centipedes as pets

@jb78000 (15139)
October 25, 2010 7:30am CST
bugs might not seems particularly exciting pets but some look like they would be more interesting than others. i had stickinsects for a while when a was a child and they did very little apart from sit around pretending to be twigs and produce lots of baby stickinsects. however some seem to have more personality and centipedes for example look quite lively. i also have heard hermit crabs are very entertaining little animals, and quite social. so have you ever had a centipede, or any other invertebrate, as a pet?
2 people like this
11 responses
@marguicha (223128)
• Chile
25 Oct 10
Hi jb, We might have to describe what the word "pet" means. When I was a child I played with thosecentipedes that turn into a ball (don´t know the word in English). We used them (poor things) with my brother to see who would make them go further. and as for racing, we also made snail races. The snails were stubborn though: they either turned aways or just got into their shells. Thinking ot it now, I think we were quite cruel. But at that time those bugs were house pests so grownups did not say anything. We also collected (and cared for) ladybirds but we cared for them and let them go as they were so beautiful.
@jb78000 (15139)
25 Oct 10
millipedes. don't worry, i have heard of much crueler things done to bugs by children than forcing them to race.
@marguicha (223128)
• Chile
25 Oct 10
To tell you the truth, I hadn´t thought about that for the last 50 years. But now that you reminded me of my bad ways, I felt a bit bawdy.
@jb78000 (15139)
25 Oct 10
if your bad ways were just getting beasties to race then i think you should get a halo.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
25 Oct 10
A centipede as a pet I cannot believe my eyes! when I read your post my heart began to race and the hair on my head stood up in fright! I have only one thing to say to you: Sings softly and sweetly: Run rabbit, run rabbit , run run run...........
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
25 Oct 10
In your dreams blue bunny, in your dreams!
@jb78000 (15139)
25 Oct 10
so you have?
@jb78000 (15139)
25 Oct 10
have you added this interest?
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
26 Oct 10
wow weird, as a child i never really had a pet..lol i find those you have mentioned icky!! hahaha i am scared of insects..weird but yes especially centipedes.who would have them as pets??? i mean they are poisonous right? the only pet i maybe could have in the future are dogs or cats. lolz.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
26 Oct 10
i think bugs are probably quite good starter pets for children - easy to look after and kids like them. however they aren't exactly cuddly are they? i think you can tame some, sort of, but you aren't going to exactly have a relationship with them. interesting maybe, if you don't want a hands on pet.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
26 Oct 10
Hello, Judith. Nope, never had an invertebrate as a pet - unless you count my husband when he's had a few too many whiskies and all his bones - including his back bone - turn to jelly. In my book, a pet is something you can play with and take for a walk. Until centipedes learn to fetch a ball, walk to heel or go on a lead, they don't count as pets.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
26 Oct 10
my hamster can't fetch a ball. well she *can* go and pick up a ball of food, she most certainly wouldn't then give it to me. you can get little harnesses for rats, rabbits, and birds though if you want to take them for a walk, or fly.
@hati3kuro (269)
• Malaysia
26 Oct 10
Omg I would rather stay away from it as much as I could... you know they sting, right??? Even seeing one crawling and sniffing, those waving legs and "antennas" would already make me feel uncomfortable.. let alone trying to pet one .. arrrrgghh
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
26 Oct 10
i think if you have pet centipedes they are like fish, best left in their tank. not petted.
@jb78000 (15139)
27 Oct 10
well no, i prefer mammals as pets.
• Malaysia
26 Oct 10
yup...well have u bought one? =p
@blueblink (246)
• Philippines
25 Oct 10
I haven't tried to have centipedes, maybe one day ill try
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
25 Oct 10
Rabbits?
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
26 Oct 10
You can have them for a pet for a whie and then you can cook them
@jb78000 (15139)
25 Oct 10
what pets have you had then?
@shaggin (72144)
• United States
3 Nov 10
I like interesting pets but I really dont care for bugs as pets. Our biology teacher in high school had a hissing cockroach and a centipede for pets in the classroom. They seem like really boring pets to me but whatever I guess things like that arent something you would see every day so its great that the teacher did have things like that for students to see who might not ever get to see those insects in person if not for him having one.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
26 Oct 10
I'm sorry I have to smash those things they're so gross.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
26 Oct 10
OH YES!
@jb78000 (15139)
26 Oct 10
so you adding this interest to 'pets i want to have' too then?
• Philippines
26 Oct 10
NOoOo WAY! the sight of centipedes make me freak out they're gross and theyre dirty
@jb78000 (15139)
26 Oct 10
they are quite useful though, they eat other bugs
• United States
25 Oct 10
Ewwwwwwwww, I hate centipedes! They are disgustingly creepy!...As a kid I had a pet praying mantis and I played with pill bugs and butter flies. Centipedes, NO.
@jb78000 (15139)
25 Oct 10
why is a centipede worse than a praying mantis?
• United States
26 Oct 10
Because a centipede has like a million pointy legs and they move fast as lightening. In some countries they have HUGE centipedes. I was watching a nature show just last week, over in Africa they have a species of centipede that have venomous points at the end of their legs...So to each their own.
1 person likes this
@mhypie03 (683)
• Philippines
26 Oct 10
Oh no! I have a phobia seeing and/or feeling bugs' legs. It's super scary and there's no way I'll get them as a pet. I love animals that I can hug, cuddle and kiss so bugs/centipedes are off of the list.
@jb78000 (15139)
26 Oct 10
no, doesn't sound like your kind of pet. i don't think centipedes like being cuddled.
@mhypie03 (683)
• Philippines
27 Oct 10
Having it as a pet in interesting nonetheless I'm having goosebumps of imagining it myself. HAHAHA.