Feel free to re-read the post headline as many times as you want. It's still going to say hissing cockroaches make great pets. Unusual, yes, but that's only because the general population is suffering the illusion that hamsters are somehow better pets to have. Hamsters are actually a bit loopy in a "Fingers taste much better than seeds" sort of way, or a "Dingo ate mah baby" sort of way. You get the picture.

Madagascar hissing cockroaches do not bite and are exceptionally clean. Of course, any kind of hand-reared roach is going to be exceptionally clean. That doesn't really help much if you're not a born entomologist.

This is a bloody big roach, the very thing most people won't be able to get past. Don't bring Fluffy out at dinner parties. In fact, don't even mention Fluffy the Roach at dinner parties.  

So how big will your Madagascar hissing cockroach grow? They can grow up to three inches long and one inch wide. However, the roach doesn't smell. It won't chase the postman, although that would be really cool to see…well, right up until the moment the postman squashed Fluffy with his heel. (If that's even possible. Remember, three inches.)

According to Pet Place, "Sometimes a colony will hiss for no apparent reason". I don't know if I should find that sentence as hilarious as I do, but there you go. 

I don't want a roach, but you might. Apparently, roaches make great pets for kids: No walking; no housebreaking; no expensive obedience lessons. I'm not entirely sure what kind of toys you'd buy for your roach, though. 

On the off chance that you do start dating an entomologist, however, this beauty will score you big, big cool points. 

Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches

Posted by Rhonda.