Besides being low-maintenance, bugs have a unique aesthetic that offers something a little different to your household. Not to mention, many of them are a lot smarter than people give them credit for!
Let’s dive into the most interesting and unique insect pets you can keep!
1. Stick Insects
Also known as walking sticks, these critters have a fun evolutionary gimmick – they closely resemble sticks, allowing them to blend into their natural environment. Unlike certain other bugs, you can legally own this unusual pet as it’s completely harmless, and it even enjoys standing peacefully on your hand!
They can range in size from one inch to around a foot long, with females being slightly larger on average. They don’t get aggressive or territorial with their own species, so feel free to keep more than one in the same enclosure.
Speaking of, they spend a lot of their time idle, but you should give them a large enough space for when they decide to move around. All in all, they’re a great beginner pet insect since they aren’t too needy – they just need some leaves, berries, and a slightly hydrated container.
One of their fun quirks is that they tend to swing from side to side while standing in one spot. No one knows for sure why they do it, but experts think they emulate twigs swaying in the wind to help sell their camouflage. Either way, watching them do it can be very soothing and hypnotic!
2. Mantises
This is one of those creatures you see all the time in nature, but mantises also make amazing pets for insect lovers. Just their look alone is enough to win a lot of people over, and they top it off with some pretty unique behaviors too!
Despite their frail-looking exoskeleton, mantises are some of the strongest insects on the planet, with an average grip strength exceeding 220 times their body weight. Female mantises are also known for cannibalizing the males after mating, as they need every nutrient they can get for their offspring.
Unlike walking sticks, praying mantises can be dangerous for other insects, thanks to their varied diet and powerful claws. That’s why they don’t usually gel with fellow bugs, even ones larger than them. They generally don’t like the company of their own kind, either – it’s safe to keep them together as babies, but definitely have the adults separated!
Despite that, mantises get along great with their owners if you don’t outright startle them. By and large, they’ll feel comfortable crawling up and down your arm, and you don’t have to worry about them trying to pinch you.
3. Millipedes
Millipedes used to be gigantic back when dinosaurs existed, but even in their current form, a lot of people find them pretty frightening. Still, those who can look past their strange aesthetic will be rewarded with a pretty amazing pet!
While the Latin name millipede literally translates to “thousand legs”, very few of them even come close to that number. At any rate, the way they move around is a huge part of their appeal, if you’re into that kind of thing!
In terms of caring for millipedes, you’ll want to keep their contact with your skin to a minimum. They tend to release abrasive chemicals if they feel constricted or trapped, which can lead to some painful skin breakouts. A way to get around this is to stick them in a ten-gallon container – this seems to be the minimum required to keep excretions rare.
There’s a common misconception that these guys bite, but that’s actually just centipedes. So, if you ever do need to handle them and you’ve given them a sizable tank, you don’t have to worry about bites.
4. Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
Chances are you’ve had a run-in with these guys in online videos, and despite their threatening appearance, they’re actually a very safe pet to keep. Their “hissing” is a defense mechanism intended to scare off predators, and it’s basically just an air expulsion through their pores. In other words, nothing for you to worry about as a pet owner!
This is one of the cleanest insects you could ever own, so having irritable skin shouldn’t hold you back here. Not to mention, they’re fairly docile and don’t bite, so it’s not like you’ll ever have to worry about irritating them. The cherry on top is that they aren’t fussy eaters, making do with everything from bug pellets to fruits and veggies.
Madagascar hissing cockroaches are also among the longest-living insects, potentially living up to 5 years in ideal conditions. That, coupled with their low price, makes them a lot more cost-efficient than other insect colonies that’ll only stick around a couple months.
In some parts of the world (and even in certain US states), you need a special permit to keep these. That’s because they’re considered by some to be an invasive species, especially if bred and released in large numbers.
5. Isopods
Most insects have visually striking traits, but few are as unique and eye-catching as the isopod. These guys are technically more crustacean than they are bugs, but everything going on under that exoskeleton is pretty bug-like by most people’s definition!
One thing that makes isopods stand out visually is their color palette. You can get these guys in just about any shade you can think of, from black or white to virtually any color of the rainbow. It can make for a great visual detail for your home, not to mention a nice conversation starter!
Isopods can vary significantly in size – for example, underwater isopods with deep-sea gigantism can reach up to 20 inches. As far as your typical isopod, though, you can expect them to hover around the 2-inch range.
Regardless of size, one thing you don’t have to stress about is their diet. Whether it’s leaves, fruits, or vegetables, they’re grateful for anything they can get. In fact, it’s very common for owners to feed them exclusively plant-based scraps from their own meals!
