Big Al is now 16g after molted and viciously feeding for a month!

Just put him on a scale, and he’s now 16g! That’s 20% weight gain in a month. Hopefully that wasn’t his final molt though, I thought it was, but it seems possible that it really wasn’t since his nose had flatten up a bit.

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.

A feeding routine has been established. Daily dried grass/hay, with some finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus, they finished them every day. Offered them commercial Tortoise food as treat once a week. Also a few pieces of crushed Liquidambar formosana, Eucalyptus torelliana or Eucalyptus robusta as treats once in awhile.

I noticed their appetite have increased dramatically, either most of them have done their molting into young adults or it is the weather, since temp has dropped to around 24C in last 30 days. Guess we will find out either summer next year, or when we have the first batch of babies after a few years, we’ll see.

Big Al did his final molt!

After 2 months of waiting, Big Al finally did it, by the look of his shape, this should be his final molt. He’s not very big as it turned out, but his final size might be a lot bigger, as we know roaches will grow in size quite a bit after molting.

Big Al still weight 13g

That means he hasn’t gained any weight in more than 1 month despite the fact that they eat so much lately.

Liquidambar formosana replenished since its running out after about 2 weeks.

Tortoise food added

I replaced dried grass hay with Tortoise food, I offered it crushed, mixing with crushed Eucalyptus globulus.

They rushed out to grab some even before I throw Eucalyptus globulus into the mix, so I guess they like it very much.

Grass bad for roaches?

Since I started using dried grass as part of their main staple, I noticed that they eat more and more, and more of them stay out to forage all the time. That makes me wonder whether dried grass and hay really doing them good, or they lack of something, and feel the need to eat more?

Recently, I have came across some reports suggested that small tortoise shouldn’t be fed grass, only hardwood or pine leaves since these contain less fibre and more protein, only large tortoise can effectively digest grass. Experiments shown that if fed only grass, some small tortoise would refuse to eat, and those keep eating would lose weight. Now I wonder whether this would apply to roaches. But than it is autumn now, and the temperature has dropped significantly in the last 2 weeks, this might have triggered some sort of internal clock so they started eating for the winter. Anyhow, I’ll decrease the amount of grass, and throw some hardwood leaves in the mix and see how it goes.

Smaller ones coming out more and more

Its interesting to see more and more coming out foraging, the most I have seen is 4 of them out at the same time. Some of them have molted since I got them and are already the size of the medium ones I have got from my friend at my birthday.

From what I have observed, they really like dried grass hay and finely crushed Eucalyptus globulus leaves, both are aromatic so I think they do forage by sense of smell.

18 alive, cleaned and replenished substrate

Thinning out substrate, and removed old plant material. Replenished top substrate with the usual leaves and mulch, also cleaned the water dish and refilled with fresh water gel.

Most of them had grew, but 2 of the smaller ones and the odd B reminded the same size since the end of July.

Will do a measurement on all of them next time I clean the substrate to get a better idea of their growth.

Weather has been cooler recently, and humidity has dropped along with it, will observe the effect if any.

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.