Hissers

LdyDrgn · 03-24-03, 02:02 PM

We just picked up some Madagascan Hissing cockroaches from the Indy show. hehehe they are quite amusing even though I'm not in to bugs. They were purchased to help supplement our monitor's diet. Figures she won't have anything to do with them since she has apparantly been fed only rodents and possibly eggs by the previous owner. The beardie likes the babies, though LOL.

Anyone else here keep these freaky things?

nicola_boulton · 03-24-03, 02:12 PM

i used to hav a praying mantis. every time i got it out the little b****d used 2 go 4 my face..... 1 day a black cricket chewed of it head!!!!!!! lol

nouserpif · 03-24-03, 06:42 PM

I have a dozen or so... Keppin at 76F, not hot enough for them to breed (80F minimum, I believe) but soon gonna get them nicely set up and start breeding for bearded food... I: love them!
I have 5 mantis eggcases by the way
Dan Conner

OttawaChris · 03-24-03, 10:05 PM

My T's just LOVE eating hissers... they make a great alternative food source for them.

They are pretty easy to look after as well... dog food and a light misting and some hiding places for them to lay eggs (I use empty toilet paper rolls)

Just remember to smear a rim of vaseline around the top of the tank or you will have cookarachas all over the place! (they can get through very small gaps and are quite strong I can assure you)

uog11 · 03-24-03, 11:11 PM

no but ive been looking for some...so if you have any for sale ill be interested

LdyDrgn · 03-25-03, 12:16 AM

We will be breeding ours for beardie and monitor food. I understand they give live birth, not lay eggs. The female carries her egg sack until they hatch and come out alive. Nifty

fr0glet · 03-25-03, 09:47 PM

I was keeping hissers but after a few months I determined that I have an allergy to them. I talked with a friend of mine who is an entomologist, and she and her husband have the allergy too! It seems to only act up when you're actually handling them or working in their enclosure, they put off a body dust that can choke some people up and be a throat and nose irritant.

Hope you don't have it, it's a pain! Awesome insects, I sold all mine but two nymphs and just keep those as pets!

LdyDrgn · 03-25-03, 09:54 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep that in mind.