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V-horn Hissing Cockroach

🔤 Taxonomy

Elliptorhina laevigata (Saussure & Zehntner, 1895) is accepted by GBIF and the Cockroach Species File. Older literature may use Gromphadorhina portentosa laevigata or Gromphadorhina laevigata; the species moved to Elliptorhina in 1973. V-horn hisser refers to the paired pronotal projections of mature males.

Do not identify a colony from horns alone. Minor males can be less developed, and mixed hisser stock is common in the hobby. Keep acquisition records and isolate it from all other Madagascan hissers.

📌 Description

This is one of the larger Elliptorhina, around 5.5-7.5 cm as an adult. Both sexes are wingless, powerful and able to scale clean glass. Males carry a distinct V-shaped pair of pronotal horns and more setose antennae; females are broader with a smoother shield.

The species works best as a quiet nocturnal display colony. Its slower population growth and greater space requirement make it less forgiving than the common Madagascar hisser.

🌍 Distribution

The V-horn hisser is endemic to south-western Madagascar. Cockroach Species File documents material from Belalanda north of Toliara, but available records are too sparse for a precise internal boundary. The map therefore highlights Madagascar only.

Range map

⚖️ Legal status

The official CITES, EU wildlife-trade and Bern appendices checked on 2026-08-22 contain no listing for E. laevigata. National live-insect, animal-health, import and transport rules may still apply, and old Madagascar-origin paperwork can matter even for long-established cultures. Prefer captive-bred stock and retain invoices, breeder details and any locality history. Never release animals or used substrate outdoors.

🤌 Husbandry

A small mixed group needs at least 35 x 25 x 30 cm and more bark area as it grows. Quarantine additions for 60 days in a simple, separately serviced enclosure. Handle only when necessary and over a catch tub; forcing the feet from skin or mesh can tear tarsi.

ParameterWorking range
Day temperature24-28°C
Cool retreat / night21-24°C / 20-24°C
Relative humidity50-75%, not uniformly wet
Substrate5 cm with leaf litter and rotten wood
FoodPlant foods 2-3 times weekly; protein weekly

💡 Lighting

UVB is unnecessary. Use a stable 11-13-hour light cycle and ensure the bark stack provides permanent darkness. Display lighting should not heat the lid or eliminate the cooler retreat.

🌡 Heating and temperature

Maintain 24-28°C with a 21-24°C cooler zone and 20-24°C nights. Breeding colonies benefit from stable 25-27°C. Warm one side with a thermostatted mat or cable; never heat the entire floor. Temperatures above 29°C combined with dry air can dehydrate newly molted animals quickly.

💧 Humidity and water

Use a roughly 50:50 moisture gradient: one side of the lower substrate stays moist while the other side and much of the surface can dry. This produces about 50-75% relative humidity without stale air. Supply a shallow, pebble-filled water dish or gel and keep vents open. Persistent condensation is a signal to increase airflow, not proof of useful humidity.

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

Provide 5 cm of soil, decayed hardwood and leaf litter. Build stable cork slabs with several gap widths, leaving textured vertical faces for molts. Seal cable ports, cover vents with fine mesh, clip the lid and maintain an escape-barrier band beneath the rim. Keep heavy décor supported from the base so burrowing nymphs cannot undermine it.

🪳 Feeding

Maintain hardwood leaf litter as both cover and food. Offer carrot, squash, apple, pear, greens or mushroom two or three times weekly. A small weekly portion of fish, chick or quality dog food supports growth; remove it promptly in warm humidity. Uneaten food should not be allowed to form a fermenting layer below the bark.

🥚 Breeding

Females incubate the ootheca internally and produce live nymphs, represented as viviparous in metadata. A practical expectation is about 20-30 young, though rigorous species-specific culture data are scarce. Sex adults using the pronotum, antennae and terminal abdominal segments together. Stable warmth, low disturbance and numerous retreats matter more than maximum heat. Preserve this relatively uncommon culture by keeping a backup group and never mixing lines without documented provenance.

🩺 Common problems

  • Colony decline: first check crowding, airflow, spoiled food and heat; moving a failing colony into hotter, wetter conditions often worsens it.
  • Failed molts: provide deep crevices, textured vertical bark and a genuinely moist lower layer.
  • Male damage: distribute hides and food; separate excess mature males if antenna or leg injuries persist.
  • Mites or flies: feed smaller portions and remove contaminated surface material while preserving clean lower substrate.
  • Escapes and mixed identity: renew the barrier, inspect the gasket and use dedicated labeled tools.
  • Allergy: cockroach debris is a sensitizer; damp-clean and wear gloves and appropriate respiratory protection during deep maintenance.

📌 Conclusion

The V-horn hisser rewards deliberate colony management: ample bark, stable warmth, a real moisture gradient and traceable pure stock. It is a poor choice for a generic feeder tub but an excellent display for a keeper prepared for slow growth and strong climbers.

📚 Sources and further reading