The Madagascan roaches have a life span of two to three years. They also produce live young. Each female is capable of bearing twenty to thirty babies at one time. The roaches do not bite. The hissing sound they make is actually air that is being pushed in and out of their sides.
Males hiss loudly when fighting but hiss softly when mating.
In sexing these insects the male has horns on the top of his head. The female is lacking these horns and the top of her head is smooth. The Madagascan offspring are a perfect feeder insect for all reptiles and amphibians. The Madagascan roach can be bred with ease for a steady supply of food for any insect eating reptile or amphibian. The cost of maintaining a colony is minimal, which makes breeding them as a food source very cost effective.