Death Heads Cockroach - Blaberus craniifer Keeping and breeding Death Heads Cockroach - Blaberus craniifer
A
very large, beautiful cockroach, with a (suprisingly)
"death heads" type pattern on it's shell.
Very similar to the "discoid cockroach".
Excellent for using as display insects due to their
beauty. Adults can reach up to 3 inches long, with
dark glossy wing cases. Young are quite different
to adults, bearing a more red colouration to the adults.
The
death heads cockroach is very easy to look after, as
with most species of cockroach. Similar to the hissing
cockroach, they cannot climb the sides of glass/plastic
tanks, which makes them must safer to keep in the home.
Although they bare wings, they cannot actually fly either.
As with their natural habitat in South American,
they require a rotting leaf/log type substrate, like that
of a woodland or forest. A thick covering of soil or peat
can be used as the main substrate, as the nymphs will bury
themselves deep inside it. Logs, branches and dead leaves
can be provided which the adults will usually rustle under.
They will eat pretty much anything! But a staple diet of
vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, etc, can
be given, and also ceral based foods such as oats, cereal
and bread. Cat.dog food can also be a favourite, but this
can often smell in the enclosure. Temperatures of around
25c will do well, and spray the substrate every 3 days or
so, to keep it slightly damp.
Cockroaches
are often thought of as dirty creatures, but these are quite
different. With their beauty mixed with a great rearing
ease, they make great pets for the avid insect hobbyists.
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