Millipede vs 
Hissing Cockroach: Which Pet Should You Get?
Torn between a millipede and a hissing cockroach? Here's an honest side-by-side look at cost, care time, space, and kid-friendliness — using the same data that powers our pet quiz.
| Millipede | Hissing Cockroach | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $8–$18/mo | $5–$15/mo ✓ |
| Space needed | Small space | Small space |
| Daily time | A little | A little |
| Cuddle factor | Some cuddles | Some cuddles |
| Experience needed | Great first pet | Great first pet |
| Lifespan | 5–10 years | 2–5 years |
| Kid-friendly | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Allergy-friendly | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Choose a millipede if…
- you want a friend who'll be around for years (5–10 years vs 2–5 years)
Choose a hissing cockroach if…
- you want the lower monthly cost (about $5–$15 vs $8–$18)
- you'd rather start with a shorter time commitment (2–5 years vs 5–10 years)
Millipede at a glance
Millipedes — including the popular giant desert and African millipedes — are calm, slow, low-cost pets that gently curl around your fingers. They burrow, munch decaying leaves, and ask very little. A wonderful, low-stress first "bug" for gentle kids (with hand-washing).
Hissing Cockroach at a glance
Madagascar hissing cockroaches are clean, gentle, wingless giants that calmly walk across your hand and "hiss" when surprised. They're cheap, hardy, nearly odorless, and a brilliant, brave first bug — and far friendlier than their reputation suggests.