| Pet insects and spiders might not be to | | | | Some spiders and insects require special |
| everyone's taste when it comes to choosing | | | | feeding. Hissing cockroaches are easy to |
| pets but they can bring a lot of fun and | | | | feed, preferring fruit and vegetables, but |
| enjoyment. They are not cute and cuddly like | | | | tarantulas need special prey. Leaf and stick |
| a dog or cat, but they can be educational to | | | | insects like fresh vegetation. An ant farm |
| a child. | | | | might be a good idea if you want something |
| | | | simple to care for. The ant farm only needs |
| And most insects and spiders are very clean | | | | feeding once a week with a little piece of |
| and quiet and do not require a lot of social | | | | sugary bread and it can be educational for |
| interaction. They do, though, require the | | | | children. |
| same commitment to feeding, care and | | | | |
| maintenance as a more traditional pet. For | | | | A tarantula makes an interesting pet. |
| example, some tarantulas live for up to | | | | Remember they can die from a short fall |
| thirty years, so be aware of that before | | | | because their abdomen is delicate. They are |
| choosing one. | | | | venomous, some types more than others, but |
| | | | being stung is comparable to a bee sting |
| For a beginner, hissing cockroaches or a | | | | (unless you are allergic). |
| tarantula might be a good choice. Go for | | | | |
| something that is not venomous or delicate. | | | | Scorpions are interesting, too, and there are |
| Leaf insects and stick insects are popular | | | | several varieties. Scorpions do not like |
| but they are quite fragile. | | | | being handled and they might sting. When |
| | | | handled, they become stressed and this is not |
| Before buying anything, you need to find out | | | | good for their health. Scorpions live up to |
| the local laws about keeping your exotic pet. | | | | eight years. If you want a pet you can |
| You also need to find out what its diet, | | | | handle, a scorpion probably is not the right |
| housing and special requirements are. You | | | | choice. |
| need to know how to handle your pet. Some | | | | |
| insects are quite hardy but others are | | | | If you really want a spider or insect as a |
| delicate and a young child could damage them | | | | pet, there is plenty of choice. Make sure, |
| without realizing. Find out if your choice of | | | | before buying one, that you know everything |
| pet is venomous, how to handle it to avoid | | | | about their requirements and do as much |
| being bitten or stung and what to do if that | | | | research as possible to make sure the insect |
| does happen. | | | | or spider is the right choice for you. |
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