10 x Pycnoscelus nigra | Shadow Roach
 
Pycnoscelus nigra, or "Shadow Roach" is a parthenogenetic species of cockroach, meaning females reproduce without males.
 
These are black and shiny cockroaches and come from southeast Asia. Pycnoscelus nigra are easy to keep, they require a deep substrate, they can climb when adult and are around 2.5cm in length.
 
Pycnoscelus nigra nymphs are tiny and so an enclosure with no gaps should be used.
 
NOTE:
It is essential to keep any cockroach species in it's own enclosure to prevent cross breeding with similar species. This is extremely relevant to any of the hissing cockroaches as cross breeding is unfortunately far too common and it is imperative to keep any species pure.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON HAVING PURE COCKROACH SPECIES AND ALWAYS STATE THE GENUS AND SPECIES, IF THERE IS NO GENUS OR SPECIES NAMED, THEN IT IS EITHER UNKNOWN OR A HYBRID.
 
Scientific Classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Genus: Pycnoscelus
Species: nigra
 
How I Keep Mine
Housing:
Any kind of see through plastic or glass container with a tight fitting lid, the nymphs of Pycnoscelus nigra will squeeze out of anything. Plenty of ventilation is a must.
 
Substrate:
We keep these our Pycnoscelus nigra Shadow Roach on deep damp leaf litter with a little peat moss or coco coir mixed in.
 
Temperature:
Room temperature 18 - 22ºC / 64 - 71ºF
 
Humidity:
Shadow Roach thrive at around 50-70% humidity.
 
Food:
Pycnoscelus nigra Shadow Roach will eat apple, orange, carrot