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General Information:
Orange head roaches (Eublaberus prosticus) are a tropical roach from South America.
They measure around 2” in length as adults and are around ¼” in
length when born. Adults have wings but are unable to fly. This is a non-climbing
species which means they are unable to climb smooth surfaces. They are a nocturnal
species being more active at night and are very shy and skittish when disturbed.
Adults have a life span of around 1 year.
Housing:
Housing orange heads is very simple. Any container is suitable to use
such as but not limited to Rubbermaid containers or glass aquariums.
Size does not really matter but will depend on how many roaches you
need to keep. I use a 56 quart Rubbermaid for mine. Another thing
to keep in mind is to never overcrowd the container. A for sure sign
of this would be short or missing antennas. Overcrowding can also
slow production and growth because of the competition for food and
hiding areas.
Substrate - I suggest not using any type of substrate to minimize
maintenance. This will make cleaning much easier and greatly decrease
any smell.
Hides - Provide plenty of hiding places. This can be achieved by placing
several egg cartons, paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls in the
cage. This will let them hide and feel more comfortable. Hiding places
are essential for the colony to thrive and to minimize overcrowding.
Heat & Light - Orange heads are nocturnal therefore they should
be kept in the darkest area possible where they will be most active.
As far as temperatures they like it hot especially for breeding. Ideally
keep them around 90ºF. During the summer my roaches experience
temperatures around 105-110ºF and this is when production and
growth is highest. Remember when they are at these extreme temperatures
they’ll eat more and need more water to stay hydrated. If they
are producing faster than you wish you can bring their temperatures
down to 75ºF. They will still thrive but grow and reproduce slower.
Food & Water:
Like all roaches orange heads will eat just about anything they are
offered. Highly nutritious items such as various fruits, vegetables,
grains etc. are all accepted and remember variety is key. Orange heads
should have more protein in their diet over other roaches. A sign of
not enough protein would be seeing bitten wing tips. Make sure to gutload
all food items for 24 hours prior to feeding. Gutloading is feeding
very nutritious/high quality foods (such as the ones listed above)
to prey prior to feeding to your animals. There are also many commercially
available products that are in powder form. I make and use Pro Gutload
for all my feeders. Gutloading will ensure a healthier insect and in
the long run a healthier animal.
Water - I offer a shallow dish of water and keep it full at all times.
If you are experiencing drownings a sponge or paper towel may be added
to the dish to prevent this issue. This should be cleaned several times
a week to prevent bacteria build up and replaced with fresh water.
You can also use water gel, fruits and vegetables as a water source.
Maintenance:
Maintenance is minimal when keeping any species of roach. Depending
on the amount of roaches you have in a container they should be cleaned
on at least a monthly basis but I prefer to do it weekly. This can
be done by sifting the roaches from the waste or with a brush and
scoop. Orange heads do give off a defensive odor when disturbed and
with the combination of waste can make the smell more intense. Regular
cleaning will reduce smell and the potential for bacteria build up.
Also make sure they have fresh clean water and food at all times.
Every few weeks to a month change the egg cartons.
Breeding:
Roaches are probably the easiest creature in the world to breed. All
they really need is suitable housing, food, water and heat. With
time and patients you can build up to an endless supply of food.
Sexing - Males are generally smaller with females being much wider
and thicker. The easiest and most effective way to sex them is by looking
near the tip of the abdomen. Males have a white spot while the same
region on females is the same color as their body.
Male |
Female |
Breeding - The roaches mature at 3-4 months of age depending on temperature.
This is the stage where they can start reproducing. Place your mature
roaches in a container and wait. Soon you will see the females getting
larger. You might even witness a female extracting their egg case called
an ootheca. Do not disturb them when they are doing this! If disturbed
you may loose the babies. Once the egg case is extracted the female
then retracts it back inside a special cavity. This is where the babies
develop and the female gives birth to 20-30 live babies after about
a month gestation. The best part about orange heads is they give live
birth so no incubation is needed.
As a feeder - Roaches make excellent feeders for your reptiles. They
are high in protein and have a good shell to meat ratio. Animals will
readily take them. Because these roaches are a non-climber there is
no need to worry about them escaping.
Conclusion:
Orange heads have steadily gained in popularity as a feeder. They are
very easy to care for, are non-climbers and they produce well. I’ve
found they are the fastest producing of the non-climbing species
which sets them apart. Orange heads are nice because they are packed
with protein. If you want an easy to care for roach and an endless
supply of food orange heads may just be for you.
