Simandoa conserfariam

Mixed nymphs: $8/each

Starter colony (12 mixed nymphs): $80

Detailed Species Stats -Click- Adult Size: Male: 42 mm. Female: 47 mm.

Male: 42 mm. Female: 47 mm. Climbing Abilities: All life stages can climb.

All life stages can climb. Flying Abilities: Cannot fly.

Cannot fly. Mode of Birth: Ovoviviparous.

Ovoviviparous. Care Level: Easy.

Easy. Temperature Requirements: 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.

70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Air Humidity: Not picky.



Not picky. Substrate Humidity: Humid.



Humid. Favorite Foods: Not picky.

Not picky. Locality: Simandou Range, Guinea.

The story of the extinct roach is incredibly bittersweet. It was discovered and described in 2004 from a single cave in the Simandou range in Guinea; the only location it has been found at to this date. In the wild, it lived in the top layers of bat guano and was found nowhere else. A short time after its discovery, the cave was destroyed as part of a bauxite mining project… No cave, no roaches. Surely, this was a tragic end for a beautiful new roach species. However, the scientists who described the roach brought some live specimens back for cultivation in captivity; the species did well and soon the roaches were distributed to hobbyists all over the US. Now, the extinct roach has a new home and is kept alive solely by cockroach enthusiasts all over the world, which is pretty darn cool if you ask me! This gorgeous species is somewhat slow breeding but very tolerant of different conditions. The nymphs like to burrow under bark and loose substrate, and the adults will hide under egg cartons. Antennae nipping is common, but increasing the enclosure size can help reduce or prevent this. The nymphs are just as beautiful as the adults, resembling giant lobster roach nymphs only with more colorful markings. Although the paper describing the species states they lack stridulating organs, adults are still able to squeak loudly when picked up, and the sound is higher pitched than that of other squeaking roaches.