They certainly eat fast

Although from day to day prospective, they seem only interested in finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus and grass hay mix which i offer whatever those are running low. But comparing what were put inside the bin last time I cleaned it 10 days ago, they obviously consumed quite a lot of other plant materials as well.

There were a few layers of plant materials 10 days ago, now only 1 very thin layer left.



Replenished the top substrate with a mix of Liquidambar formosana, Eucalyptus robusta and Eucalyptus torelliana, plus a small amount of Eucalyptus crebra leaves and mulch. As usual, some finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus and grass hay mix as roaches staple.

Big Al will be molting anytime

Look at how bloated his abdomen is, it is getting rounder, and rounder every day. Notice how the white segments normally hidden beginning to show. Judging by his size, I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned out to be a adult at next molt.

Nymph changing colour after molting

Here is some pictures how a nymph change colour after molting.

18 alive, cleaned substrate

Thinned out the substrate to keep it under 1/2 inch, and took out old damped plant materials, and replenished top substrate with fresh sand, and then mostly Liquidambar formosana, with a few pieces of Eucalyptus torelliana, Eucalyptus robusta, and Eucalyptus crebra, then finished with a few pinches of cypress mulch, grass hay mix, finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus crebra mulch.

Did a head count, all 18 alive. And at least 5 of the AIF nymphs have been molted judging by their shape, and rest look like will be molting very soon since they all have a very bloated abdomen.



While I was thinning out substrate, I dug out a just molted nymph. Obviously, they aren’t as fragile as I thought, they can molt while burrowed, and some pressure on them while molting will not result in deformity.

Nymph molted in front of me

As I was doing daily maintenance, one of the larger AIF nymphs run out from the pack, and started molting. It seems that he was holding it until the very last second, and just couldn’t stop the molting anymore.

I filmed his molting process and has posted on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7CM2yHOp4o

His body started to elongated about a month ago, and his abdomen had recently got inflated so much that looked like it could be exploded anytime, white parts between each sections were at all time visible in recently weeks. His body shape was like a hisser with lots of babies inside ready to give birth just before he molt. After he molted, his body shape started to change, in around 6 hours, his body shape completely moth into more closely resemble to adult shape.

He looked like one of them in this picture, actually, he’s one of them. Note the body shape is more rounded compare to adults. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photo just before he molted, his abdomen is much more inflated than in this picture, so big and bloated that I began to worry about his health!


Some pictures while he’s molting.



His body started changing shape soon after molted.


After about 18 hours, he looked like this:


He’s now about a little more half of the size of the largest male.

Offered them a small pinch of oat meals

Offered them a small pinch of oat meal see if they’re interested in it anymore.

Refreshed top substrate

Taken out some very damped plant materials, and refreshed with crushed and dried Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus robusta, AIF mulch, Hay Grass mix, and cypress mulch.

One thing should be noted, even though only very small amount plant materials look and feel very damped and the rest look normal to me, the cockroaches seem to have a taste for fresh materials, as soon as I throw fresh plants matters into the bin, they immediately noticed and begin to fetch them. Most noticeable small B get on with eating dried grass like there is no tomorrow, and a medium size nymph drag a piece of crushed Eucalyptus robusta around like someone is going to steal it.

In the last week, I have followed schedule strictly, only replenish them with Eucalyptus globulus, sometimes with hay grass mix when food is visibly getting low.

Will count them at next top substrate refreshment.

During last week’s observation, all 6 large males, and 2 larger AIF nymphs don’t burrow anymore, they just stay on top, probably due to their size.

Measurement of the biggest one

He certainly look bigger, so I took Big Al out and guess what, he now weight 13g! I didn’t want to bother him too long, so no pics this time.

Lettuce almost finished

Lettuce almost finished.

Discovered some mites, actually they had mites, but this time seems a lot more than usual. Guess I’ll keep them on dried leaves diet for awhile to reduce mites.

I am establishing a daily routine, replenish dried grass hay and Eucalyptus globulus if necessary, refill water dish, and mist once a day to make things simpler.

Lettuce finished

They did finish the lettuce in 1 day if they don’t get their favroutie gum leaves, anyway, will resume gum leaf feeding after one more round of lettuce.

A few pinches of finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus and a few pieces of crushed Liquidambar formosana.

Plant materials are getting damped, should replace soon.

Give them some more lettuce

Lettuce all gone, though only very little left yesterday. Give them a few more small pieces, see if they’ll eat more lettuce if I don’t replenish other plant stuff, especially their favourite Eucalyptus globulus.

They seem to be more comfortable while I am around, won’t run for cover anymore unless I spray directly on them by accident.

Everything seems settled down, substrate beginning to build up

Everything seems have settled down, not much going on apart from the usual.

Shown more interests in lettuce this time, only very tiny bits left, also more carrots were consumed, but still some left and they’ve been there for 3 days now.

Replenished finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus and dried grass hay mix.

Substrate has built up quite a bit, smaller ones are building tunnels. will need to thin up the substrate soon.

Foods i have been feeding

I have been keeping them for over a month now, and so far they’re doing fine, so I guess I would share a list of food that I have been feeding.

From what I have experienced, I think these guys are actually quite hardy, could probably survive or even thrive on a wide variety of food without problem. Even without a deep substrate for them to burrow is okay. But then since they grow so slow, and breed only when they’re at least 3 years old, and could be up to 5, also even in best condition, they only produce 1 clutch of around 10 to 30 nymphs once a year, so it is understandable that keepers tend to be very careful on experimenting on these roaches.

Here is a list of foods that I have been feeding my rhino roaches.

Leaves, twigs, and barks
Eucalyptus crebra leaves and mulch (not 100% sure, came with roaches, won’t be able to get more since the seller only has license to export roaches, not plants)
Eucalyptus globulus leaves (Ordered from DD)
Eucalyptus torelliana leaves and barks (Collected from country park)
Eucalyptus robusta leaves and twigs (Collected from country park, and roadside nearby)
Liquidambar formosana leaves (Collected from countryside)
Other food
Apple, Carrot, Chinese Lettuce, Rolled Oat, Dried Grass Hay for Turtle, ZooMed Forrest Turtle pellets, Cypress Mulch


Following are foods I have at hand, but haven’t tried yet
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Dimocarpus longan
Ficus virens var. sublanceolata
Acacia auriculiformis

Signs of nibbling on carrots

Some signs of nibbling on carrots, but only very little was consumed.

Added a few pinches of Eucalyptus globulus as usual.

The largest AIF nymph seems have grown a little, maybe he just molted?

Water dish

Although everyone suggest that they don’t need a water dish, but since I am keeping them on a thin substrate, I’ll try a water dish set up and see how it goes. The water dish is a heavy non-hallow-bottom dish for reptiles, I make sure it is evenly sit at the bottom so the roaches won’t accidentally dig under it, and the edge is about level with substrate for easy access, but I should keep an eye on them. I also piled water crystal up so and then filled it with water so that small roaches won’t drown or get flip over.

Offered them a little piece of carrot break into 2 pieces. A larger one immediately nibble on it, but stopped as soon as I started observing.

Removed very damped plant materials and replenished with fresh and dried matters

Plant materials have somewhat demolished, and quite a large amount is damped. Removed damped leaves, left twig and barks in there to continue decomposing.

Sign of water crystal consumption.

Replenished top substrate with dried and crushed leaves, and twigs of Eucalyptus torelliana, Eucalyptus robusta (mixed with those collected from Ma On Shan country park and Chung On) and Liquidambar formosana. A few pinches of finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus, AIF leaves/mulch, and dried grass on top for food.

Fresh dried plant materials, washed and ready to be microwaved


19/8/2011

27/8/2011


After replenishment with various matters

Not much interests in turtle food

Not much interests shown in turtle food, so i removed them and offered to other roaches. But then obviously a small one dragged one of the pieces to the entrance of a burrow, but not sign of nibble on it, so it could be just accidental.

Plant matters continue to decrease, will take a photo and replenish their supply tomorrow.

Observed same 8 out and about. They’re more thirsty than the last few days, at least 2 of them ignored me opening the bin and drink immediately after I spread, humidity was kept not as high, but some water crystal was placed in a corner. So maybe they just need to drink more than other roaches.

Turtle food

Stopped refilling plant matters for a few days now, I plan to not refill until most are depleted, I want to find out their consumption rate, and what they like more.

Up to now, it seems that they prefer crushed Eucalyptus globulus and dried grass most, but will nibble on all plant matters I threw in there except Eucalyptus torelliana barks which probably is too hard for them.

I threw in 2 pieces of turtle food last time, and they ate 1. This time, I throw them 3 pieces and see if they have more interests since most of their favourite food are gone.

Same as before, all 6 larger males, and 2 small AIF nymphs are out and about.

Not interested in Lettuce core

Really didn’t show much interests in lettuce cores, probably a few bites in 2 days from the look of it, so I removed them and offered to peppereds.

Signs of consuming plant materials, the area covered and thickness is visually shrinking.

Refilled a few pinches of crushed Eucalyptus globulus.

Observed all larger males, and 2 AIF nymphs stay in open, maybe near time to molt for some of them?

Seems a small nymph has reach certain age threshold

Here we go, 6 larger nymphs and “da da” the biggest AIF nymph, again! Seems to me that AIF nymph (male) has reach the age of living alone, and try hard to find a quiet place to dig a sweet home, too bad he just keep bumping into his huge brothers!

Lettuce have been nibbled on with bite marks, but not much was consumed, removed, and replace by a few pieces of lettuce core to test their interest.