Gross or not, our 6th grade science teacher ordered some Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and the kids LOVE them. They had babies and the kids fought over who got to take them home. They ended up having like a lottery I think to decide who got the babies!! lol The kids actually carry them around the room on their shoulders. If you're not familiar with them...they don't look like a cockroach. They're about 3 inches long and are brown with segments on them. Last time I checked, no one has had an allergic reaction to them! lol

They also have rats (who, by the way, are really cuddly.