How Necessary is Ventilation?

noivurn

noivurn

First Instar
So, coming into the bug hobby from keeping mice, I was in the mindset of always needing ventilation. Mice need as much ventilation as possible, to avoid respiratory issues due to their sensitive lungs and ammonia buildup from their waste. Coming into the invert hobby, and especially with roaches, I'm now seeing a lot of setups that have very little ventilation, or have no ventilation at all. I was wondering how important it really is to ventilate a big bin? 

Or maybe a better way to phrase that is, what's the criteria for when you should or shouldn't add ventilation? What's the criteria for when you MUST have ventilation? Are there instances where it's better to actually not have ventilation? 

Ugh I'm usually better at phrasing my questions than this, but my brain isn't cooperating. 😕 

I'm probably going to end up at least including some ventilation for the Halloweens, as well as for my newest roaches - just got Dubias yesterday! But I'm still curious. 

 
It depends on the species, but most should have at least a moderate amount of lid and cross ventilation, be it holes melted/poked into the plastic of their bins, or mesh ventilation holes.

Some genera, especially those in the subfamily Perisphaerinae, need very high amounts of ventilation, both lid and cross ventilation, to gestate their broods in a timely manner... Whereas other species like Dorylaea orini, Anallacta methanoides, and Lanxoblatta rudis do best with low ventilation levels, with the first two liking near stagnant conditions. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I agree with Hisserdude, it really does depend on the species, as Blattodea is such a diverse order that what may be true for one species or genus may be fatal for another. Case in point: most Perisphaerinae as compared to most Panesthiinae.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 
I've had terrible luck with Dorylaea orini and low ventilation, no problem with Panchlora and Ergaula and no visible ventilation. Most do need vents.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top