Lobster Roaches Care Guide: Habitat, Diet, Breeding & More Explained By Expert
Lobster roaches (Nauphoeta cinerea), also known as lobster cockroaches, are small, fast-breeding cockroaches commonly used as feeder insects for reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Unlike pest cockroaches, they do not infest homes and prefer warm, controlled environments.
Lobster Roach Appearance & Size
Lobster roaches are:
- Size: About 1–1.5 inches long.
- Color: Light brown with dark markings.
- Shape: Flattened oval bodies with long antennae.
- Wings: Present but mainly used for gliding rather than full flight.
Where Are Lobster Roaches Found?
Lobster roaches are native to tropical regions, thriving in the warm, humid environments of:
- Galapagos Islands
- Caribbean
- Central and South America
- Southeast Asia
- Africa
- Australia
- Mexico
- Brazil
Lobster Roach Features & Characteristics
Lobster roaches have some unique characteristics that make them stand out among the insect world:
Size & Appearance
- Size: About 1–1.5 inches (30mm) long when fully mature.
- Color: Light brown with dark markings, resembling a lobster.
- Shape: Flattened, oval bodies with long antennae.
- Wings: Present but mainly used for gliding rather than full flight.
- Climbing Ability: Excellent climbers, capable of scaling smooth surfaces like glass, metal, and plastic.
Fun Facts About Lobster Roaches
- Lifespan: They live for 1-2 years as adults.
- Protective Shell: Their tough outer shell acts like armor, protecting them from predators.
- Climbing Abilities: They can climb smooth surfaces, such as glass, metal, and plastic.
- Night Activity: Lobster roaches are nocturnal and prefer to hide during the day.
- Reptile Food: They are commonly used as a food source for reptiles, amphibians, and pets.
- Live Birth: Unlike many insects, females give birth to live babies instead of laying eggs.
Lobster Roach Lifespan & Reproduction
- Lifespan: 12–18 months.
- Reproduction: A single female can produce up to 800 offspring in her lifetime.
- Maturity: Reaches adulthood in 3–4 months.
Where Do Lobster Roaches Live?
- Lobster roaches originate from the tropical forests of the Caribbean and other humid regions. In their natural habitat, they are often found hiding in:
- Shady spots like under rocks, leaves, or shrubs.
- Dense foliage in forests, where they can shelter during the day.
- When you choose to house them, you need an extra large critter keeper 10-gallon glass tank, with rubber storage and ventilation holes.
But remember to place a porus cover so they are sealed in there. To prevent the roaches from escaping, we put a little bit of liquid Teflon or Vaseline around the top edge of the container.
I do like creating such houses for insects.
Lobster Roach Care Guide: Housing, Feeding & Maintenance
I recommend not using any substrate, instead use grassy fibers. I do, like plastic or glass; therefore, before housing them.I used egg crates and placed them vertically. You can also use tree bark in plastic containers.
Bonus Tip
Before placing tree barks, simply get them heated in the microwave so, the ants and other small organisms get to die, then use barks in a container.
Adding a coconut fiber setup that remains easy to clean and maintain when providing a suitable habitat for the roaches.
Hides (Their Dens)
Provide them with VIP treatment.
- I created a hideout haven for them by adding cozy spots like egg cartons, coconut fiber, and paper towel rolls in their cage to make them feel like they’re living in a roach resort, all comfy and luxurious.
- And guess what? With plenty of surface space, they won’t get overcrowded, resulting in a booming production of baby roaches. It’s like their own little roach paradise.
More space + Roach romance = Increased roach production.
Heat & Light
They are nocturnal and active at night, providing them with a dark and comfortable living area to encourage their activity.
A moderately warm temperature is ideal for their breeding. Try to keep the temperature around 90-95 degrees F° good for their growth and breeding.
During summer months, roaches may experience temperatures as high as 105-110 degrees F°, which can stimulate their growth. At optimum higher temperatures, they will have increased appetites and require more water to stay hydrated. Even a temperature range of 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit is suitable for production. It is also advised to maintain humidity levels at around 50% for their well-being.
Nutrition
- From a nutrition point of view, they are good decomposers like nature’s cleanup crew; they eat almost everything.
- I offer them zucchini cuttings, oranges, bits of tomatoes Lettuce, spinach stuff, other leafy greens, carrot, watermelon , peas, pea pods and fruits Oranges, apples, bananas, and highly nutritious feed 3, 4 times a week to keep them healthy.
- Before feeding, let their food sit for a day to make sure it’s super nutritious. You can also use powdered roach food.
- I put some dry fruits at the bottom of their home for a tasty treat, and this process is called “gut loading.”
- Always remember to offer them a balanced diet, which will make them healthier.
- Remove rotten and uneaten food from their container to avoid spoiled food.
- Don’t feed food like fish flakes or big meats to your lobster roaches, pets, or animals. Because such foods are not good for reptiles and can harm your roach’s health.
Water And Humidity for Lobster Roaches
Roaches like Humidity because they come from the Caribbean. I always keep water gel to keep them hydrated, avoid standing water because they may drown there.
Check and renew the water gel regularly to keep it clean for the roaches. I also recommend putting a sponge or toilet paper in the container.Since roaches prefer darkness and hang out inside, you can easily pick up the dish, shake it a bit, and pour the roaches into another clean container.
I do this and clean their home a few times each week. More helps them have more space to roam around, and they enjoy it.
Maintenance of The Lobster Roaches Container
- Keeping them happier is simple.
- Every week, I clean their house by removing old food and dirt that get deeper than ½, ¾ of an inch to avoid the smell.
- Regularly check their water dish or container and change it if it’s get dirty.
- Gently shake the home to make sure no roaches are hiding, especially their tiny babies.
- Take care that the tiny babies do not mix with dirt, and move them to a clean spot. I
- change egg cartoons in 2,4 weeks, and change the Vaseline when it gets dirty.
- Gently shake the home to make sure no roaches are hiding, especially their tiny babies.
- Take care that the tiny babies do not mix with dirt, and move them to a clean spot.
- I change egg cartoons in 2,4 weeks, and change the Vaseline when it gets old.
- Apply new Vaseline back to the upper surface along the sides to counter their escape attempts.
- Remember, Roaches are good escapers, notorious climbers, so apply good Vaseline.
- Follow these steps, and they will be healthy and delighted.
Breeding And Sex Identification of Lobster Roach
- Adults breed well when provided with proper conditions and a balanced diet.
- Maintain a temperature between 80 to 90°F consistently day and night. Females lay Eggs in an ootheca or egg case.
- The female carries the ootheca internally in their body until the eggs hatch.
- Female roaches undergo incubation for about 30 days, giving birth to 20-30 babies at a time, with frequency depending on environmental conditions.
You can read my other blog about Florida Starfish Species Identification. Read on!
Lobster Roach Life Cycle
- Mommy roach carries babies (ooteca) in her tummy for 40 days.
- Tiny nymphs hatch (up to 30), looking like mini roaches.
- Nymphs grow and shed their skin 6 times in 3-4 months.
- Teens (instars) develop wing buds. The final molt reveals winged adult roaches, ready to mate and repeat the cycle.
Marting—ootheca(egg case)-Birth 1-Birth 2 + Birth 3- Birth 4- Birth 5 – Birth 6
( Nauphoeta cinerea) can have babies without a dad. This process is called “facultative parthenogenesis,” where the mom can create offspring on her own without needing a male roach.
How To Differentiate Between Male and Female Roach (Sex)?
Males are smaller, while females are wider and thicker.
To identify their sex, turn the roach over and examine the underbelly near the tip of the abdomen.
What Are The Differences b/ w Dubia Roaches, Speckled Cockroach, and Lobster Roach?
1. Dubia roaches (Blatta dubai)
- Large (up to 2.5 inches), shiny black roaches.
- Originate from Africa but are commonly found in pet stores.
- They are insects.
Scientists love these speedy little guys due to their super nutrition. Packed with protein (more than beef) and calcium(Ca), and they’re like tiny vitamin packets for reptiles and amphibians, a good food source for hungry pets.
They munch on fruits and veggies, soaking up extra nutrients to pass on to their munchers. They survive harsh conditions, making them low-maintenance pets (if you’re into that kind of thing!).
2. Speckled Cockroach
- Smaller (about 1 inch) brown with dark speckles.
- They are found in moist tropical areas like kitchens and bathrooms
- Prefer starchy foods and are attracted to crumbs and spills.
- Speckled cockroaches belong to the Blaberidae family.
3. Lobster Cockroaches (Nauphoeta cinerea)
Medium-sized (about 1.5 inches), reddish-brown roaches with prominent antennae
Nocturnal and prefers warm, humid environments.
Are they cousins?
Yes, all three types of cockroaches belong to the same order (Blattodea) and are, therefore, related.
However, they belong to different families and genera, meaning they have diverged over time and developed their unique characteristics.
Lobster Roaches vs. Real Lobster?
Lobster roaches like wet places. Lobsters, on the other hand, are ocean dwellers swimming through salty waters. Both have segmented bodies and antennae, that’s where the similarities end. They have ten legs, including claws, while roaches have six, without fancy pincers. Real lobster uses its mouth to catch food. Their sizes differ, too, with lobsters being much larger and heavier.
Diet
Roaches are omnivores on both plants and other insects.
Lobsters are mostly carnivores, enjoying a menu of fish, worms, and even other smaller insects.
Are Shrimp Roaches?
They may share some looks,similirities, shrimp are crustaceans and roaches are insects and both are distant cousins. Shrimp , related to crabs and lobsters, are aquatic, living in oceans, rivers, or lakes or salty waters. Roaches are insects, like ants and flies, servive on land.
There is huge difference in habitat and their evolutionary paths means they’re very different creatures despite the surface similarities.Shrimp have 10 legs, two pairs of antennae for sensation , and hard shells.
Roaches have 6 legs, two pairs of antennae, and flexible exoskeletons. Shrimp use gills to breathe underwater. Roaches have tiny tubes called tracheae for air respiration. Shrimp are omnivores, eating algae, small fish, and plant matter.
Roaches are scavengers, eat decaying food, leaves, and other organic material. So if someone asks you about “Are Lobsters And Roaches related? The answer is “Nope” lobsters and roaches aren’t same things. They share a distant ancestor like great-great-great-grandparents, but millions of years of evolution gave them different houses.
Are Roaches Crustaceans?
No ! Cockroach passes through incomplete metamorphosis , first egg, nymph and adult stages and they are completely terrestrial they love humid and wet places but not crustacean.
Lobster are predators eat live prey. While cockroaches are scavengers and eat decaying materials.
Benefits of Lobster Roaches as Feeders
- Soft-bodied: Easy for reptiles to digest.
- High protein: Excellent nutrition source.
- Non-climbing: Unlike Dubia roaches, lobster roaches cannot climb smooth surfaces.
- Fast-breeding: Provides a constant supply of feeder insects.
Common Myths About Lobster Roaches
- Do they infest homes? No, they require warm, humid environments and do not survive well outside their enclosure.
- Are they dangerous? No, they do not bite and are not harmful to humans or pets.
- Can they fly? They glide but do not sustain long flights.
FAQs
Are Shrimp and Roaches Related?
Yes, they belong to the phylum Arthropoda, sharing similar body structures and a common evolutionary ancestor.
Are Roaches Crustaceans?
No, roaches are not crustaceans. They’re insects.
Is Shrimp in The Roach Family?
They share similarities like exoskeletons and many legs, akin to distant cousins. Shrimp belong to the crustacean family, while roaches are insects.
In Conclusion
while lobster roaches may resemble lobsters, they’re insects, not crustaceans. They play a vital role in nature by cleaning up dead matter and serving as food for other animals. Despite some people disliking them, they’re crucial for the environment and deserve respect. For more information on other species, check out my blog on How Do Lobsters Communicate With Each Other? 5 Ways to Learn Their Secret Language
Resources Referenced in Formulating This Article
