Buy on AmazonGentle. Can’t fly. Won’t infest. Hisses on purpose.
Meet the gentlest “scary” insect in science class: a calm, slow, hand-tame bug that makes sound by breathing. Our guides are written by a UT Austin professor and grounded in the published literature.
We breed and sell every hisser ourselves; checkout our Amazon or eBay store (seller: Hisser Lab).
Start anywhere
The Roach
A gentle, slow, hand-tame insect, and the science behind its famous hiss.
Meet the hisser →
Care
Setup, feeding, handling, and the full life cycle, all in one verified guide.
Read the care guide →
Teach Coming soon
Free NGSS-aligned lessons by grade band, observation journals, and the classroom care plan.
Get free lessons →
Team
Who runs Hisser Lab, and how we look after the insects.
Meet the team →
Buy
Our Amazon and eBay store (seller: Hisser Lab), with classroom kits coming soon.
See buying options →Answers for every parent.
“Will it infest my house?”
No. Hissers can’t fly, move slowly, and can only breed with sustained tropical warmth and humidity that your house doesn’t have. If one escapes, it’s unlikely to breed.
“Will it bite?”
They don’t bite, even when handled by kids. Like any classroom animal, wash hands after handling. We include a simple hygiene routine in every care plan.
“What if it dies in the mail?”
Every order ships with weather-appropriate packing. If a roach doesn’t arrive healthy, we replace it.
“What happens when we’re done?”
Hissers live 2–5 years. If your time together ends early, rehome through a teacher, friend, or local keeper. Never release any pet into the wild.
Free: the hisser observation journal Coming soon
A printable, age-scaffolded journal our educators use in real classrooms. Drop your email and we’ll send the PDF plus new lessons as they’re released.