A giant, dramatic Neotropical cockroach from caves and forest floors, popular as a display animal and large feeder. Adults have full wings but are reluctant, clumsy fliers and cannot climb smooth glass.
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One of the largest cockroaches in the world: adults reach 7.5-10 cm (3-4 in) in length with a broad wingspan; among the heaviest roaches kept in the hobby.
Lifespan
1–2 years
Social needs
group
Native region
Mexico, Central America, and northern South America (caves and forest floors from Mexico through Panama into the Amazon
Origin
New World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Blaberidae
Genus
Blaberus
Part of the Cockroaches
Pet and display cockroaches — from ornamental domino and giant cave species to feeder colonies — kept in ventilated tubs with appropriate substrate, warmth, and a simple omnivorous diet. Hardy, harmless, and fascinating, though local and federal pest-species regulations apply.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Sealed colony tub
16 × 12 × 10 in plastic bin, vaseline rim
Blaberus giganteus adults reach ~7–8 cm and climb — sealed bin with a vaseline rim is mandatory. 5–8 cm of coco-fibre substrate with cork bark hides; warm (24–28 °C) and humid (~70%).
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Bioactive bin colony
24 × 18 × 12 in bin, bioactive
A larger colony bin with bioactive substrate, plenty of vertical cork bark, leaf litter, and a fruit/protein feeder station. Group-tolerant and breeds steadily.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Display vivarium
24 × 18 × 18 in display vivarium
A planted display vivarium with bioactive substrate, branches, and gentle uplighting. One of the most impressive 'pet' roaches when displayed properly.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Insects begin as eggs, laid singly or in clusters on or near a food source. Egg size, shape, and incubation time vary widely; some are glued to surfaces, others inserted into plant tissue or soil.
Photo coming soon
Larva / Nymph
The immature stage either looks grub- or caterpillar-like and very different from the adult (a larva, in beetles, flies, and butterflies) or like a wingless miniature adult (a nymph, in roaches, mantises, and stick insects). It eats and molts repeatedly as it grows.
Photo coming soon
Pupa
In insects with complete metamorphosis, the larva pupates — often in a cocoon, chrysalis, or sealed cell — and its body is reorganized into the adult form. Nymph-developing insects skip a true pupa and molt straight to the adult.
Adult
The adult is the sexually mature, usually winged stage with the species' full coloration and form. Adults are typically the dispersing and reproducing stage, and in many insects do not grow further once mature.
Habitat & enclosure
Keep a colony in a tall, ventilated tub or terrarium with several centimeters of substrate and abundant vertical hides — stacked egg crate, cork bark slabs, and bark. Maintain 25-30C (77-86F) and moderate-to-high humidity, with one moist area and good airflow. They cannot climb clean glass/plastic, but a secure lid prevents escapes by gravid females and keeps humidity stable. Provide plenty of surface and vertical hiding clutter, as they like to wedge into tight, dark spaces like their cave roosts.
Substrate
A few centimeters of coconut fiber, organic topsoil, or a soil/leaf-litter mix, kept lightly moist in part of the enclosure with a drier zone. Add leaf litter and rotten wood for nibbling and to buffer humidity. The substrate also catches frass and food debris — spot-clean and refresh periodically.
Equipment & setup
A thermostatically controlled heat mat on the side of the enclosure if the room is below ~24C; no UVB required. Good cross-ventilation is essential given the humidity. Egg-crate or cork-bark stacks serve as the main 'furniture.' A hygrometer/thermometer and water gel crystals complete the basic kit.
Diet
Omnivorous scavengers with hearty appetites. Feed grain-based roach chow or dry dog/cat food plus a rotation of fresh produce (carrot, apple, banana, leafy greens, squash). Supplement protein occasionally and provide a calcium source. Hydrate with water gel crystals or moist produce rather than open dishes to avoid drowning small nymphs. Remove spoiled food to control mites and odor.
Behavior & temperament
Docile and harmless — no venom and a bite that is essentially a non-issue. Nocturnal and shy, they bolt for cover when disturbed. Adults possess wings and will occasionally glide or flutter clumsily, but they are not strong fliers and cannot climb smooth surfaces. They tolerate gentle handling; a calm, slow approach keeps them from startling. A social, colony-living species.
Health
Very hardy. Chronic problems stem from cold temperatures (stalled breeding, lethargy) or excessive dampness with poor airflow (mold, grain mites, ammonia smell). Provide ventilation and avoid waterlogging the substrate. Newly molted (teneral) individuals are soft and pale for a day or two and should not be handled. A well-fed, warm colony reproduces steadily.
Tips, DIY & hacks
An ideal beginner display roach and a nutritious feeder for larger reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids. Start with 15-25 individuals for a self-sustaining colony. Because they cannot climb glass and are poor fliers, escapes are uncommon — but in the US, keeping this non-native species can require a USDA permit, and some states and many countries restrict roach species regardless of how harmless they are, so confirm legality where you live.
