Why do you keep them?

[drotski]

Just asking the question, curious of the answers. Why do people intentionally keep these animals? I don't see anything about them that sounds appealing...I occasionally come across native species in the wild, and hate them.

Please change my mind on this!

 

[jrh3]

Why did you join the forum then?

 

[CosbyArt]

Why did you join the forum then?

As it was asked in the Centipedes and Millipedes area so I imagine it is that and not mantids/mantis

Regarding the original post I'm not much help. I'm not a fan of centipedes and their often poison bites, kinda of like you not a fan; however, people also keep other things that bite/sting so there you go.

Millipedes though are a interesting species - all their legs, how they move, some are huge in size, etc. Like anything people keep what interests them - much like a recent thread I saw someone keeping black widows. Take a look at some information on each and see what interests you about them.

 

[Aryia]

I'm not a fan of millipedes or centipedes but I can imagine that they (like any other animal) can be fascinating to watch. I'm super scared of spiders but I still love watching them hunt/eat prey and if I weren't so scared I might even keep one as a pet. Same thing with snakes, I've met a lot of people with the "Dead snake is the better snake" ideology. They don't do much as pets, but they're fascinating to watch. You could even call ball pythons very expensive pet rocks (or jewels with the hefty price tags some of them have).

Some people like having pets they can relate to and socialize with. Others just like having them to observe. Kind of similar to "what's the point of having a goldfish?".

 

[Orin]

Some people are able to appreciate their beauty without the conditioned hatred you say you possess.

The colors on many of the millipedes are unrivaled and they are cute, harmless detritivores.

People who keep centipedes like them for their powerful appetite in much the same way as mantis owners, but also for their creepiness.

 

[Sticky]

I love my millipedes. I decided to try some. Im not sorry I did! They are gentle creatures and are fun to watch. I have some flamelegs, so beautiful! They are red and black with an amazing shine, and thier legs are sort pink near the body with brilliant yellow. Thier antennae are pink. So cute!

I bought so nice giant black ones here on the forum. They grow to be 9" in length. They are gentle too. They like some of the treats I put in like cucumber slices.

I want more millies!

 

[CosbyArt]

I'm not a fan of millipedes or centipedes but I can imagine that they (like any other animal) can be fascinating to watch. I'm super scared of spiders but I still love watching them hunt/eat prey and if I weren't so scared I might even keep one as a pet. Same thing with snakes, I've met a lot of people with the "Dead snake is the better snake" ideology. They don't do much as pets, but they're fascinating to watch. You could even call ball pythons very expensive pet rocks (or jewels with the hefty price tags some of them have).

Some people like having pets they can relate to and socialize with. Others just like having them to observe. Kind of similar to "what's the point of having a goldfish?".

I'm in the same boat, with all the flies and feeders I thought having a trapdoor spider would be a great addition - but my wife says if I get any spider, me and my bugs and their cups will be living outside.

A pet rock is a great and seemly accurate analogy. My sister and cousin kept red ball pythons and such for years - keeping each other interested in them. Seems the only interaction they had from them really was they moved during feeding time.

I love the "what's the point of having a goldfish?" line. People get goldfish to solve the big mysteries in life, such as the meaning of life... swim. eat. poop. repeat. (old Commander Keen reference to the Dopefish). I've had fish off and on my whole life, they are interesting to watch but seems to get old with all the tank cleanings/water changes and moving it all when changing houses.

Some people are able to appreciate their beauty without the conditioned hatred you say you possess.

The colors on many of the millipedes are unrivaled and they are cute, harmless detritivores.

People who keep centipedes like them for their powerful appetite in much the same way as mantis owners, but also for their creepiness.

Interesting enough I found that Glomeris seem to be close to my isopod colony I keep (they have tons of nymphs now). So it might be worth trying out a species of millipede too. Peter has many varieties of millipedes available at his store, any recommendations to get started?

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Millipedes are epic to hold. All those tickly buggy toes. They are super fun to watch walking about.

Centipedes although not something you want to hold, are also fun to watch. They have a very interesting movement to them.

I'm in the same boat, with all the flies and feeders I thought having a trapdoor spider would be a great addition - but my wife says if I get any spider, me and my bugs and their cups will be living outside.

Even adorable jumping spiders? They even chase laser pointers. Try breaking her in slowly to the eight legged ways.

 

[Orin]

Interesting enough I found that Glomeris seem to be close to my isopod colony I keep (they have tons of nymphs now). So it might be worth trying out a species of millipede too. Peter has many varieties of millipedes available at his store, any recommendations to get started?

I'm partial to the albino Narceus and there aren't many around (fortunately they are long-lived). However, I've never had one of the tiny Glomeris and the spotted one looks pretty neat.

 

[CosbyArt]

Even adorable jumping spiders? They even chase laser pointers. Try breaking her in slowly to the eight legged ways.

Thanks for posting that, never seen them chase lasers before. I think it made her more scared now lol. I showed it to her and it took a few seconds to soak in that it was a spider

I'm partial to the albino Narceus and there aren't many around (fortunately they are long-lived). However, I've never had one of the tiny Glomeris and the spotted one looks pretty neat.

Nice, seems they are in my area but I don't remember ever seeing them in the wild (or any millipedes for that matter in many years, just centipedes). They do have a nice look, and perhaps if needed I could pass them off as my isopods I'll have to see what he has available when I go to order.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Thanks for posting that, never seen them chase lasers before. I think it made her more scared now lol. I showed it to her and it took a few seconds to soak in that it was a spider

Jumping spiders are awesome. They are like the mantis version of the spider world. Super good eyesight and visually based. Plus they are a tiny, fuzzy, adorable little puffs with legs.

Usually when someone mentions they are terrified of spiders I go with a video of the peacock jumping spider. They are too silly to be scary.

 

[Orin]

Nice, seems they are in my area but I don't remember ever seeing them in the wild (or any millipedes for that matter in many years, just centipedes). They do have a nice look, and perhaps if needed I could pass them off as my isopods I'll have to see what he has available when I go to order.

You won't find the albino but the normal color form is still a nice animal. The giants can be very common in old growth areas, even very small patches, but old growth is difficult to find in the midwest.

 

[Mantis Man13]

Cool topic

 

[CosbyArt]

I thought I'd try some as a pet to see for myself.

So far I captured three centipedes and they appear to be Lithobius forficatus. They are about 2" long, were hiding under rocks, and are extremely fast runners (I would have seven if I caught all that I saw). I used tweezers to capture them to avoid any nasty bites/stings.

Interesting notes for them as pets are they are predators and eat insects (similar to mantids in that regard). They are active at night and put on a interesting show of movement and tracking down insects.

No luck yet find millipedes, but I've found other insects for now, but I'll eventually find some.

Update - I forgot to mention how I have been getting away with all the new insect pets with my wife (who swore I'd never have any more "bugs" otherwise I'd be kicked outside with them). I simply tell her I brought them inside to photograph them, and then I "forget" to release them. So far I've gotten away with many lately for well over a week, and she knows about it and doesn't seem to care now that they are inside.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I post only because I am creeped out. Sorry, can't see why God made these things, just can't! Right now silver fish are creepy to, they are in my house and one of us must leave........................................... h34r: :taz:

 

[CosbyArt]

... Right now silver fish are creepy to, they are in my house ...

Seems silverfish make great feeders too if you can capture them. I've seen several posts/threads scattered around the forum about it. Although I can say I haven't done it myself.

 

[dmina]

I thought I'd try some as a pet to see for myself.

So far I captured three centipedes and they appear to be Lithobius forficatus. They are about 2" long, were hiding under rocks, and are extremely fast runners (I would have seven if I caught all that I saw). I used tweezers to capture them to avoid any nasty bites/stings.

Interesting notes for them as pets are they are predators and eat insects (similar to mantids in that regard). They are active at night and put on a interesting show of movement and tracking down insects.

No luck yet find millipedes, but I've found other insects for now, but I'll eventually find some.

Update - I forgot to mention how I have been getting away with all the new insect pets with my wife (who swore I'd never have any more "bugs" otherwise I'd be kicked outside with them). I simply tell her I brought them inside to photograph them, and then I "forget" to release them. So far I've gotten away with many lately for well over a week, and she knows about it and doesn't seem to care now that they are inside.

LOL... yeah, that works until one gets out and she finds it running around... then there will be heck to pay!

 

[CosbyArt]

LOL... yeah, that works until one gets out and she finds it running around... then there will be heck to pay!

Your right, but hopefully by then she'll forget what I have and think it was something wild that sneaked into the house.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I wont forget, old, but not dead!