Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches (Gromphadorhina sp.) - Nymphs / Adults

Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are the largest species of cockroach in the world, originating from the island of Madagascar. There are around 20 species of hissing cockroach, with G. portentosa, and G. oblongonota being the most common in the pet trade. However, these species commonly interbreed creating hybrids, and many hobbyists still confuse the two species making identification extremely challenging at times! The reason we have stated that the individuals we keep are Gromphadorhina sp is because we have received adult hissers from various sources without a true indentifcation, making it hard to rule out the possibility of hybrids. We know some of our individuals are wide-horned hissers (G. oblongonota), so nymphs and adults will be a variety of this and other species.
 
Nymphs are a dark brown, grey colour, and undergo 6 moults before reaching adulthood. Once mature, adults are a rich terracotta brown colour, with males possessing large, pointed horns on their pronotum. 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! Hissing cockroaches are unique in their method of communicating as they push air out of their spiracles, or ‘breathing holes’, which is rarely seen in invertebrates. There are 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 hissing more frequently. If one male refuses to back down, then both males will butt horns until one eventually gives up and runs away.
 
Interestingly however, new research has shown that males with smaller horns compensate with larger testicals which may help when fertilising female hissers! Female hissers will internally incubate their eggs in an ootheca for around 60-70 days, or egg sac, and each sac can contain up to 60 nymphs! 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.
 
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( melon, banana, pear, apple, cucumber), various greens (romaine lettuce, spinach), rotting hardwood, lichen, seed pods, protein (fish pellets, bee pollen, fish flakes), jelly pots