Pargas woman keeps 150 hissing cockroaches as fascinating pets

Linda Engström of Pargas keeps around 150 hissing cockroaches as pets, along with other insects and arachnids, which she finds fascinating rather than unpleasant. She emphasizes her tropical species are not pests and would not survive Finland's climate. Engström houses the cockroaches in eight sealed boxes with fine mesh ventilation, controlling reproduction by managing male numbers. She keeps them primarily as pets but sells nymphs as feed for spiders and lizards, and also owns chinchillas, spiny mice, and stick insects. Engström, who has ADHD, says responsible exotic pet owners must research animal care, and she maintains bioactive terrariums that support plants and small ecosystems. She believes insects make excellent, low-maintenance pets compared to rodents.