There are around 4,000 species of Cockroach worldwide, only a very small percentage of these are commonly sold as both pets and feeders for reptiles and carnivorous invertebrates. The most commonly kept species are native to the tropical jungles of Madagascar and South America, they live amongst leaf litter and plants on the forest floor.

The most common, and popular species is probably Gromphadorhina portentosa, the Madagascan Hissing Cockroach, these are very impressive, usually a mixture of red and black in colour, they are one of the largest, and bulkiest species, getting to around 8cm, they are also one of the longest lived species, an individual can live over 6 years.

Another commonly seen Cockroach is the Discoid Roach, Blaberus discoidalis often sold as the “Deaths Head Cockroach” when compared with the true Deaths Head Cockroach though, Blaberus craniifer, the differences are obvious, one difference is a mark of a skull, or face on the pronotum (above the head) of B.craniifer, whille B.discoidalis lacks this mark. Both of these Blaberus species are usually far more skittish than G.portentosa, which can easily be handled when care is taken.

Cockroach Caresheet