Why Creepy-Crawly Arthropods Are Quietly Becoming the Most Popular Low-Maintenance Pets

Pets that don’t cuddle or require walks can still be interesting to observe and care for. Many small animals make excellent pets, but some might seem creepier than cute to most people.

Arthropods are invertebrates that have exoskeletons and jointed appendages. Spiders, millipedes, and cockroaches are all arthropods, and some people consider them ideal pets.

While these animals don’t need the same kind of care as dogs or cats, they still have unique requirements. Before bringing one home, make sure you’re fully prepared for the responsibility.

Millipedes

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Something about millipedes gives many people the chills, and if I had to guess, it’s their legs. The number of legs they have varies, but all millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment.

Various species are kept as pets, and while millipedes are usually harmless, some experts say it’s still best to observe them rather than handle them directly.

“If you drop them, you could damage them,” said Brandon Runyon, a board-certified Entomologist with over 20 years of pest-control experience with Swat Pest Management in Evansville, Indiana. “You can stress them out and lower their lifespan by doing that.”

As an entomologist, Runyon’s interest goes beyond pest control. He keeps several animals as pets and for educational talks, including millipedes, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, and various arachnids. His interest in nature, and the role these animals play in it, makes them fascinating for him to observe and bring along for educational talks.

Beyond potentially stressing a millipede by handling it, you risk causing some species to release a foul-smelling, potentially irritating toxin as a defense mechanism. That’s also why you should keep them away from other pets.

In nature, millipedes live in damp soil and decaying wood. As pets, their setup should mimic their natural habitat. “They’re like janitors,” Runyon said. “They break down leaf litter in the hardwoods.”

Millipedes are solitary, so you can keep one on its own. Before you bring one home, learn about substrate options and how to keep your millipede at the right temperature and humidity year-round for its species. While they aren’t known to escape as easily as some other arthropods, if another pet in the home eats or picks up an escaped millipede, contact your veterinarian for guidance, as the toxins it releases could cause stomach upset and other symptoms.​

Spiders​

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Arachnids can make interesting pets for people who find them fascinating or even cute. Jumping spiders have grown in popularity as pets. They have big eyes and can jump.

Jumping spiders are generally considered low maintenance, but it’s important to learn exactly what they need to thrive. For instance, they eat live insects and need a vertical enclosure.

Tarantulas are much larger and can look more intimidating, but many people enjoy keeping them. They can live a long time, so if you decide to bring one home, think about how you will care for your pet for years. While their lifespans vary, some females can live for over 20 years.

Mirosław Kijewski

Holding and handling tarantulas can stress them and pose safety risks, such as falls. Runyon explained that they can flick tiny, barbed hairs as a defense mechanism that can irritate skin and eyes.

As for biting, while it’s uncommon, some species’ bites are described as being similar to a bee sting. The good news is, they aren’t known to escape easily, and when they do, they often don’t travel far and prefer to hide.

Cockroaches​

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Some cockroach species are sold as pets, but they aren’t the same as disease-carrying pests you need to worry about. Cockroaches, such as the Madagascar hissing cockroach, wouldn’t survive in Massachusetts outside their enclosures because they require specific temperature and humidity levels. Madagascar hissing cockroaches are native only to Madagascar.

One interesting thing is that they can hiss by forcing air through specialized breathing openings called spiracles. The hiss can scare off some predators, and it serves other purposes.

They have another skill anyone considering keeping them should know: they can scale smooth surfaces such as glass. One option is to apply a layer of petroleum jelly near the top inside of the tank to help keep roaches from escaping, but it still doesn’t guarantee they won’t make it through. It’s meant to make it harder for them to climb up. Adults are around two inches or larger, but nymphs are small enough to fit through most standard enclosure screens. Madagascar hissing cockroaches are easy to breed in captivity, so if you don’t want a colony, do your research before bringing any home.

Another type of cockroach is the dubia roach. While they are sold as reptile food, some people keep them as pets. Dubia roaches can’t climb glass like hissing cockroaches. They don’t hiss, either.

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While cockroaches might seem like an odd pet, they can be interesting to watch and are relatively easy to care for. They do have temperature and humidity requirements that are important to learn about.

The Responsibility of Keeping Any Pet

​Every animal kept as a pet deserves the right care for their species, and that goes beyond learning about their basic needs. When deciding which pet is right for you, learn what it needs, where you will get it, whether it’s ethically sold, and how you can make sure it gets more than the minimum.

Learning about the behavior of any critters you decide to keep is also important. How will you keep them from being exposed to constant activity and movement, or anything else that could be stressful or unhealthy, and do you know what to look for that indicates the animal might be stressed?

Also consider the safety of other pets in the home and how other family members feel about bringing home a pet like a spider, hissing cockroach, or millipede. After you do your research and decide to bring home a unique pet, remember that being a quiet observer is often best with these kinds.

Melissa Viera is the owner of MJ's Pet Training Academy in Acushnet.