Jack of all Inverts

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Lobster Roach (Nauphoeta cinerea)

Size

Adults measure up to 30mm (~1.25 in)
Newly hatched roaches measure about 1/8" long.
Size variation in adults is common.

Moisture

40-60% Humidity
Spray a few times a week

Temperature

20-30°C (68-86°F)

Sexing

Males are generally smaller and females are much wider and thicker. The abdomen on a female roach will have an extra two white dots near the tip.

Lifespan

Nymphs molt several times. Generally this roach can live up to 1 to 2 years as an adult. A very hardy feeder, Lobster roaches can mature quickly if fed well and kept warm.

Feeding

I provide a cup with protein rich food such as dog or cat kibble; fish pellets work well too. I provide a cup with water-rich food or water crystals for long-term leave. I offer a variety of kitchen scraps such as apples, bananas, carrots, potato/sweet potato, celery, romaine lettuce, beet greens, cabbage, broccoli and other fruits and veggies. They will generally inhale these items with voracity, with large populations they can eat it in a few hours. They will also eat the oats used as substrate.

Enclosure

I use a large sealed plastic Sterelite Gasket Box with one large hole cut for ventilation covered by windowscreen at the top. I have a 1-3" petrolium jelly barrier around the entire top of the rim to prevent escapes. I use an inch thick layer of oats as a substrate and provide paper towel and toilet rolls as hides. Cardboard or egg cartons also works well. If you wish, you can forgo oats and they will be fine without a substrate, or you could use one that better retains humidity. A simple container such as this can cause an explosion of life. You can add a small heat pad to increase growth, but I find this isn't needed. Overall, maintenance is minimal: remove extra food before it rots, replace the oats when turned to frass, and add fresh hides occasionally.

Breeding

Very easy and quick to breed. Simply obtain individuals of each sex and wait until the female gives birth to multiple ovoviviparous litters. Keep them warmer to encourage more growth. These cockroaches live about one year, can mate about six days after becoming adults, and produce six broods of about 30 eggs per year.

Other Information

Lobster roaches can climb smooth surfaces. They can glide, but no true flight is possible. These buggers are also super fast, which may make harvesting them a challenge! This also makes them a great feeder for motion-sensitive predators.
This species of roach is very hardy and can tolerate neglect to a point. Grain substrate can sustain a population for a vacation as long as some sort of hydration is provided.
Escaped individuals have a very small potential infest houses due to their hardiness. Always use a rim barrier.