Discussion thread - What's your favorite genera/species?

We don't have casual conversations here on the forum very much, so let's change that!

Please tell us which genera or specific species of cockroach you like the most and why. Info-dumping is highly encouraged - I'd love to see this thread generate a healthy amount of discussion. The whole point is to just talk to one another.

I'll start:

My favorite species of roach right now is Schizopilia fissicollis, the flat-bark roach.


Via Wikipedia

Via iNaturalist

This is a tropical species from South America. As a matter of fact, a lot of my roach favorites come from South and Central America. As the name implies, they're very, very flat-bodied and they are this way from nymph to adult. As you can see in the first image, they have a unique pronotum shape. It really makes them stand out from every other genera. They have a lovely grape coloration and their wings look like rose petals to me. Additionally, they're a diurnal and arboreal species. All of these characteristics combined puts them at the top of my list. They're so beautiful, so unique in shape, and so gentle. They're the ultimate cockroach to me.
The only downside for me is their size. I really really wish they were larger- roughly the size of Blaberus species. They would be perfect like that.

I have a starter colony from TJ (@Hisserdude) that I hope to work intensely with. They'll be my project species - I'll work to see if any strains can be isolated. I have a 50 gallon arboreal-style enclosure for them that I'm going to decorate with a tropical aesthetic and will be using it as my main display tank once I establish a proper colony.

The Zetoborinae family is slowly starting to become available in the U.S hobby and I'm extremely excited for it. Thank you to TJ as always for his never-ending efforts!

Honorable mentions are the Blaberus species, as I love how large they are and how they look when they hang from vertical surfaces. I first saw B. giganteus when I visited Nashville's zoo and they were housed in an arboreal-style tank with a cave aesthetic. I was so wowed by how they looked. Caves + roaches just do it for me.

Contrarily, I am not a fan of the pest-looking species, including those that run fast. I like a gentle-giant type species. That's my wave.

How about you?

My favorite for a good while now has been Thorax porcellana. My second favorite is Plectoptera poeyi.
I can't wait to have a whole bunch of both but it has been slow going.
I don't have great photos of either of them. But here is a large P. poeyi nymph and an adult female T. porcellana.

Oh gosh, there are so many that I find fascinating. I only currently keep 3 - Dubia, B. lateralis and P. nigra so my actual knowledge is limited. I do have an order from @Hisserdude placed so I'll be adding another species (plus a color variant)

I really love the look of Domino and Question Mark roaches - I find the chonky rounded body shape appealing. I plan on adding some the next time I go to the local reptile store hopefully - they were out of stock last time I checked.

Eucorydia overall are also really beautiful! I seem to gravitate towards the colorful species I guess, lol.

I'm also quite fond of others like Peppered Roaches, Warty Glowspot and basically any and all Blaberus or Gyna species. Honestly, other than German and American roaches (mostly because of the possibility of escapees and infestation), there isn't really anything I wouldn't give a shot! Especially if they were a more diurnal species.

*edit to add* How could I forget Hissers? While I don't have any yet, they're another species I want to add.

Bhjjr said:

My favorite for a good while now has been Thorax porcellana. My second favorite is Plectoptera poeyi.
I can't wait to have a whole bunch of both but it has been slow going.
I don't have great photos of either of them. But here is a large P. poeyi nymph and an adult female T. porcellana.

Click to expand...

I've not seen either of these species before. I'm especially intrigued by the T. porcellana. At first glance I thought it was a snail. Really interesting and cute body-shape! Tell me more about them. How large do they get on average? Are they quick runners? Do they do anything that makes them stick out from other roaches?

Pounces said:

Oh gosh, there are so many that I find fascinating. I only currently keep 3 - Dubia, B. lateralis and P. nigra so my actual knowledge is limited.

Click to expand...

I understand where you're at. This is still somewhat true for me. Hard to pick a favorite when you're unaware of the existence of 90% of them

Dominoes are definitely an easy pick. They are certainly really cute! I haven't gotten any yet because I'm waiting for the U.S hobby to get it's facts straight with the stocks' I.D's. If I'm remembering correctly, TJ believes the domino roaches in the hobby are not true petiveriana, and I think he's amongst the few that does have a stock of true petiveriana. There's some confusion and debate around that genera so I'm going to wait until we figure it out lol.

Sounds like you don't exactly have a favorite genera or species yet but a favorite type instead, which is just as good! I like all of those genera, too. If it doesn't look like you'd find it in a cluttered basement, I like it.

Dianna said:

I've not seen either of these species before. I'm especially intrigued by the T. porcellana. At first glance I thought it was a snail. Really interesting and cute body-shape! Tell me more about them. How large do they get on average? Are they quick runners? Do they do anything that makes them stick out from other roaches?

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Thorax porcellana doesn't bolt. I haven't seen them fly. The very young feed from the mother. Just a guess on size but the adult females might be 3/4" and males are smaller and thinner. They do seem prone to fungal infection.

Bhjjr said:

Thorax porcellana doesn't bolt. I haven't seen them fly. The very young feed from the mother. Just a guess on size but the adult females might be 3/4" and males are smaller and thinner. They do seem prone to fungal infection.

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They feed from the mother?? Like, she's giving them something from her body? I can't imagine roaches produce milk. That's crazy cool! I was interested in getting them before but now I'm almost coveting them.