What's the best first invertebrate "pet"?

[MelissaFlipski]

Emperor Scorpion. My buddy has one and he's a sweetheart.

Sweetheart like friendly?

[4theSNAKElady]

Of it's for a kid, I would say millipedes all the way. Super easy care, totally handleable, and dirt cheap for the giant blacks. I had one on mine live for seven years... And they're a cinch to feed. Don't worry about the oils. It looks (and smells) like iodine. JUst make sure you wash yer hands real good after handling.

[MelissaFlipski]

Of it's for a kid, I would say millipedes all the way. Super easy care, totally handleable, and dirt cheap for the giant blacks. I had one on mine live for seven years... And they're a cinch to feed. Don't worry about the oils. It looks (and smells) like iodine. JUst make sure you wash yer hands real good after handling.

What price should I expect to pay?

[BMorrison]

You really have to upset an Emperor to get it to tag you. Usually they only sting if you pinch their claws. My buddy tried getting stung for like 2 hours and "ares" was having nothing to do with it.

[4theSNAKElady]

Melissa, It depends on where you go. I've seen them at shows for $10,but at a pet store expect to pay up to $20

[wendy]

a nice big funnel web!! no no no just kidding! pink toes are sweet, docile. some get nice blue tone to them...and they are reasonable too, try a sling you won't regret it.

[MelissaFlipski]

Dumb question, but I have to ask. I've seen the giant millipedes at shows and pet shops. They always have those tiny mites crawling all over them (I was told this is their natural state). These aren't the same kind of mites that can affect reptiles are they? And why are they there? Is this a symbiotic relationship? Tell me more. Thanks!

[MelissaFlipski]

I finally did it and dove in. I was getting two Northern Leopard Frogs from a rescue and she offered me the hissing cockroaches w/out even knowing I had been meditating on it. So there ya go! I got a few and hope they breed for me.

I am no longer afraid of them since they showed me that they each have their own personality. And I saw a male courting a female with a whistley-hissy song and attempting to copulate with her. Fear melted away with deeper understanding.

All these worlds around us are so amazing!

[RoyalGuardian]

Preying mantis!! I love them so much and they are so much fun! The chinese ones are huge!

[edie]

Dumb question, but I have to ask. I've seen the giant millipedes at shows and pet shops. They always have those tiny mites crawling all over them (I was told this is their natural state). These aren't the same kind of mites that can affect reptiles are they? And why are they there? Is this a symbiotic relationship? Tell me more. Thanks!

I know this is late and you got the roaches but I just wanted to answer this since the thread popped back up.

The mites that live on the millipedes are supposed to be there, they keep the bugs clean and get a meal out of it, it is a symbiotic relationship and the mites should not be removed from the millipedes.

As for it effecting the reptiles - I do not think that the type of mites that are found on millipedes would be able to thrive for long off of one. They live off millipede waste, not reptile blood. They are definitely not the same mites I that I have seen on my snakes.