EDIT - We have confirmed ootheca! I’m reporting my own post.
The cockroaches themselves aren’t really all that dull, if you ask me, but the way they came into my care feels like classic dull man happenstance.
I got 2 males and 3 females; I’ve separated them, but I’m pretty sure two of the females are already impregnated.
Fun facts about Hissing Cockroaches:
-They can reproduce every 2 months, but usually no more than 3 times per year.
-They give birth to 10-40 live babies (called nymphs) at a time.
-They do this by laying an egg case (called an ootheca) INSIDE THEIR OWN ABDOMEN. After a few weeks, the case ruptures and they push it and their babies out the backside of their abdomen.
-While pregnant, they will often open the rear of their abdomen and allow the ootheca some fresh air.
-When born, the nymphs are only a few millimeters in size, but they can grow to over 3 inches (~7cm) long.
-Nymphs can reproduce after 6 months.
-They can live for up to 4 years on average!
-Other than a few sharp little spikes on their legs, they are completely harmless.
-Contrary to popular belief, they are VERY CLEAN. They feed on decaying wood, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables and the occasional meal of dead meat, but they prefer the fresh stuff.
My sister and I had some of these as pets, given to us by one of the professors at the local university. Her office was covered from floor to ceiling with animal habitats and had just the most amazing vibe in there. Wish I remembered her name. The university has since torn that building down and I’m sure she’s no longer working there
I’ve always been kinda interested, but never really thought I’d actually end up with any. I just happened to be outside when the lecturer was leaving and asked to see them again and he said “You can have them if you want,” and I was like “YES OK PLEASE” lol
Then I spent my first morning back home baking soil and mulch to make sure there were no mites XD
Are the mites parasitic to the cockroaches?
Some of them are, but most of them just pose more of a stress/nuisance problem. Depending on the species, they can live up to a couple of months, lay 2-10 eggs every couple of days, and go from egg to reproducing adult in 1-2 weeks, so they have the possibility to massively explode in population if they are introduced.
mites can be phoretic , they just use the roach as hitchikers, some are predatory like attack the eggs, most will just eat the dead stuff, droppings. the predatory mites are more likely to be found in the wild hunting other mites.