Gromphadorhina portentosa
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Hissing cockroaches are easygoing, low-maintenance colony insects often used to introduce children and nervous keepers to invertebrates. Their audible hiss is a defence display, not aggression.
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At a glance
- Scientific name
- Gromphadorhina portentosa
- Family
- Blaberidae
- Origin
- Forest floor leaf litter of Madagascar
- Lifespan
- 2–5 years
- Adult size
- 5–7.5 cm
- Weight
- Not typically measured
- Temperament
- Docile, non-biting and slow-moving
- Activity level
- Low to moderate; more active at night
- Social needs
- High; naturally lives in large colonies and should be kept in groups
- Intelligence
- Basic insect cognition; responds to light, vibration and food cues
- Noise
- Distinctive hissing sound, otherwise quiet
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Ventilated glass or plastic tank, minimum 40 x 30 x 30 cm for a growing colony, with a secure lid
- Space requirement
- Floor area with bark and egg cartons for hiding and climbing
- Temperature
- 24–29°C
- Humidity
- 60–70%
- Exercise
- Provided by climbing bark and colony floor space
- Grooming
- Not applicable
Life stages and changing needs
Expanded care guidance · Updated 7 October 2026 · Not professionally reviewed
Young animals and settling in
Young Madagascar hissing cockroaches (nymphs) hatch live from the mother and resemble small, pale versions of the adults, moulting repeatedly as they grow. Keep nymphs in the same warm, humid, well-ventilated colony enclosure as adults, since they are harmless to each other and do best living communally rather than being separated out. A secure, well-fitting lid is essential from the start, since escapees can establish themselves indoors given warmth, food and shelter.
Adult care and reproductive changes
Adults live naturally in large colonies and continue breeding readily once established, so population growth should be anticipated and managed through enclosure size and rehoming surplus individuals rather than left unchecked. Males hiss more than females, particularly during contests over mates or territory within the colony; this hissing, produced by forcing air through abdominal spiracles, is normal communication rather than a sign of distress or aggression toward keepers.
Later life and changing needs
With good husbandry, individual hissing cockroaches can live two to five years, and colony health depends entirely on stable temperature, humidity and hygiene rather than individual treatment, since few vets treat invertebrates. A general decline in colony activity, a sudden die-off, or visible mites across many individuals signals an environmental problem such as poor ventilation, overcrowding or inadequate cleaning that needs addressing promptly.
Diet and feeding
Fruit, vegetables, oats and commercial roach chow
Offer a varied diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, oats and a commercial roach chow or similar prepared insect diet, removing uneaten fresh food within a day or so before it moulds in the warm, humid enclosure. Variety supports healthy growth and reproduction across the colony rather than any single foodstuff being essential.
Provide a steady water source such as a shallow dish with a sponge or water crystals designed for insects, since cockroaches can drown in open standing water. Avoid overfeeding fresh produce relative to colony size, since excess rotting food is a common cause of mould and mite problems in enclosed, humid setups.
Daily care and ongoing checks
Every day
Check temperature (ideally 24 to 29°C) and humidity (around 60 to 70 percent) daily, since this species needs warm, humid conditions to thrive but poor ventilation alongside that humidity encourages mould and mite infestations. Confirm the lid and any mesh ventilation panels remain secure, since hissing cockroaches are capable climbers and persistent escape artists.
Regular maintenance and prevention
Remove uneaten fresh food and check for mould on substrate, bark or egg cartons used for hiding and climbing. Look over a sample of the colony for mite infestation, dehydration or unusual lethargy, and clean and refresh substrate on a regular schedule to prevent waste and food residue building up in the warm enclosure.
Behaviour and compatibility
Hissing by forcing air through spiracles when disturbed or during male contests, communal clustering
- With children
- Good introductory invertebrate for children, as they are slow and harmless
- With other animals
- Keep as their own colony, away from predatory pets
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Mite infestations
- Colony collapse from poor ventilation or overcrowding
- Dehydration
Few vets treat invertebrates; colony health depends mainly on stable husbandry
Special care requirements
Secure the lid firmly, as escapees can establish themselves indoors given warmth and food
Colony housing, humidity and secure containment
Hissing cockroaches are naturally colonial and should be kept in groups rather than alone, with a secure, well-fitting lid at all times; this species is a capable climber and escapee, and established indoor populations are a genuine risk given the right warmth and food, which is also why they are banned in a few jurisdictions.
Balance this species' need for warmth and humidity (around 24–29°C and 60–70% humidity) with adequate ventilation, since the same conditions that keep them comfortable readily encourage mould and mite infestations if the enclosure is not cleaned and aired regularly.
Before you take one on
Sources and further guidance
These welfare and veterinary resources inform general husbandry advice; they do not certify this profile or replace a species-experienced professional. Confirm exact environmental settings and feeding plans for your animal.
Quick answers
- Do Madagascar hissing cockroaches make good pets?
- They are hardy, harmless and easy to keep: they do not bite, need no special lighting, and eat fruit, vegetables and dry dog or fish food. They hiss by forcing air through breathing pores. Males have prominent horn-like bumps on the pronotum, the shield behind the head; females have much smaller ones. Smithsonian's National Zoo: Animals
Can your home meet madagascar hissing cockroach needs?
- Plan for a lifespan of 2–5 years, including holiday cover and, where one is available, a vet familiar with this species. Lifespan ranges are not guarantees.
- Arrange the social setting before arrival. Social guidance for this species: High; naturally lives in large colonies and should be kept in groups. Do not assume another animal of any species is a suitable companion.
- Habitat priority for this species: Floor area with bark and egg cartons for hiding and climbing. Make sure your setup can provide this consistently. Measure temperatures and humidity with thermometers and a hygrometer rather than guessing.
- Key care point: Secure the lid firmly, as escapees can establish themselves indoors given warmth and food. Discuss diet and any specialist needs with the supplier, rescue and a vet who treats this species, and check local legal requirements before acquiring an animal.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.