Those shopping for Valentine's Day gifts on the Central Coast may consider an unconventional present: a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach.
That's the option the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero announced Monday.
For $7, you can name a cockroach, the zoo explained. The zoo will provide an official Certificate of Adoption, which includes your Valentine's name, that you can share as a gift.
The Adopt-a-Cockroach program does not allow you to take a cockroach home as a pet. In fact, the cockroaches are set to be fed to the meerkats as a treat at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 12.
The cockroaches can be adopted online, and dedicated fans can purchase a t-shirt to commemorate the gift.
The program runs through Tuesday, Feb. 15.
