Guest Roach lover Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 I have a huge male gromphadorhina portentosa that I have become very close to. It hangs out with me for days at a time even sleeping under my covers at night and not running away. I was thinking he may have been moving a little slower than normal but I wasn't sure. A few hours later I went to sleep with him between my leg and the covers (hanging upside down from covers) I find this way he can walk around and position himself (usually close to my leg for warmth) to where he is at a comfortable temp. I noticed this time he stayed in the exact spot where I placed him without finding a spot he liked. I slept a few hours to find my leg around him covered in clear fluid smelling of bananas (his last meal). I cleaned us both up and found he was lethargic and barely moving. I put him back in his temp controlled enclosure literally putting his head in a shallow water dish to make sure he could hydrate. I know he was not physically injured while he was with me. He only molted to adult about 3 months ago so this is not old age. He was back in his house for about 12hrs and I checked on him he seem more lethargic now only "waving" a leg if I gently squeeze his abdomen. I changed his water out with grape juice (a favorite of his). I really don't want to loose him since he was a very kind, gentle, well behaved male that I grew a close bond to. If anyone can tell me either anything to do to help him or what may have caused him to become ill I would greatly appreciate it. I have had roaches die after displaying similar behavior before after spending time with me. The first time this happened I thought they were getting to cold and dying as I keep my house a few degrees below 70. Since then I make sure they are on me or close to me for warmth. I have had them run off before and they were found healthy 3-4 days latter and they had not found a warm place to hide. So I think I have ruled out the cold killing them especially since I never keep them out of there house for more than a day or 2. I then started thinking maybe they are getting to hot sometimes getting up to human body temp. However I think I can rule this out as well since I no longer keep them against me and they usually find a spot under the covers partially touching me for warmth and they are free to rome the bed and find a spot where they are happy. Furthermore I have read there natural environment can get to a 100. So I am now clueless as to what could be hurting them by hanging out with me. Does anyone have any ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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