Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 12:03 pm Post subject: DEATH head Pics

BIG BEASTS THESE!

KINDA CUTE THOUGH!
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mark_w · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 5:45 pm Post subject:

Hi Rick

I can't say for sure, but those look like Blaberus giganteus (giant cave roaches) to me. I though that craniifer (death's heads) had black wings? Maybe check out the pics on blaberus.com

Mark.

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject:

Hello
I don't know enough about them to say, they do have the red pattern markings on top of their heads though, pics don't show it very well. Will have a look at a few web sites. cheers.
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Rickeezee · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject:

Had a quick scout around on the net, I found Blaberus Cranifer, giant death head, and I found the giant cave roaches.
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Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

Does it matter? I'm sure they all taste the same Razz

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TFA

The future is bright, the future is a net like pattern.................

I'm NOT an expert, so if you don't want to know my opinion don't ask!!

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:49 pm Post subject:

Would be nice to know, yes they are, like an armadillo, crunchy on the outside soft on the inside, I have tasted them personally! Laughing

Not quite as bitter tasting as crickets.
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Insectsunlimited · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:42 am Post subject: "death`s head"

Hi, Dave @ Insects Unlimited & what you have there are a B. cranifer/ B. fusca hybrid. These are regularly sold as "deaths heads" but are not. The true Deaths heads are Blaberus craniifer & have jet-black wings. This hybrid does have the head markings of the deaths head but the wings of B. fusca. If it`s any consolation, these breed quicker than true craniifer & if you`re using them as a feeder, it`s a plus. I breed & sell these as Blaberus sp. but if you know anyone who has true black-winged craniifer, I`m interested & will pay cash or Paypal. I`ve bought 3 lots as craniifer & they all turned into adult hybrids. Unfortunately, all the nymphs look alike & you don`t find out until they turn into adults 6 months down the line.
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Dave Messer @ Insectsunlimited.

It may be the early bird that gets the worm but it`s the 2nd mouse that gets the cheese.

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 2:12 am Post subject:

Either way I like them and was given them as a gift. They are reproducing and are a huge roach, they are slow to reproduce and not as prolific as my lobster roaches. Thanks for the info Dave.
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Insectsunlimited · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:01 am Post subject:

If they really are huge, they could be a giganteus hybrid. If you look on your earlier post of the giant cave roach piccy, you will notice that they don`t have the little red spots on the pronotum, which come from the craniifer but ALL blaberus species will interbreed. This is the one big problem I have found trying to source pure stock. All the ones I`ve bought in this country have been various hybrids. One lot I bought as Giganteus but the adults turned out a bit small & had those red spots on the pronotum. If you`ve got enough to do me a colony, I`ll have them off you cos they do look a bit bigger than the ones I have. Email me on djmesser@ntlworld.com . I`ve just put all the different ones I have bought in one wacking great tub & left them to it. I just sell them as Blaberus sp. If you want pure breeds, you will have to order from the States & have all the aggro with D.E.F.R.A. getting them in or go to the Hamm show in Germany & bring them back "hand held" Your right with them taking ages & they`re not really ideal as a feeder as most of them can take as long as 6 months to mature. As you know, 3 months is about average for lobsters at the right temps.
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Dave Messer @ Insectsunlimited.

It may be the early bird that gets the worm but it`s the 2nd mouse that gets the cheese.

Rickeezee · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:57 am Post subject:

Have mailed you Dave.
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