Schwarz's Hooded Roach

Compsodes schwarzi

RoachbeginnerHarmlessCommunal OK

No venom, no sting

Pet and feeder roaches are harmless to humans — no venom, no sting, and no meaningful bite. Wash your hands after handling.

About

A tiny, prolific US native 'micro roach' — adults only a quarter to half an inch. Harmless and easy: a small ventilated tub with bark and leaf litter, dry-tolerant but fine with a damp corner, room-temperature to warm. Females tuck small oothecae onto bark; colonies build up quickly. Males can climb and fly, so use a tight lid. Detailed husbandry data for this species is limited, so the values here are conservative — treat it as a hardy, low-maintenance display/cleanup colony.

Taxonomy

FamilyCorydiidae

GenusCompsodes

Native regionsouthern USA (Arizona to Florida)

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentsecretive; hides under bark and debris

Size & growth

Adult size~0.25-0.5 in

Length6.00–13.00 mm

Growth ratefast

Climate

Temperature70–82 °F

Humidity40–60%

Enclosure

Adult sizesmall ventilated tub (24 oz and up)

Substratecoco fiber / leaf litter with bark hides; dry-tolerant

Substrate depth1-2 inches

Water dishOptional

Feeding

Feeding modeOmnivore

Prey sizedog/fish food, fruit, leaf litter

Adult cadencecontinuous (colony)

Times kept: 1