESDAY. We will contact you if anything changes due to bad weather or delays. 

 

• LIVE ORDERS- sent with Royal Mail Tracked 24 and usually arrive next day after dispatch 

 

• DRY GOODS & ENCLOSURES- sent with Royal Mail Tracked 48 and usually arrive 2 working days after dispatch. We will contact you regarding a dispatch day for enclosure orders.