These roaches are pretty territorial, so a container size no smaller than a gallon should be provided for a small starter colony of nymphs, ideally when they mature you'd then move them to a larger bin, something 5 gallons big or larger would be nice. Enclosure size can be upgraded to accommodate more individuals as needed.
An airtight lid is a must, as nymphs and adults are excellent climbers. A climbing barrier such as silicone oil or petroleum jelly can be used, but small nymphs may still be able to cross it.
A substrate about an inch or so deep should be provided, coconut fiber, potting soil, peat moss, etc. will work great. Lots of hides in the form of bark slabs, leaf litter, eggcrates, paper towel rolls, etc. should be provided, the more surface area, the better! These roaches like climbing, and appreciate some verticality in their enclosure, so take that into consideration when arranging the hide placement.
This species prefers the upper layers of the enclosure to be dry, with the lower layers under the hides to be more humid, (which can be achieved by only misting/soaking the areas underneath their hides). Alternatively a horizontal humidity gradient can be used, but I can't attest to it's success with this species... This species appreciates moderate to high amounts of ventilation.
Remember, this species is pretty dang territorial, so don't overcrowd them, or they will kill each other, sometimes at an alarming rate...
Diet:
The normal roach fare of dog/cat/chick feed, fruits and veggies works fine for E.lixa. They are a protein loving species, and will cannibalize each other and their ooths if not given enough protein. They also are pretty territorial, so I'd offer at least two feeding areas, so there is less fighting over food.
Temperature:
This species breeds at temps from 70-85F°, but does best when kept in the higher end of that range.
Breeding/Life cycle:
Adults live some 8+ months, with males dying first. Females lay roughly one massive ootheca per week for the first several months of maturity, but slow down and stop laying ooths as they get old. They usually deposit their ooths on bark and cover them in substrate, or bury them, often attached to the submerged parts of their heavier hides, in the more humid areas of the enclosure.
The oothecae take around 3-4 months to hatch, and the resulting nymphs take 5-6 months to mature, depending on temperatures and available food.
Overall these aren't too difficult to breed, and are really big and beautiful as adults! You just have to watch out for their territorial and aggressive tendencies, they'll even take nibbles out of you if you aren't careful! I'd recommend them to any roach enthusiast, as they make for a very interesting species to keep!
