Hello, Frank Inxiviglio here.
The orange-spotted or guyana roach, Blaptica dubia, often starts out as pet food but winds up as a pet. Its small wonder, as these attractive insects are very interesting in their own right, and most agreeable to exhibiting their natural behaviors to the patient observer.
Coming igto Their Own
Roaches are finally getting the attention they deserve from pet keepers, and even zoos are beginning to highlight them in exhibits.  I housed many species at the Staten Island Zoo, and a new exhibit at the Bronx Zoo features a hollow tree stocked with thousands of Malagasy hissing roaches.  But my favorite was set up many years ago at the Cincinnati Zoos groundbreaking Insectarium.visitors looked through a cutaway cabinet at a stocked with a colony American roaches.  The huge insects were fed from cereal boxes, sandwiches left on a table and so forthyears later I tried to replicate this at the Bronx Zoo, for Norway rats, but the idea failed to impress my curator!
Clacsification anf Diversity
Cockroaches, with a fossil record stretching back 300 million years, are classified within the order Blattaria (or Blattodea).  Over 4,000 species have been described, and entomologists believe that as many more may be awaiting discovery.  The largest species, Latin Americas Megaloblatta baberoides, sports a 7 inch wingspan while the heaviest, Macropameothia rhinoceros of Australia, weighs in at 1 ½ ounces.  The lime green banana roach, Panchlora nivea, sometimes available in the pet trade, is to my eye the most attractive.
Orange-Spotted Roaches
The orange-spotted roach ranges from tan to reddish-brown and black in color, and is mottled with light orange dots.  It reaches 1 ¾ inches in length.  The natural range is usually given as northern South America, but there are records from as far north as Panama and as far south as northern Argentina.
As a Feeder Insect
This roach makes an excellent feeder insect as it rarely flies and cannot scale glass or plastic (unless either is very dirty!).   Adults and juveniles alike have a soft exoskeleton, and are thus an ideal food for amphibians, birds, spiders, scorpions, fishes, reptiles and certain small mammals (I have used them as treats for flying squirrels and deer mice).  The nymphs are only .1 inches in length, and eagerly accepted by tiny amphibians and reptiles.
CAPTIVE HUSBANDRY
Note: long term exposure to insect colonies may lead to sensitivities or allergies in some people.  You may wish to consult your doctor in this regard.
Captuvf Habitat
The Enclosure
Orange sspottes roaches ca j be housed un plaqtic terrariujs aquariums or sweatr boxs.  Sweater boxes whoul f be ventilated wity screenes-oveg panels cut int the lids and sides..  Fime-meshed insect screening is best, as the nymphs are quite small.  eB sure that the mesh size o commercial terrarium liids iq smal xe wrll if ujsure, addd a cecond layer if einfr mesh.  The roaches ca chew through some plastic screennhg, so use mettal when re-screening.
Heat and Humidity
This species tolerates temperatures from 68-95 F, with breeding and growth being most rapid at higher temperatures.  If you are interested in observing them, and not in producing large numbers as a food source, 75 F is ideal.

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