What's the best first invertebrate "pet"?

[MelissaFlipski]

I am getting so much joy from all our critters that I am always thinking about how to expand our collection next. Can you all give me your opinions on best HANDLEABLE invertabrate? By this, I mean about 10 minutes at a time and maybe a few times a week.

Thanks!

[Rapture]

I like arachnids the best, and rosehair tarantulas are usually easy to handle. But then I haven't kept any arthropods, and for those I would do some research on mantids, not sure if they're handleable or not.

[Kagez28]

I prefer lobsters.... you can keep one in a 10 gal fish tank, they don't eat much, and you handle them as much as you want.

plus if you every get tired of keeping one as a pet he can just become dinner

[Gooseman]

I prefer lobsters.... you can keep one in a 10 gal fish tank, they don't eat much, and you handle them as much as you want.

plus if you every get tired of keeping one as a pet he can just become dinner

remind me to not invite you over... my fish tank couldn't handle it...

[CeraDigital]

If your looking for one of the best "in general" invertebrate pets, buy a small colony of Hissing Cockroaches Gromphadorhina portentosa. They run about $1-$2.50 a piece. If they breed, you can easily just feed off the babies to your reptiles, if you have insectivores. They're somewhat low maintenance, and are very placid. If they escape, they won't survive. The climate in your home is too different from what they need. They're large too, at 2+ inches long, or more depending on age.

If you decide on any other invertebrate, and lean towards tarantulas, just note that although they're listed as harmless; they are venomous, and you won't know how your body will react to the venom until bitten. 90% of bite reports are from the Chilean Rose hair Grammostola porteri. G. porteri was formerly listed as G. rosea, but they have been reclassified this year as two separate species. The true G. rosea is very rare.

Most people assume that just because certain species are docile doesn't mean they won't bite. They're very unpredictable. A fall could kill them as well....even the arboreals. Basically, if they jump, you could have very well lost your pet. Choose wisely and good luck There are thousands upon thousands of inverts to choose from.

[MelissaFlipski]

Thanks, guys.

I have thought about hissing cockroaches, but I have a thing about roaches. I might be OK with them since they are large, don't fly, and look different from what you find anywhere in the states. However, it might be running the risk of nightmares. I love snakes, but can't handle roaches. Don't know why - maybe it started after a colony of German roaches stared me down (totally unafraid) from the ceiling as I showered at a friends house when I was 9 yrs old. We had them in our house, too, and used to have roach killing raids at midnight - flick on the light switch armed with shoes on feet and hands while mom was armed with the vacuum cleaner. Maybe I'm afraid they'll seek revenge on me one day? Anywho, enough about me...

Tarantulas are a thought, but I have young children and am not sure about handling with the possibility of a bite or hair flicking.

The mantids are very intriguing. Can anyone speak for them?

Also, I read that it is not recommended to handle giant millipedes b/c of the risk of human hands removing a natural oil they need. Is this true? Also, do their naturally occuring mites have any relation to herp mites?

[Fini]

As a tarantula keeper myself I'd suggest several species as decent "pet" arachnids. Here are a few that I like:

Oklahoma Brown (Aphonopelma hentzi)
Guyana Pinktoe (Avicularia avicularia)
Curly Hair Tarantula (Brachypelma albopilosum) - I have three of these guys and they are as mild as they come. Great beginner T's!
Mexican Redknee (Brachypelma smithi) - Pretty, but can be a hair kicker.
Chaco Golden Knee (Grammostola aureostriata) - Another excellent beginner. Very hardy and docile.
Brazilian black (Grammostola pulchra) - Beautiful, hardy and docile. Can be expensive.

I strongly suggest going through a breeder that sells captive bred tarantulas. Krazy 8 Invertebrates and Botarby8's are both excellent dealers.

Stay away from spiders labeled "birdeater" or "baboon" as these spiders tend to be a little more nervous and are more prone to biting. Do a little homework and stick with species that are found in the Americas as they tend to be a little more gentle than old world species from Africa, Asia and Australia.

[snakelady]

The mantids are very intriguing. Can anyone speak for them?

I've never had them as pets but they are cool in the wild.

[Fini]

Mantids are very cool, but there have been a lot of restrictions put on collecting and importing them, so specimens are very hard to find. If you would like a mantid, my suggestions is to collect one that lives in your general area.

[_Venom_]

Mantids don't last too long either.
I prefer scorpions over tarantulas any day, they're overated.
But T's and Scorpions get stressed easily.

Maybe a big Millipede.