Giant Burrowing Cockroaches (Macropanesthia rhinoceros) are the world’s heaviest cockroach species. They’re prized for their calm nature, impressive size and a lifespan far beyond most other invertebrates. Native to the forests of coastal Queensland, they spend most of their life underground in deep, self-dug burrows, feeding on fallen eucalyptus leaves instead of anything you’d find in a kitchen. At Birdsville, Sydney’s small animal and reptile specialist, they’re kept as a quiet, odourless, low-maintenance display animal, better suited to being watched than handled. This pet Giant Burrowing Cockroach care guide covers everything from enclosure setup to spotting the early signs of a problem, so yours settles in properly from day one.

Scientific name: Macropanesthia rhinoceros, order Blattodea (cockroaches and termites)
Also known as: Rhinoceros Cockroach, Rhino Roach
Adult size: up to 8cm long and up to 35g, the heaviest cockroach species in the world
Lifespan: 5 to 10 years
Diet: detritivore, mainly dry eucalyptus leaf litter and bark
Enclosure minimum: roughly 40cm x 30cm x 40cm for one to three adults
Temperature: 18 to 26°C, best kept below 28 to 30°C for extended periods
Licence requirement: none for native Australian species
Experience level: beginner-friendly with a little research

On This Page: Giant Burrowing Cockroaches as Pets, Essential Supplies, Housing, Environment, Diet & Feeding, Providing Water, Behaviour & Handling, Common Health Issues, Parasite Control, Health, Hygiene & Safety, Toxic & Dangerous Hazards, Sexing, Record Keeping, Holiday Care, Transportation, Compatibility with Other Animals, Frequently Asked Questions

Giant Burrowing Cockroaches are large, wingless, ground-dwelling insects, instantly recognisable by their glossy dark shell and the shield-like pronotum covering the head. They’re terrestrial and fossorial, spending most of their time in self-dug burrows that can run a metre deep in the wild. They’re only really visible when digging fresh soil or coming up to feed. Slow-moving, non-aggressive and completely harmless to handle, they suit anyone after a calm, low-effort display animal over one to hold often.

Essential Supplies for Pet Giant Burrowing Cockroaches

Secure enclosure: a sturdy plastic tub or glass terrarium with a well-fitting, ventilated lid, roughly 40cm x 30cm x 40cm for one to three adults, larger again for a bigger group. Ventilation matters but shouldn’t dry the substrate out too quickly.
Substrate: a deep, moisture-retaining mix of organic soil, coco fibre and sand, at least 20 to 25cm deep so there’s real room to burrow. Keep the lower layers moist and the surface drier, mimicking the wet and dry zones they’d find naturally.
Leaf litter and bark: dry eucalyptus leaf litter and pieces of bark are far more than decor. They’re the primary diet as well as shelter and enrichment, and should always be topped up.
Hides: burrowing is instinctive, but curved bark or a hollow log gives extra shelter while a burrow system is still being established.
Water source: a shallow water dish with stones or a sponge inside to prevent drowning, topped up regularly.
Cleaning supplies: spare substrate, paper towel and insect-safe cleaning tools, kept well away from the enclosure itself.

Everything mentioned on this page, plus plenty more, is available to see and buy in store at Birdsville.

What You May Consider: a thermometer and hygrometer to track conditions at both ends of the enclosure, a spare enclosure for quarantine, and a stash of extra dry leaf litter so the diet never runs low.

Housing

Unlike a lot of other pet invertebrates, Giant Burrowing Cockroaches don’t need to be kept solitary. A small group of one to three adults can comfortably share a single enclosure provided there’s enough substrate depth and floor space to go around. Keep the enclosure somewhere quiet and shaded, away from direct sun and temperature extremes.

Start a juvenile in a smaller enclosure suited to its current size, not a full adult-sized setup, and move it up in stages as it grows.

Environment

Giant Burrowing Cockroaches do well at 18 to 26°C, with no extra heating needed in most homes. Temperatures above 28 to 30°C for any length of time can quickly become fatal, so this is one species where too warm is a genuine risk rather than just a preference. Humidity should stay higher at burrow depth than at the surface; light misting of the lower substrate helps maintain this without waterlogging it. No UVB or special lighting is required. Ambient room light on a natural day and night cycle is enough.

Diet & Feeding

Giant Burrowing Cockroaches are detritivores, and dry eucalyptus leaf litter and bark form the core of their diet. This isn’t optional. They rely on a steady supply of it and won’t thrive without one, so keep leaf litter topped up at all times instead of treating it as an occasional offering. Fresh vegetables such as carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato or banana can be offered once or twice a week as a treat on top of the leaf litter, never as a substitute for it, and any uneaten fresh food should be removed within 24 to 48 hours before it spoils or grows mould. Source leaf litter and bark from a clean, pesticide-free area, not anywhere treated with garden chemicals.

Providing Water to Your Giant Burrowing Cockroaches

A shallow water dish with stones or a sponge inside gives them somewhere to drink safely without any drowning risk, and should be topped up regularly. Light misting of the lower substrate also helps maintain the higher humidity they need at burrow depth. Just take care not to saturate it.

Behaviour & Handling

Give a newly bought cockroach a week or two undisturbed to settle into its new enclosure and finish digging a proper burrow before attempting any handling. Giant Burrowing Cockroaches are calm, slow-moving and non-aggressive. They may produce a soft hissing sound by pushing air through their spiracles when disturbed; this is normal and not a sign of distress. Handling is safe and doesn’t call for any special equipment. Let one walk onto your hands from underneath instead of picking it up abruptly, and avoid handling shortly after a moult while the new shell is still soft. They’re best enjoyed as a species to watch dig and forage over one you’ll be holding often.

Common Health Issues

Dehydration

Usually caused by substrate that’s dried out completely or a lack of available water. Watch for lethargy and reduced movement. Keeping the lower substrate lightly moist and the water dish topped up prevents most cases.

Mould and Fungal Issues

Excess moisture combined with poor airflow can lead to mould in the substrate or leaf litter, which can be harmful if eaten. Remove any mouldy material promptly and improve ventilation.

Injury from Disturbance

Frequent digging into burrows or excessive handling can cause stress or physical injury. Keep both to a minimum and let established burrows be.

Moulting Problems in Juveniles

Young cockroaches can struggle to moult cleanly if humidity is too low or substrate depth is insufficient. Getting both right for their size goes a long way toward a smooth moult.

Health, Hygiene & Safety

Spot clean uneaten food and surface waste as needed, and stick to partial substrate changes instead of full replacements. These cockroaches rely on established burrows that a full clean-out would destroy. Wash your hands before and after handling or enclosure maintenance, and keep chemicals, aerosols or insecticides well away from the enclosure.

Toxic & Dangerous Hazards

Leaf litter or bark collected from anywhere treated with pesticide or garden chemicals is the main dietary risk. Source it from a clean area or buy it in, rather than gathering it from a roadside or a sprayed garden. Keep the enclosure away from aerosols, air fresheners, scented candles and household cleaning sprays too. Even light airborne fumes can affect an animal this size.

Sexing

The pronotum, the shield-like plate covering the head, is the easiest visual clue. Males generally have a deeper, more pronounced concave scoop than the flatter pronotum of females. It’s not always obvious on a single individual without another to compare against, so confirming sex with confidence is usually best left to an experienced breeder.

Record Keeping

Keep a simple log of feeding and leaf litter top-ups, substrate changes, moult dates and anything unusual in behaviour. Given how long-lived this species is, a log makes it much easier to track their health and conditions over the years instead of relying on memory.

Holiday Care

A short trip away is fine as long as leaf litter and substrate moisture are topped up before you leave. For anything longer, arrange for someone reliable to check food and moisture levels periodically, and leave clear written instructions covering the routine.

Transportation

Use a secure, ventilated container lined with a little damp substrate and some leaf litter. Keep the trip calm and stable, away from temperature extremes, and keep it brief where possible.

Compatibility with Other Animals

Giant Burrowing Cockroaches can be kept in small, same-species groups instead of needing to be solitary, but shouldn’t be housed with predatory insects or other animals that might see them as prey. Keep the enclosure well away from cats, dogs or birds that might take an interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I feed my Giant Burrowing Cockroach?

Dry eucalyptus leaf litter and bark should be available constantly rather than offered on a schedule, since it’s their core diet, not a treat. Fresh vegetables like carrot or sweet potato can be added once or twice a week as an extra, with any uneaten portion removed within a day or two before it spoils and grows mould.

Can I keep more than one Giant Burrowing Cockroach together?

Yes. Unlike many other pet invertebrates, small groups of one to three adults generally do well sharing a single enclosure, provided there’s enough substrate depth and floor space for everyone to burrow without crowding. A tub of roughly 40cm x 30cm x 40cm suits a small group comfortably.

Why won’t my Giant Burrowing Cockroach come out during the day?

That’s completely normal. They spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and are most active when digging, feeding or reorganising their tunnels, which often happens out of sight. Checking the enclosure in the evening gives you the best chance of seeing one above ground.

Are Giant Burrowing Cockroaches dangerous or likely to bite?

No. They’re considered one of the calmest and safest invertebrates to keep, with no venom and no defensive bite. Their only real defence is a soft hissing sound made by pushing air through their spiracles when disturbed, which stops as soon as they’re left alone.

How long do Giant Burrowing Cockroaches live?

With good care, they typically live 5 to 10 years, an unusually long lifespan for an invertebrate this size. Because they live so long, keeping simple records of feeding and enclosure conditions makes it much easier to notice a genuine change over time.

Is a Giant Burrowing Cockroach a good first pet if I’ve never kept an invertebrate before?

Yes. They’re one of the easier invertebrates to start with, tolerant of typical household temperatures, calm to be around, and their diet is as simple as keeping leaf litter topped up. Go in expecting a burrowing, mostly nocturnal display animal, not one you’ll be handling every day.

Visit Us

Head into Birdsville at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria to see our Giant Burrowing Cockroaches in person and get properly set up. If you’re weighing up other low-maintenance invertebrates, our How to Care for Pet Tarantulas, How to Care for Pet Scorpions and How to Care for Pet Stick Insects pages are all worth a look too.