Wolverine Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Have a large acrylic 55gl want to make a show cockroach tank. What are your recommendations? My considerations are size, beauty, color, activity, behavior. Already have a setup up for Blaberus giganteus which is coming along quite nice. Want to put in orders plan ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Although I'd imagine a 55 gallon full of Panchloras would be amazing, it would be difficult if not impossible to pull off. You'd have so many escapees... The first roach that comes to my mind is B. craniifer. Colorful, majestic, mysterious... Although they're very shy if you have enough that wouldn't be a problem. A. tesselata are really neat, sometimes come out during the day, but they're "only brown." Personally I think they're beautiful, but not stunning. Maybe B. fusca? Although those are very similar to B. giganteus... Maybe B. colloseus, though those have a color scheme more like the tesselata. How about a big tank full of hissers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Although I'd imagine a 55 gallon full of Panchloras would be amazing, it would be difficult if not impossible to pull off. You'd have so many escapees... The first roach that comes to my mind is B. craniifer. Colorful, majestic, mysterious... Although they're very shy if you have enough that wouldn't be a problem. A. tesselata are really neat, sometimes come out during the day, but they're "only brown." Personally I think they're beautiful, but not stunning. Maybe B. fusca? Although those are very similar to B. giganteus... Maybe B. colloseus, though those have a color scheme more like the tesselata. How about a big tank full of hissers? Already got one of those. Thinking about Lucihormetica (Hormetica) subcincta , Deropeltis paulinoi,or Schultesia lampyridiformis but like your ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Already got one of those. Thinking about Lucihormetica (Hormetica) subcincta , Deropeltis paulinoi,or Schultesia lampyridiformis but like your ideas. I think it would take you a couple years to get enough L. subcincta to fill a 55 gallon. D. paulinoi could work. S. lampyridiformis would probably have a high rate of escape like the Panchloras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 This tank is an old saltwater tank with just the two feeding wholes and piping which will be easily plugged. Read on some European site about magnets and microscreen this would be the perfect tank to try it out on. With my plan it will be extremely hard for any escapees but you would know best. Almost willing to risk it lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozymandias Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 mm might be possible then, any pictures of the tank to give use a better idea of what your talking about. you could also probably do more than one type of roach as long as thay cant interbreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Green banana roaches and firefly mimics with orangeheads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Green banana roaches and firefly mimics with orangeheads! WOW!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 WOW!!!!! And come to think about it, surinams would fit nicely too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Think I'm going to have to get more tanks lol. Cockroaches Rock!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 In my "show" tank (really just my largest ATM) I have five species of large showy roaches. Discoids, death heads, peppered, rothi, and dubia. They comingle very well and are breeding just fine. They like to sit under the red bulb lamps so they are almost always out in the open...well the adults anyway, nymphs and whatnot stay hidden in the substrate well. Because of the size of your tank I think most Blaberus or Eublaberus fit the bill, but like suggested already, death heads (true death heads) are a great choice. Either that or a tank full of Hissers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I think B. craniifer would suit your needs very well. Eublaberus is an interesting idea too, although I don't have any (yet) and so don't know how active they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I think B. craniifer would suit your needs very well. Eublaberus is an interesting idea too, although I don't have any (yet) and so don't know how active they are. They're VERY active--a great show species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Green banana roaches and firefly mimics with orangeheads! The orangeheads will eat all the others. If you wanted to recreate a Florida-esque environment, you could try P. nivea, P. australasiae, B. craniifer, B. discoidalis, E. floridana, and H. tenebricosa. I have a feeling that the last two would be outcompeted, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 The orangeheads will eat all the others. If you wanted to recreate a Florida-esque environment, you could try P. nivea, P. australasiae, B. craniifer, B. discoidalis, E. floridana, and H. tenebricosa. I have a feeling that the last two would be outcompeted, though. Yeah but they'd breed enough, wouldn't they? That sounds like a good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Decided to try all of them. Do discoids and deaths heads interbreed? Think I will keep separate cultures incase of decimation it will be a good experiment. My orangeheads get fed a lot of protein already even though it increases the smell lots of oranges and apples help. My major fear is crossbreeding species something I'm not interested in. Have overlooked peppered roaches until I posted this thread, now want a naturalistic tank of them with some hardwood leaves that aren't all crushed up would really show their camouflage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Decided to try all of them. Do discoids and deaths heads interbreed? Think I will keep separate cultures incase of decimation it will be a good experiment. My orangeheads get fed a lot of protein already even though it increases the smell lots of oranges and apples help. My major fear is crossbreeding species something I'm not interested in. Have overlooked peppered roaches until I posted this thread, now want a naturalistic tank of them with some hardwood leaves that aren't all crushed up would really show their camouflage. Okay cool. Congrats. Yes they have a (small) chance at interbreeding.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Discoids and death heads can mate but they cannot have offspring. That's the only reason mine are in the enclosure together. If there were fusca or giganteus I would say "do not" because they are more similar in reproductive parts. Zephyr posted a great link on a Blaberus species cross breeding experiment a while back, search for it... I'm on my phone otherwise I would for you, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Discoids and death heads can mate but they cannot have offspring. That's the only reason mine are in the enclosure together. If there were fusca or giganteus I would say "do not" because they are more similar in reproductive parts. Zephyr posted a great link on a Blaberus species cross breeding experiment a while back, search for it... I'm on my phone otherwise I would for you, lol. Very interesting. Well considering these ideas, the amount of tanks I really need is greatly reduced. Plus they will all be show tanks this is great. Thanks everybody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Very interesting. Well considering these ideas, the amount of tanks I really need is greatly reduced. Plus they will all be show tanks this is great. Thanks everybody! good luck...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allpet Roaches Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I think the best display would probably be a tank full of Eurycotis decipiens. The adults are sharp and most importantly they commonly sit out on top of the decorations. There are prettier and bigger species but nearly all hide or dig in the substrate. Tiger hissers also look great but it would take longer to get enough going for a quality display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 I think the best display would probably be a tank full of Eurycotis decipiens. The adults are sharp and most importantly they commonly sit out on top of the decorations. There are prettier and bigger species but nearly all hide or dig in the substrate. Tiger hissers also look great but it would take longer to get enough going for a quality display. You read my mind. Going to start small breeder colonies of both these species. Hadn't considered multiple species tanks until now but this is going to save lots of money and space. Gives me the opportunity to have plenty of show tanks. "SHOW TANK" makes me laugh bet us roach enthusiasts are rarer then Macropanesthia rhinoceros in America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 Here's what I'm working on. Have to place order then can take pics. One 55 gl show tank for blaberus giganteus, 40long dubias,peppered,rothi,dicoids, and deathhead., 30tall with tall decorations for eurycotis decipens. After mardi gras 55gl p.nivea,flyfly mimic, and Australian, then also want a show tank of tigers and a separate of eliptorhina javanica. Thanks for everybodies comments. Lead me in the right direction. Excited to show some results! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hisserman Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Here's what I'm working on. Have to place order then can take pics. One 55 gl show tank for blaberus giganteus, 40long dubias,peppered,rothi,dicoids, and deathhead., 30tall with tall decorations for eurycotis decipens. After mardi gras 55gl p.nivea,flyfly mimic, and Australian, then also want a show tank of tigers and a separate of eliptorhina javanica. Thanks for everybodies comments. Lead me in the right direction. Excited to show some results! Wow! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolverine Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 Here's what's started: 55L dubias,bolivenis,eublaberus"ivory". Going to add rothi, any other ideas to spice it up? 40tall lots of hanging plants gigantens and l.verrucosa seem to be fine together. 30tall heavy planted e.decipens,40L e. Javanica. These are my naturalistic show tanks. Sorry about delay on pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.