If you’re looking for a unique, low-maintenance pet, an insect may be a good match. Keeping bugs at home doesn’t appeal to everyone, but rest assured, there is a thriving global community of insect keepers. Land invertebrates are fascinating creatures that provide hours of entertainment and a deep insight into the natural world. If you want to know more, dive into this list of six popular pet insects and what you need to know about them.
1. Ants: Fascinating and Low-Maintenance Pets
Kicking off our list of the best pet insects is the humble, hard-working ant. These sturdy, low-maintenance bugs will keep you entertained with their constant activity and unique social habits. Ants can grow up to an inch long, and you must house them in an ant farm (formicarium). They have simple diet requirements and thrive on small insects and regular drops of sugar water.
An ant colony can live for many years with a queen but will only last for a few months without one. Black garden and harvester ants are the most popular pet species, but ideally, you should choose an ant type from your local area.
2. Cockroaches Are Surprisingly Social
Next on our list is the Madagascar hissing cockroach. While this creepy crawly may not be the pet everyone dreams of, it’s among the most common domestic giant bugs. Hissing cockroaches are a favorite among the invertebrate community because they are hardy, docile, and enjoy human interaction. They are large, striking creatures, growing up to three inches long.
Hissing cockroaches are social insects that like to live in large groups and have a lifespan of up to five years in captivity. You must provide them with plentiful hiding places in their habitat because they like to bury themselves underneath wood and leaves. Hissing cockroaches eat almost anything and enjoy a varied diet of high-protein pellets and lots of fruit and vegetables.
3. Millipedes Can Secrete Toxins When Stressed
If there’s one bug people fear, it’s the leggy millipede. Many people find them creepy, but it’s easy to see why insect lovers choose them as pets. These creatures are fascinating to watch, easy to care for, and grow up to seven inches, depending on the species. Some millipedes have hundreds of legs and are super speedy.
Millipedes are incredible insects that enjoy a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables and prefer them soft to slightly rotten. They need a warm, humid environment and a deep, soft substrate with lots of foliage to hide in. One thing you need to know about millipedes is that some species secrete toxins when stressed, which can irritate sensitive skin.
4. Praying Mantis Bond with Their Owners
The alien-like praying mantis is next on our list of the best insect pets and a personal favorite. They are striking creatures that watch your every move with unique rotating eyes and are interactive once you build their trust. Praying mantises are fast and agile, making them deadly hunters in the wild.
Mantises make amazing pets and are carnivores, so they need live food, such as small insects. They can nip your fingers if they mistake your hand for prey. The good news is that their bites are not venomous or very painful to humans. The captive praying mantis lives for only a year, and you mustn’t keep a male and female together. The females are deadly and devour their partner’s head after mating. These exceptional insects grow up to five inches long, are usually green and brown shades, and need lots of foliage and branches in their environment.
5. Stick or Leaf Insects Suit Beginner Keepers
Stick and leaf insects are a favorite among beginner insect keepers and the bug of choice for schools and learning institutes. Stick insects have outstanding camouflage skills and can disappear before your eyes by blending in with their background. These fascinating little creatures are incredibly delicate, so you should only handle them when necessary and be very gentle.
There are thousands of stick and leaf insect species, and they come in many colors ranging from black to vivid green. One of the world’s biggest bugs is a giant stick insect. Most species need a warm, well-ventilated, tropical environment and young, fresh tree branches in their enclosure. Stick and leaf insects thrive on fresh berries and leaves, and you must have a secure lid on the enclosure because some species can fly.
Leaf and stick insects look very different to each other but have the same care needs. Stick insects look like young twigs, while leaf insects look like leaves.
6. Tarantula Care Needs Depend on the Species
The last entry on our list of the best pet insects is the cute and furry tarantula. Terrifying to some, tarantulas are beloved pets to many people around the globe and are good pets for older children. These large critters grow up to 11 inches wide, can live for up to 30 years, and have different care needs depending on their species. Some are burrowing spiders and need deep substrate, while others like to live in trees and need high spaces, branches, and leafy vegetation.
Tarantulas are captivating to watch, but they generally don’t enjoy being handled. The best way to bond with pet spiders is by giving them a weekly treat. Some pet spiders are venomous, but their bites are usually harmless to humans – some people may have a severe allergic reaction. The best beginner species include the Chilean rose and Mexican red-kneed tarantula.
