Cockroaches are among the easiest invertebrates to keep: they need no large terrarium, no expensive equipment and no daily attention. For your first culture to succeed, though, it pays to choose the species well and set up the enclosure properly from day one.

How to choose your first species

To start with, look for a species that:

does not climb glass or plastic – it will not escape when you open the box,
does not fly – adults will not take off during feeding,
tolerates small mistakes in temperature and humidity,
breeds quickly – you will see results soon.

A good example is the genus Eublaberus, e.g. Eublaberus sp. “Ivory”: it does not climb, burrows in the substrate and is forgiving. Species such as Oxyhaloa deusta are easy too, but they climb glass very well – they need a tight lid and a petroleum-jelly strip.

Demanding species such as Polyphaga obscura or Macropanesthia rhinoceros are better left for later.

What you need to start

An enclosure – a plastic box with a lid and ventilation holes covered with mesh. A few litres are enough for 10 animals.
Substrate – coco fibre or fertiliser-free soil; a layer of a few centimetres for burrowing species.
Hides – pieces of bark, egg crates.
Heat – most tropical species grow best at 24–30 °C. A heat mat under part of the box (ideally with a thermostat) creates a gradient, so the animals can choose their temperature.
Food – dry food (e.g. oats, fish flakes) plus fresh vegetables or fruit.

The most common beginner mistakes

Too wet with no ventilation – a quick route to mould and mites. The substrate should be damp in part of the box, not wet throughout.
Too cold – many species survive at room temperature but almost stop breeding.
Too much fresh food at once – leftovers rot. Give only as much as disappears in 1–2 days.
Not enough protein – without it cockroaches may eat moulting individuals. Keep dry food available at all times.

What next

Once your first colony is going, read how to set up a culture step by step and how to prevent mites and mould. Parameters for individual species are in the care sheets.