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.
What really makes them different
Gentle and handleable
Both of these are calm, gentle bugs that careful kids can watch and, with clean hands, hold for a moment. A millipede moves slowly and curls into a coil when shy. A Madagascar hissing cockroach is clean and harmless and makes a fun hissing sound to say 'back off.' Neither bites. The millipede can release a mild defensive fluid if stressed, so wash your hands after handling either one, every time.
Setup and escapes
Both like a warm tub with damp bedding and hiding spots. Millipedes burrow and eat decaying leaves and veggies, living a long time — about 5-10 years. Hissing cockroaches eat fruits and veggies and live about 2-5 years. Here is the big one: hissing roaches are fast, expert climbers that scale smooth glass, so you need a tight, escape-proof lid. Millipedes can stretch and climb too, so clip the lid down snugly for both.
🧠 Test your knowledge
❓ Common questions
Do they bite or sting?
Neither bites or stings. Millipedes may release a mild defensive fluid, so always wash your hands after handling.
Which lives longer?
Millipedes do — about 5-10 years, compared with about 2-5 years for a hissing cockroach.
Will the cockroach escape?
It can if the lid is loose. Hissing cockroaches climb smooth glass easily, so use a tight, escape-proof lid.