Keeping invertebrates as pets can be super rewarding, interesting and quite different to keeping cats, rabbits, geckos and tortoises! Invertebrates or “inverts” as we can also refer to them are a whole different kettle of fish (some even eat fish!) and many exotic pet owners quickly add inverts to their collections.
But, are they really worth the hassle? Do they offer much back to their owners? After all, you can’t really snuggle down to watch a film with a praying mantis curled up on your lap… or can you?
Let’s delve into the invertebrate world and see what they’re like to keep as pets along with the amount of care they require.
What are invertebrates?
Let’s bring it back to basics and identify what an invertebrate actually is. Invertebrates are an animal that do not have a backbone or spinal column and they are the largest group within the animal kingdom. In fact, inverts make up around 95% of all known animal species on earth – wow!
As a collective, inverts include many different types of animals, including spiders, scorpions, snails, worms and even crabs and jellyfish. The list is endless and extensive and inverts are pretty much found in every habitat found on earth.
So, could their next habitat be in your home? Let’s take a look.
What invertebrates can I keep as a pet?
When it comes to keeping inverts as pets, there are a wide range that you can choose from. However, not all inverts are made equal and each species has its own environmental, dietary and handling needs, so as always, adequate research is required before you decide to own one.
Some of the most common types of inverts include:
- Stick Insects
- Giant African Land Snails
- Praying Mantis
- Crabs
- Tarantulas
- Cockroaches
- Leaf Insects
- Stag Beetles
- Millipedes
- Centipedes
- Ant Colonies
The list really is endless, and many inverts are super rewarding to keep. When you pair inverts with a bioactive enclosure, you really do have quite the focal point within your home.
For example, a bioactive enclosure for a hermit crab can look beautiful with live plants, hiding spots and climbing structures.
How much care do invertebrates need?
This is a tricky one, as different species take more care than others. However, on the whole, many inverts could be referred to as low maintenance, but their care can be extremely specific. Get their enclosure, diet or even humidity wrong and it can be detrimental to their health.
Many inverts need a carefully controlled environment and once this is set up and maintained correctly, their care can be simple. One of the most common misconceptions is that low maintenance means no maintenance, but close attention should always be paid to any living creature.
Handling requirements can also vary widely. Many inverts are best viewed from afar with little to no handling, including Emperor Scorpions, Jumping Spiders and Whip Spiders. On the flip side, many are handlable such as Giant African Land Snails, Stick Insects and Hissing Cockroaches.
In order to cover all grounds on how much care invertebrates require, let’s choose an invert from 3 categories: beginner, intermediate and advanced care and take a closer look.
Beginner Friendly – Giant African Land Snail
By far, one of the easiest beginner friendly inverts are Giant African Land Snails. They are super hardy, slow moving, easy to handle (slime alert!) and have a simple diet.
Diet
Their main diet can include kale, dandelion, cucumber, carrot and courgette. They have a preference for soft, moisture rich foods that they can easily consume.
They should also be offered high sources of calcium to help with their shell growth and repair, so cuttlebone, powdered calcium or crushed eggshells should be made available.
Housing
A secure enclosure such as a glass or plastic faunarium work really well. A group of 2 – 3 snails should have an enclosure of at least 30 litres.
A substrate that holds moisture is super important, such as coconut fibre or organic topsoil. Snails need constant access to moisture, so misting the enclosure and the substrate is imperative. It is recommended to offer a depth of 5 – 10cm of substrate to allow for burrowing.
We recommend using a hygrometer to measure the humidity, as they require around 75 – 90% moisture levels and a temperature of 21 – 23 degrees Celsius. Misting the enclosure twice daily should achieve this easily.
Enrichment and decoration should be offered including cork bark, leaf litter and hides along with a shallow water bowl.
With a warm, humid and well ventilated enclosure, with a deep, moist substrate, snails will be super happy.
Handling
Our slimy friends are slow moving and non-aggressive so tolerate handling well. Hands should always be clean and moist and are best enjoyed with short, careful interactions. They are delicate creatures, so always take extreme care.
Intermediate Care – Emperor Scorpion
Emperor Scorpions are generally calm creatures, but they do have the ability to strike with their tails and deliver a nasty sting. They are venomous, but are not considered particularly dangerous to humans.
They need more advanced care than land snails, hence why they are in the intermediate category.
Diet
Emperors are carnivorous inverts that mainly feed on other inverts! Their main diet consists of:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Roaches
- Mealworms
Young emperors require food every 2 – 3 days, whilst adults usually eat every 5 – 7 days. In cooler conditions, they can often go for longer periods without food.
They should also be offered a shallow water dish with fresh water daily.
It’s important to note to always remove uneaten prey to avoid injury to your scorpion.
Housing
Emperor Scorpions enjoy a warm, humid environment, similar to their home of West Africa. They are hardy inverts, but offering them the correct environment is crucial to their health.
A glass or plastic enclosure that is larger in width than height is perfect. Scorpions need plenty of space to explore and burrow, meaning that their substrate should be loose such as coconut fibre, or a mixture of organic topsoil and moss. A depth of 10 – 15cm allows for plenty of burrowing behaviour.
Temperatures of 24 – 29 degrees Celsius are optimal along with a humidity of 70 – 80%, so investing in a thermostat and hygrometer is important. Plenty of stimulation should be offered through decoration, such as cork bark, wood, rocks and caves. These help to reduce stress and encourage natural behaviours.
Regular spot cleaning should be undertaken, with a full enclosure clean carried out every few months.
Handling
Emperor Scorpions are not ideal pets to be handled. They are one of the more docile scorpion species, however they can easily become stressed and deliver a sting that hurts!
For this reason, we could view Emperors as display pets only. Avoid handling unless absolutely necessary, and offer food with long forceps. Cleaning the enclosure can also be carried out with long handled tweezers.
Emperor Scorpions are fascinating pets and are best appreciated by observation rather than physical interaction.
Advanced Care – Vietnamese Giant Centipede
The Vietnamese Giant Centipede is a highly venomous invertebrate that can deliver a painful bite. They are extremely fast, unpredictable, and defensive, and should never be handled under any circumstances. For these reasons, they are firmly placed in the advanced category of invertebrate pets.
Centipedes can be kept as exotic pets, but care difficulty varies significantly depending on the species. While a few smaller species may be manageable for very experienced beginners, most centipedes are considered intermediate to advanced due to their speed, escape risk, and venomous bite. Choosing the correct species is essential, as behaviour and husbandry requirements can differ greatly across the group.
Diet
Vietnamese giant centipedes are carnivorous ambush predators that use speed, strength, and venom to subdue prey before feeding. Keep hands and fingers firmly out of the way!
Their diet typically includes:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Mealworms
- Cockroaches
- Morio worms
Once prey is captured, venom is used to immobilise it before the centipede consumes it by breaking down internal tissues.
Young centipedes usually feed every 3 – 5 days, while adults typically eat every 7 – 10 days. Overfeeding should be avoided, as captive centipedes can become sluggish or obese.
A shallow dish of clean, fresh water should always be available.
Housing
Due to their speed, strength, and escape ability, centipedes require a very secure, fully escape-proof enclosure.
A lockable glass terrarium or reinforced plastic enclosure is ideal. Floor space is more important than height, as centipedes are primarily ground-dwelling and burrowing animals.
Key requirements include:
- Substrate: Deep, moisture-retaining substrate such as coconut fibre or organic topsoil
- Depth: At least 10–15 cm to allow burrowing behaviour
- Temperature: 22 – 28 degrees celsius
- Humidity: 70 – 90%
Again, a thermostat and hygrometer are strongly recommended to maintain stable conditions.
Because centipedes are naturally reclusive, the enclosure should include plenty of secure hides such as cork bark, wood pieces, and rock formations. This helps reduce stress and encourages natural behaviour.
Handling
If it’s not already been made apparent, it is not recommended to handle a Vietnamese Centipede under any circumstances.
In fact, centipedes as a whole are generally considered an observation-only pet. Ensure the use of feeding tongs for prey and cleaning.
Final Thoughts – Are Invertebrate Pets Worth The Hassle?
So, is it worth it? That answer depends completely on what you’re looking for in a pet!
If you’re wanting interaction along with a cuddle and a kiss, inverts probably aren’t your best choice. Most species of inverts are best kept as observation pets, where the enjoyment comes from watching them in their environment.
However, there are a range of inverts to suit any experience level. Inverts can be incredibly rewarding, and creating their enclosure can be very satisfying in order to replicate their natural behaviour.
As with any pet, it’s more about responsibility. Inverts may be small, but they still require the correct diet and husbandry in order to thrive. When their basic needs are met, they can be super interesting and rewarding to keep.
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