which "insect" pet is best?

[Titch1980]

i have talked to er yet, but im thiking my youngest daughter may like some stick insects or something, are these good pets for a 7 yr old?
if not can you recommend something else?
plus ca i have all advice/info about keeping them, housing etc etc
thaks

[DannyLeigh]

Stick insects would be quite good. Ones like Indian or Vietnamese stick insects should be good, they are bomb proof! Obviously she will have to be responsible, but my brother had stick insects when he was 7, so as long as she is responsible enough, I'm sure she could do it.

[Reptilover]

Stick Insects great if you want to watch...

Not handle.

However when looking at insects for pets you carn't expect something that can be handled, there just not suitable for human contact. You asked which is the "best" insect preferbaly for a 7 Year old. You could have pratically any insect, just with caution and some sensibility. Getting a chille rose tarantula is always a good starter tarantula and younger people find them interesting however adult supervision (Feeding, etc) is needed. They can be kept in a rubbermaid box or fish tank like enclosure which does'nt need to be big.

Praying mantis could be also good, not something to handle but can be quite interesting to watch especially when catching food. Can be kept in old jam jars (cleaned out) with trigs in them. Some are kept a room tempreture whilst others provide heatmats lined onto a habbistat to control the tempreture.

Personally i recommend either Giant African Land Snails (GALS) which can be kept in a rubbermaid or glass tank big with a heatmat. Will feed on anything from lettice to dandelions. They grow very large and will keep kids, never mind adults entertained for hours. Bathing them can be interesting for the children if done right and under supervision.

I would also recommend a trio or 3 female giant african milipede. Big, black and bulky milipedes that need a simple setup. Can be held but excrete a liquid and if ingested can make you ill however with adult supervision or saftey this should not happen making sure they wash there hands before and after they touch it.

Good luck

[herpzane]

I think some indian stick insects would be the best starter. I gave a pair to my five year old cousin and he has had them for well over 2 months without any problems. Yes they are bomb proof lol

[macro junkie]

a prayingmantis would be best imo..they have more to offer..when there adult the males are great flyers which always intrests the kids also a stick insect eats leafs.Boring (yawn) mantids are great hunters..Im sure a mantis would be far more intresting than a stick insect.kids love to watch the mantis hunt and kill a cricket.lol

[DannyLeigh]

The thing is about mantids is that, yes they are cool but, a seven year old may not like having to feed mantids live food. Mantids do rule though!

[Titch1980]

its ok she wouldnt be feeding them, lol
she is responsible, but still i would be in charge of all that so i knew it was being done.
although she said if it was something that "eats leaves and bugs, mum can feed it bugs and i can feed it leaves", lol

[DannyLeigh]

Fair enough, if you feed it, get a mantis! They rock!

[macro junkie]

get a big one..giant asian or sheild mantis.

[Natonstan]

Ive always wanted a mantis but always been put off by them, how fast do they move?