Invertebrates
Spiders, mantises, scorpions and isopods. Mostly cheaper and simpler to house than reptiles, with no heat lamp or UVB, and with lifespans that run from a few months to three decades depending on what you pick.
The species
Tarantula
Two questions decide almost everything about keeping a tarantula, and most buyers are not asked either one: is it female or male, and is it New World or…
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Praying Mantis
A praying mantis is one of the few animals in this hobby where the honest headline is how short the relationship will be. Most adults live well under a…
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Emperor Scorpion
The emperor scorpion is the large, glossy black one everyone pictures, and it is genuinely among the calmer scorpions kept. It is also listed on CITES…
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Isopods
Isopods get sold as a clean-up crew, which makes them sound like equipment. They are animals, the species differ substantially, and the one that works in…
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What is the easiest invertebrate to keep?
A docile New World terrestrial tarantula is among the lowest-maintenance animals in this hobby once the enclosure is right, because adults eat infrequently and need no heat lamp or UVB. A praying mantis is simpler still but lives only months.
Do invertebrates need heat and UVB like reptiles?
Generally no. Most commonly kept invertebrates do well at normal room temperatures and have no UVB requirement, which makes them considerably cheaper to house than a reptile. Humidity, not lighting, is the variable that matters most.
Are pet invertebrates dangerous?
It depends entirely on the species. Many are harmless to people. Old World tarantulas have medically significant venom, and scorpions sting. None of the species covered here are kept as handling animals, which removes most of the risk.
Related reading
Husbandry fundamentals · reptile-safe plants · feeder insect nutrition · find your pet