We recently aquired aprox. 20 mixed E. Prosticus (10 adults - mixed juvies and nymphs). We have them on 7-8 inches of dry peat moss substrate and we keep them at around 80deg.; feed them catfood and veggie/fruit, with occasional cooked meat pieces.
How long til we see nymphs? How long is the breeding cycle, from mating to birth?
How old are the females at maturity? Males?
How long do they live?
What's the easiest way to tell females from males?
First: Get them off of that deep substrate. 2" will be fine. Better if it is cypress mulch (uncolored).
Second: Don't feed them cooked meat. Fruits, vegetables, and dog, cat, or fish food is fine/best for them.
Third: Questions that include the phrases "How long..." and "How old..." generally rely on other variables like available food, water, consistency of temperature, etc.
Helpful hint: Google.com
So your answers are as follows:
Nymphs may show up any day now to 4 months, depending on the age of your adults and if any are already in production.
Mating to birth under perfect conditions...maybe 3 months.
Males mature faster than females in most roach species, and depending on how slow or fast they grow which depends on how high the temps are, how much water they get, and how much food they get, and if they are getting the right nutritional balance in thier diet. Maybe 6 months.
They can live a couple to three years under average care. Sometime larger roaches can live a bit longer.
Males are smaller and narrower than females. Look underneath at the last few segments. On females the last section is considerably larger than the last segment of a male.
