Baby rhino roaches! (AGAIN!)

[arizonablue]

At about 3am last night I was checking on my tanks before I went to sleep ... and then sleep was not had until about 5am because MY RHINO ROACHES ARE HAVING BABIES.

I saw two little nymphs scurrying around, and there are probably more. I didn't want to disturb them too much, so I put the lid back on and then went screaming down the hall.

I will need to bother them at some point to do some renovations. There's too much substrate in there right now for little nymphs, and I'm debating whether or not to remove the male. I plan to keep the nymphs with the mother for a few months, but have heard conflicting reports on whether or not the male may try to eat the nymphs. Has anyone had experience with this?

 

[Ratmosphere]

Congrats!

 

[arizonablue]

Thanks! I just counted the babies and removed the male from the container ... there are SIXTEEN babies.

 

[Goliathus]

That's great - ANY breeding of this species in captivity is significant.  The first examples I ever saw of them were at the Australian Museum, in 1996.  Since then, it's great to see that they've become more established in the hobby.  I've never kept any roaches myself, but if I ever do, Macropanesthia rhinoceros would definitely be the one to have!  Very unusual roach, and the world's heaviest.

 

[Hoolia]

Wow! I'm very impressed! I love rhino roaches, but I really don't have the money for them. 

Kudos to you for the success with breeding! Hopefully, we'll just see more and more of them!

 

[aspenentomology]

That's incredible!! Congratulations!

 

[arizonablue]

An update! The babies are doing really well, mama roach has been hauling every leaf she can get her little claws on into the hide and piling them all up for the babies. They are quite translucent still, so you can see that they've been eating!

Papa roach is not happy about being relocated to his own container, and he's been sulking under the cocofiber. Poor guy.

 

[aspenentomology]

It's really interesting that she moved the leaves for the babies. Is this a common trait with larger roaches or is it unique to this species?

 

[Hoolia]

Awe, so cute! Thank you for sharing an update! I'd love to see them continue to progress.

I don't have any bugs yet that present parental care, but I'd like some so bad! So interesting and unique to witness!

 

[arizonablue]

It's really interesting that she moved the leaves for the babies. Is this a common trait with larger roaches or is it unique to this species?

I honestly have no idea - they're my only roaches. (Because they act more like beetles than roaches!) Before the babies, she and the male would wander around and munch on the leaves, and sometimes they'd take a couple back to the hide to stash for later ... but she's cleared the whole tank and now ALL the leaves are in the hide, LOL. I'm a little surprised she hasn't tried to haul the beetle jelly cup in there too!

Awe, so cute! Thank you for sharing an update! I'd love to see them continue to progress.

Thanks, I'll keep posting updates occasionally!

 

[arizonablue]

Almost exactly three weeks since they were born, and the baby roaches are on their first molt! Took them out for a head count and a quick photo. All sixteen are still there, so I guess mama roach hasn't stepped on anyone too hard.

 

[davehuth]

they're my only roaches. (Because they act more like beetles than roaches!)

I also prefer the roaches that are more beetle-like. Many of them are burrowers (Ergaula, Lucihormetica) so I don't see them as often as I like. Your rhinos are the holy grail, I hope the young grow quick and stay healthy for you! Thanks for keeping the thread updated with reports and photos!

 

[arizonablue]

Another little update: all sixteen babies still going strong and getting bigger! Mama roach was mad as hell that I borrowed her babies for a few minutes. She headbutted me while I was taking them out!

 

[aspenentomology]

They're so cute! I'm loving these updates.

 

[Ratmosphere]

So pumped for you! If you ever decide to sell 'em your gonna be a wealthy woman. 

 

[arizonablue]

So pumped for you! If you ever decide to sell 'em your gonna be a wealthy woman. 

Haha! I do plan to sell some once they get bigger.

 

[PowerHobo]

I've never had a single interest in owning cockroaches... and now here we are... 

 

[arizonablue]

I've never had a single interest in owning cockroaches... and now here we are... 

Haha! I didn't either until I got these ... and I have tried keeping other roaches and just could not enjoy it.   They were too much like the roaches that pop out of the drains in the summer, LOL. These big guys, though, are nothing like other roaches. They're slow and clumsy and unless you're looking at their underside, they don't even look much like roaches. More like big armored beetles. The babies scoot around faster than the parents, but lack of wings makes them easy to deal with. I never have to wonder if one of the little guys is gonna take a leap at my face!

 

[Acro]

Gorgeous!  

Congrats on the nymphs!  You've done well (and so have Papa and Mama roaches)!

How are you keeping yours?  Can you give us some details on their setup?