How to Breed Lobster Roaches

Some people believe that roaches make excellent pets. They can also be used to feed other pets, such as reptiles. These insects are large, growing to around 3 inches in length, and can live for up to a year. Lobster roaches are a tropical species. Because these roaches don't fly, even though they have wings, they are easily housed in a glass aquarium or terrarium-type habitat. Lobster roaches are easy to breed and produce many offspring, even in captivity.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass terrarium or other large container
  • Hollow logs or egg cartons
  • Water bowl
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select healthy lobster roaches to breed. You can determine the sex of the roaches by comparing the sizes of the full-grown roaches. Females will be larger than the males. Females also have two, tiny white dots on the end of the underside of their abdomens. However, since sexing the roaches can be tricky, it's often simpler to choose a large group of roaches. In a large group of 10 to 12 roaches, you should have both males and females.

    • 2

      Setup a habitat for the roaches. Lobster roaches are not picky about where they live. You could use a large plastic container or a glass terrarium. Make sure whatever you choose to house the roaches in is large enough for all of them to move about freely.

    • 3

      Cover the habitat securely to prevent the roaches from climbing out. Since they are excellent climbers, this is an important step. You can also line the top 3 inches of the inside of the terrarium with petroleum jelly, which prevents the roaches from climbing.

    • 4

      Provide hiding places for the roaches. This will make the roaches more comfortable, which will make them more likely to breed. You can use terrarium decorations, such as hollow logs. You can also choose a simpler method, and use clean egg cartons, opened and turned upside, and empty paper towel tubes.

    • 5

      Place the roach habitat in dark, warm area. Lobster roaches are nocturnal, and therefore they will be more active if their habitat is consistently dim or dark. Since lobster roaches are tropical, they prefer warm temperatures. They can normally live in 75 degree conditions, but to promote breeding, the temperature should be raised to between 90 and 110 degrees. If the roach habitat is not warm enough, use an under-tank heater or a heat lamp.

    • 6

      Place a small bowl or dish in the habitat and fill it with water.

    • 7

      Place the roaches in the habitat.

    • 8

      Feed the roaches a diet high in nutrients to promote breeding. This diet can include fruits and vegetable slices, cereal or even cat food. Roaches are voracious and will eat almost anything.

    • 9

      Wait for the roaches to breed. You may see a male and female pair breeding, or you may see a female with an egg sack. These eggs will be drawn back into the female's body, where they will be incubated for one month before the female gives birth to live young.

    • 10

      Leave the roaches alone while they breed, disturbing them as little as possible. Upsetting the roaches may cause the female to lose the eggs.