Can a Cockroach Live in Water?

The answer to the question, “Can a cockroach live in water?” is a resounding “yes.” Cockroaches do not have mouths, and they breathe through tubes in their body segments. This allows them to breathe in water and maintain body temperature. It is unlikely that they would drown, though. Cockroaches can survive up to 40 minutes submerged underwater.

Roaches don’t require much oxygen while breathing. They can live in water for a week or more without its head, and their spiracles regulate the amount of water they lose. They also can survive without a head for up to a week without eating or drinking. Because their spiracles are closed when they don’t have a mouth, they can float for long periods of time without a mouth.

If you have a water supply, you can submerge your cockroach in the water for a few minutes and then flush it down the drain. If the roach gets panicked, it will paddle its legs in a frenzied scramble to get air. In some cases, this paddle may guide it to the opening of the drain, although this will make its mobility limited.

Despite being able to breathe through water, cockroaches cannot survive in toilet water. Even if they do fall into the toilet, they do not stay there for long. The water in the toilet bowl only fills the bowl part way and is still full of air at the bend. As such, it is unlikely that a cockroach will drown. Nevertheless, it is possible for a cockroach to climb back up the toilet and enter the sewage system.

Continue reading:

What Cockroaches Are in Georgia? Be Careful About What Cockroaches Are Attracted To, and How You Can Get Rid of Them How Small Are Cockroaches When They Hatch? How Hard Are Cockroaches to Get Rid Of? Can Cockroach Reproduce Without a Mate? Stomping on a Cockroach Can Cockroach Survive Nuclear Attack? How Can Cockroach Live in Cold Weather?