Cockroaches: Smart, Stunning, and Surprisingly Easy Pets
Cockroaches often get a bad rap, but they’re far more fascinating than most people realise. For pet enthusiasts seeking something unique, low-maintenance, and educational, cockroaches offer a compelling alternative to traditional pets. From their remarkable learning abilities to their stunning diversity and resilience, these insects are full of surprises. Let’s explore why cockroaches are becoming an increasingly popular choice for pet owners.
Cockroaches Are Smarter Than You Think
Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches are not mindless crawlers. Recent studies have shown that they possess impressive cognitive abilities, including the ability to learn and remember.
Individual Learning Abilities
A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Physiology demonstrated that cockroaches can be trained through both classical and operant conditioning. In experiments, many cockroaches learned to associate specific odours with rewards or punishments after just a single trial, showcasing both short-term and long-term memory capabilities.
Social Learning and Collective Memory
Beyond individual learning, cockroaches also exhibit social learning behaviours. Research has shown that groups of cockroaches can make collective decisions and retain shared memories, such as preferring certain shelters based on group consensus.
Cockroaches can become familiar with their environment and may recognise regular interactions from their caretakers. While they don’t form bonds in the same way mammals do, studies suggest cockroaches can learn from repeated experiences and respond to familiar stimuli. Over time, they may appear calmer or more responsive to gentle handling and feeding routines, which some keepers interpret as a form of trust or recognition.
These findings highlight the cognitive complexity of cockroaches, making them intriguing subjects for observation and interaction.
Cockroach as Pets: A World of Diversity
With over 4,600 known species worldwide, cockroaches display a remarkable range of colours, sizes, and behaviours. In the UK, several species are particularly popular among pet enthusiasts. Here are some of the most popular:
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa)
Known for their distinctive hissing sound, these cockroaches are native to Madagascar and can grow up to 7 cm in length. They are docile, easy to handle, and very easy to care for, making them excellent pets for beginners. The males have distinctive horns on their heads giving them a striking appearance. Many also feature orange or yellow stripes on their bodies making them unexpectedly beautiful. They can live up to 5 years and breed readily in captivity.
Death’s Head Cockroach (Blaberus craniifer)
Named for the skull-like pattern on their thorax, these cockroaches are visually striking and relatively large, reaching up to 7.5 cm. They are non-climbing, making them easy to contain. They will easily breed in captivity and are impressive specimens.
Giant Burrowing Cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros)
Also known as the Rhinoceros Cockroach, this Australian native is the world’s heaviest cockroach, weighing up to 35 grams. They are wingless, burrow in soil, and have a lifespan of up to 10 years. They are hard to breed and therefore rarer and can go for hundreds of pounds!
Emerald Cockroach (Pseudoglomeris magnifica)
The Emerald Cockroach is one of the most visually stunning cockroach species on the planet. Native to Southeast Asia, this cockroach is a favourite among collectors due to its striking appearance and calm temperament.
What makes Pseudoglomeris magnifica so exceptional is its vibrant, metallic green exoskeleton. Under natural light, it shimmers with an iridescent sheen, sometimes showing shades of gold or turquoise. The glossy, rounded body resembles a living gemstone, which has earned it nicknames like the “Jewel Cockroach.”
In captivity, Pseudoglomeris magnifica is easy to care for and does not emit unpleasant odours. It prefers a warm, humid climate and is usually most active at night. Because of its calm nature and low maintenance needs, it’s increasingly popular in the exotic pet trade — especially among those who appreciate insects for their beauty and ecological value.
The Emerald Cockroach is a living example of how misunderstood this group of insects can be. Far from being dirty or dangerous, it offers a glimpse into the hidden elegance of nature’s recyclers.
Question Mark Cockroach (Therea olegrandjeani)
A true showpiece among cockroach collectors, the Question Mark Cockroach is named for the white, punctuation-like shape on its pronotum. It is so unusual looking, most do not recognise it as a cockroach at all! Native to India, this cockroach has a polished, black-and-tan body that looks almost painted.
It is non-invasive, easy to keep, and completely harmless. Due to its elegant markings and manageable size, it’s often kept in terrariums and displayed in insectariums worldwide. Its calm temperament makes it ideal for educational use in schools and science centres.
A similar looking species to the Question Mark Cockroach is the Domino Cockroach (Therea petiveriana), also native to southern India. This cockroach displays a similar bold black-and-white pattern reminiscent of its namesake game piece. This pattern serves as a form of mimicry, deterring predators by resembling the warning colours of more dangerous insects
Resilient, Calm, and Low Maintenance
The old joke that Twinkies and cockroaches will be the only thing to survive nuclear war does have truth to it. Cockroaches are renowned for their incredible hardiness, making them ideal pets for those seeking low-maintenance companions. They also make great pets for children as they are non-aggressive and can survive a fall and are not easily damaged.
Survival Skills
Cockroaches can survive without food for up to a month and without water for a week. Some species can even withstand freezing temperatures and high levels of radiation. Their ability to slow their metabolism allows them to conserve energy during harsh conditions. Incredibly, certain cockroach species have been known to survive without their heads for several days, thanks to their decentralised nervous system and ability to breathe through spiracles located along their bodies.
These traits make them some of the most resilient creatures on Earth. For pet owners, this means that cockroaches are highly resilient to occasional care lapses and remain hardy even in fluctuating household conditions. As mentioned, if accidentally dropped, a cockroach seems unfazed. Though, we will always encourage pet owners to spoil their pet cockroaches and take the best care of their 6-legged children!
Easy Care Requirements
Most pet cockroach species require minimal care.
Usually, a simple glass enclosure with ventilation screen is appropriate. However, they can also be kept in bug nets. Many cockroaches like warmer temperatures so a heat mat might be put under or to one side of the tank, according to the needs of the species.
Then you just need the appropriate substrate which is usually just dirt and leaf litter and some pieces of wood and cork bark to climb on.
Food is very simple, mostly a diet of fruits, vegetables, and occasional dry pet food or fish flakes. Many species also enjoy eating rotting wood and fallen leaves which makes up the substrate. A small water dish can be provided or gentle misting daily.
They do not require frequent cleaning, and their waste is minimal. You can keep cockroaches with isopods (rolly polly bugs) who will actually act as a clean-up crew and eat the cockroach’s waste in a bio active set up. Many exciting and colourful species of isopods can live happily with a variety of cockroach species.
Their resilience and straightforward care make cockroaches suitable for both novice and experienced pet owners.
Gentle
Cockroaches generally do not bite at all. Sometimes they might nibble something tasty left on your hand, but generally speaking, they are no danger to children or adults. These gentle invertebrates are perfect for those who might want an edgier looking pet without any risks involved.
Social Creatures with Unique Behaviours
While often perceived as solitary, many cockroach species exhibit social behaviours that can be fascinating to observe. They communicate through a combination of touch, sound, and chemical signals, allowing them to coordinate activities such as foraging or shelter-seeking. Some species even demonstrate learning and memory, making their interactions surprisingly complex. Observing these behaviours can offer a deeper appreciation for their intelligence and adaptability.
Group Living
Species like the Madagascar hissing cockroach thrive in groups, displaying social hierarchies and communal behaviours. Within these groups, individuals may compete for status, particularly males, who use distinctive hissing sounds during interactions. They often groom one another and share hiding spots, reinforcing social bonds. Keeping them in small colonies allows owners to witness these group dynamics firsthand, making them even more engaging as pets.
Communication
Cockroaches communicate through chemical signals called pheromones, which they use to find food, mates, and shelter. Some species also produce sounds for communication, such as the hissing of Gromphadorhina portentosa.
Madagascar hissing cockroaches produce their signature hiss by forcefully expelling air through small openings in their abdomen called spiracles. Unlike most insects, which use sound by rubbing body parts together (stridulation), hissing cockroaches use this unique method of air compression to create a distinct hissing noise.
They have different types of hisses for different situations—such as warning off threats, attracting mates, or asserting dominance among other cockroaches. These vocalisations are not only fascinating to observe but also give insight into their social structure and communication methods.
These behaviours add depth to the experience of keeping cockroaches as pets, offering opportunities for observation and study.
Cockroaches as Pets: A Growing Trend
The interest in keeping cockroaches as pets is on the rise. Species like the Madagascar hissing cockroach and the Death’s Head cockroach are readily available from reputable breeders and pet stores. Online communities, such as Reddit’s r/roaches, provide valuable resources and support for new and experienced keepers alike.
Keeping cockroaches as pets is legal in the UK, and their care aligns well with the lifestyles of urban dwellers and those with limited space.
Educational and Ethical Pet Choice
Cockroaches offer educational value, especially for children and students interested in biology and entomology. Observing their behaviours, life cycles, and social interactions can provide hands-on learning experiences.
Additionally, cockroaches are an ethical pet choice. They are not sourced from the wild, as they readily breed in captivity. This reduces the impact on natural ecosystems, and their care requirements have a low environmental footprint.
Conclusion
Cockroaches are intelligent, diverse, resilient, and low-maintenance pets that can offer unique and rewarding experiences for pet owners. Their fascinating behaviours and ease of care make them suitable for a wide range of individuals, from curious beginners to seasoned enthusiasts.
Getting a pet cockroach might also be the perfect way to get over the fear of cockroaches (Katsaridaphobia) or insects in general. By adopting a cockroach and dedicating your time to love and care for it will change the way you think about these often misunderstood creatures. The continuous exposure will also train your brain to stop seeing these animals as threats and more as fascinating beings that you might get more attached to than you think!
If you have a fear of cockroaches or any other animal, please get in touch with Creature Courage to find out how you can overcome your phobia in as little as one day!
If you’re looking to explore the unconventional and discover the remarkable world of cockroaches, now is the perfect time to consider these incredible insects as your next pet.
