
Hissing Cockroach
Care Sheet

Madagascan hissing cockroach’s are not only seen as a pet but are also a main food source for Chameleons and other animals– the full extent of them as a food source has not been documented.
Both Male and Female hissing cockroaches produce a hissing sound, but males will generally only hiss during mating or fighting, females will also hiss when disturbed. Each cockroach has it’s own sound which they can distinguish from another.
They are extremely good at climbing and are even able to climb up sheer glass.
Hissing Cockroaches live in large colonies in the wild and are more than happy in a secure area with several being kept together.

HANDLING YOUR COCKROACH
Always wash your hands before handling your cockroach to prevent passing any harmful chemicals which could be on your hands. Hissing cockroaches are known in the reptile hobby as being quite docile and easy pets to handle and keep. They are fun to hold and will generally be happy to sit on your hand.
Just remember the legs can be quite spiky. Your cockroach will not bite you, but you may feel a pinch from their legs if they are gripping on to you. We always advise handling over the enclosure until you are used to handling your cockroach, just in case it drops from your hand.
Always wash your hands before and after handling your roach’s.

SEXING YOUR COCKROACH
There are some distinctive characteristics between male and female hissing cockroaches. These may be difficult to see to the untrained eye but after looking at the roach for a while you will start to spot the following:
Males have hairy antennae where as the females are smooth
Males have large horns on their bodies directly behind their heads
Females are much smoother than males and have much smaller bumps rather than horns.
Your cockroach will need to be around 2-3cm in order to be sexed.

HEALTH CHECK
Hissing cockroach’s are a very hardy invert who survive in most conditions and rarely suffer from health issues.
Ensure that your cockroach’s are sprayed daily to keep humidity levels to around 60-70%. Dehydration can kill cockroach’s and is the most common cause of illness. You can also supply bug grub or jelly pots to keep your cockroach’s hydrated.
Cockroach’s do shed and are very sensitive around this time. You may notice them shedding, they will be white when freshly shed. Never try to assist your roach with shedding and leave it alone if you notice it hiding lots as it may be trying to shed. If you interrupt an inverts shedding process it can cause to incorrect shedding and further health issues such as loss of limbs.

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