LOVELORN Edmonton cockroach Nibbles has struck it lucky.
Since the lonely Bentley Park College pet launched his quest for roach romance in The Cairns Post, he has gone from sad single to spoiled for choice, carer Debbie Parsons said.
Five female giant burrowing cockroaches are lining up to move into Nibbles' sand-filled glass harem.
"I’m trying to ring around the school to get some sand to set up a bigger tank," said Ms Parsons, the school's scientific operations officer.
Two girl roaches have already trekked 150km along the Kennedy Highway and down the Gillies Range to be with the "refined" roach.
"They were racing each other down from Mt Garnet," Ms Parsons said.
The lucky bachelor showed some misgivings at his first meeting with the strapping Tableland lasses, Ms Parsons admitted.
"They're huge," she said. "They're a good centimetre and a half bigger.
"He freaked out and ran into my hand."
But she said: "He's a bit scared but they're starting to hang around each other."
Nibbles' popularity was all down to personality, Ms Parsons believed.
"He’s a gentle soul," she said.
"He’s quiet, refined … that’s why he’s so popular.
"Nibbles just sits in your hand and goes ‘whatever’."
Three more lady roaches are travelling to Edmonton from Goondi State School, near Innisfail, to meet Nibbles.
