Hissing Cockroaches
Facts About The Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches You May Not Know
Hissing cockroaches are indigenes to Madagascar, and have become an extremely popular pet amongst insect enthusiasts throughout the United States. They are hand raised, sold, bred, and adored by children and adults alike, and I suppose the only question that we queasy folk can ask is...why?
Madagascar hissing cockroaches do not have the defensive scent glands that are a prominent problem with most other species of roach. For protection and for fighting during mating season, the male hissing roach is adorned with two hard lump horns on the top of his head, or thorax. He also has the ability to make an extremely intimidating hissing noise by forcing air through little holes on the abdomen called spiracles. This noise is quite convincingly creepy, and is his best defense both in the wild and in captivity.
Hissing cockroaches can reach over five inches long, with the average adult male measuring in on the shorter side at around 3 inches. The smaller size of the male is attributed to the fact that he does not live as long, and that he begins mating much sooner than does the female. Hissing cockroaches are herbivorous creatures, and also have a very unique way of hatching their young. Though the young are developed in eggs, the eggs actually hatch with the mother’s abdomen and are released as live young. This ovoviviparous behavior is very unusual in the insect kingdom, and these fine specimens are a wonder to watch.
Owning hissing cockroaches is almost the equivalent of owning a hard shelled rodent, for their size and amiability are quite shocking. They are absolutely gigantic, and can easily span the length of a child’s hand. Their lifespan can range from 3 to 5 years, giving them the perfect placement as adored pets. These roaches do not bite, they are fed vegetarian pellets, and they are quite docile when kept separate during the mating season. During this time, nature rules all and the males will engage in warfare if allowed.
Hissing cockroaches undergo at least 6 molts while evolving from their nymph stage to adulthood, and each molt leaves the roach extremely soft and vulnerable for several hours, or until the newly exposed exoskeleton hardens. The roach is purely white during this soft period, and the color begins to develop in patches as the hard skin dries. Also, unlike most creatures in the insect world, the color of the hissing cockroach is determined by the diet he is fed. When fed deeper colors, he is darker then when fed lightly colored foods. There is nothing genetic about the color variances of this species. If you get the chance, you should check one of these harmless wonders out for yourself.