Swartspruit Plants and Reptiles

I recently started with some cockroaches. I bought a pair of Madagascar Hissing cockroaches and a few other cockroaches as an experiment to see if I can raise my own reptile food.

Info from Wikipedia on Madagascar hissing cockroaches

The Madagascar hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), also known as Hissing roach or simply Hisser, is one of the largest species of cockroach, reaching 2-3 inches at maturity. They are from the island of Madagascar off the African coast, where they can be found in rotting logs.

Unlike most cockroaches, they are wingless (though this is also true of some other wood-dwelling roaches). They are excellent climbers and can easily scale smooth glass. Males can be distinguished from females by their thicker, hairier antennae and the pronounced "horns" on the pronotum. Females carry the ootheca (egg case) internally, and release the young nymphs only after the eggs have hatched. As in some other wood roaches, the parents and offspring will commonly remain in close physical contact for extended periods of time. In captivity, these insects can live 5 years. They feed primarily on various types of vegetable material.

Madagascar cockroaches make great pets for children. They cannot fly like some species of roaches. They are not aggressive and do not bite; they are unable to harm humans in any way, in fact they often hide when disturbed. Coconut fiber or bark should be used as they are the most commonly used substrates, and branches, rocks, or pieces of cork bark should be placed in their tank to keep them stimulated.

A heating pad should be placed under part of the tank. Day temperatures should be 75-90°F. Night temperatures should be no lower than 68°F. Roaches that are exposed to lower temperatures become sluggish, so the higher the temperature, the more active the roach.

Fresh vegetables should be fed along with any kind of pellet food that is high in protein, mainly dry dog food. For water, place a small empty container in their tank and put a soaked sponge in it. It is also acceptable to give them water through moist foods such as vegetables or fruits. Oranges are especially useful for this because they do not mold as easily as other fruits.