Lamenting Cockroaches

Ok - It's illegal to own non-native cockroaches here in Florida, and no local insect supplier can get them. Once in a while I see some Madagascar hissing roaches at pet shops, for $15 or more each, but they get away with it because they are selling all females (supposedly). So getting Blaptica dubia is out of the question.

So I'm wondering if I would be able to collect some local species of roaches (palmetto bugs) and start breeding them? Would their nutritional value be comparable?

Opinions and insight appreciated. I know I'll have a few hoops to jump through, as these guys can fly when mature (though they typically don't), so making an enclosure that's secure, but still has ventilation will be a challenge. Maybe a glass cage with a screen lid....

(Brainstorming)

In the end, at least it won't matter if a few of these get out, as they are a native species.

I also know I can collect them relatively safely from work (the zoo) as pesticides, including bug spray are strictly forbidden on their 120+ acre property. I think any of those would have worn off, or been flushed from the system after I have them for a few months (or long enough to establish a colony...)

I'd be worried about them infesting your place! I dunno. I'm kinda against them. I know the tropical kind can't breed when its under 80 degrees, but my house in the summer is very close to that, and I'm sure the outside walls are warmer....

I think if i was living back up in Buffalo, I would have roaches, but right now in Maryland, I'm passing.

Well, the roaches are already around, and the palmettos don't infest as badly as the germans do (mostly because they are larger, and much more picky about their food. German cockroaches will eat anything. Palmettos (aka american cockroaches) prefer to eat decomposing and fermenting vegetation.)

Do you have a compost system at the zoo? if so that sounds like the place to go collecting!

I believe the nutritional value would be comparable because it's really what your feeding them that gives them their nutrition. And, they shouldn't be any harder to keep than Turkish roaches(the males fly) I'll let you know in a week or so since I'll have 1000 turkish in a few days. And if the roaches you are thinking about can climb smooth surfaces then all's you need to do to contain them is put a 2-4 inch strip of vaseline around the top of the enclosure (I've read packing tape works good also but have never tried it. You just have to keep it clean)

They compost or mulch anything they trim there when landscaping, as well as fruits and veggies that are left over from commissary. If I ask the keepers, they will collect roaches for me as they find them too. I'll just put up a note on the bulletin asking for roaches, and I'll be inundated.

hehe I can see a bunch of zoo keepers running around with those screen bug boxes hunting for you

I have a couple of gross stories about those bugs!! Why breed in your home if you have a supply available at the zoo?

because even at the zoo, contamination could occur, after all, those bugs do travel. And also, the ones I get from the zoo are sporadic. I'd rather just round up a dozen or so all at once instead of hunting there every day I work.

See, I thought you had people to wrangle them for you.