What is an appropriate "first" pet for a 5yr old??

Question

We have a family dog and a cat, but I was thinking a fish, he was thinking a turtle, I don't know.

Answer 1

I work at Petsmart, and I would recommend a Guinea Pig. They are interactive, smart, and dont mind being carried around.

Fish are good pets, but since you have a 5 year old, he will probly want a pet that they can hold. Fish wont do that for you, and fish can be complicated. If you do want to go the fish route, do a Betta. As someone else previously stated, they dont need a filter or aeration system. Just change 1/4th of the water every 2 weeks and feed a small portion of food every day (remember that fish's stomachs are the size of their eyes).

Guinea pigs need to have a wire cage, with a solid floor. A wire bottomed cage will hurt your Piggies feet. They need a clean supply of water and make sure that there is always food in their food bowl. Piggies are less inclined to bite, but if they do, it is usually just because they are unsure about what is in front of their faces...they have extremely poor eyesight. Females are generally more clean and more friendly than males. Most pet stores (including Petsmart) sell harnesses that can make playtime more under control.

Hope this helps...

Answer 2

Fish are wonderful for children! All you have to do is teach him to feed the fish once a day, then let him help when it is time to clean the bowl. When he gets older, he can learn how to do this on his own, but for now, it is important that he at least watch.

I had a turtle once when I was a child, but I didn't keep him long because he seemed so sad. I decided to let him go at a local creek--I had found him at a river--and he took off so fast upstream that I knew he was happy again.

Try a bowl fish, but get at least a one-gallon bowl. Gold fish (like the ones at school festivals) are great. I had one live for 7 1/2 years. I also had many Male Beta Siamese fighting fish. There is no need to get an aquarium, stay simple.

To Clean:
Fix fresh purified water, by either a filter or boiling, let it get to room temperature, then start when you are ready.
Take the fish out and put it in a cup or something, then wash the bowl with Baking Soda and cold water.
Rince it well then put the cleaned (with Baking Soda) rocks and things back in, add the fresh room temp water, then gently put in the fish.
Do this once a month or so.

I hope this helps if you do decide to get a fish.

Remember: While it may be "his fish", he is only five. It will be up to the grownups to make sure the fish is taken care of.

Good luck!

Answer 3

5 year olds are extremely active as a group. If your child is hyperactive, rowdy or such, then a fish is a great pet. It teaches responsibilty regarding feeding, cleaning, etc., without the danger of him squishing the pet. Turtles can be pet only with supervision becuase of their fragile nature. If he is a mature, calm 5 year old, then perhaps a Gerbil or a Firebellied Toad is appropriate. I grew up with several gerbils and they need a little more attention (cleaning the cage weekly without fail) but they are nce. Hamsters dont' live very long and are a bit smelly. The firebellied Toad (available from Petsmart) is one of the easiet pets to take care of. Get them a little habitat like this one...
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806434&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030171&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1152639662109&itemNo=31&Nao=24&Ntt=frog&In=All&previousText=frog&N=2
It's $50 but very very worth it (you need no gravel/acces./filters/lights). It saves $$ in the long run. Feed them mealworms or crickets (cheap and easy) and change the water every week and a half. Put them in a large bucket for petting time or cleaning time. they are fun to watch swim, and will croak very very softly. Works well as a class pet or a family pet, especially for a youngster. The frogs do not carry diseases and will not bite at all. Good luck with your child and the search for a pet!!

Answer 4

NOT a rodent! They bite. Turtles are fun if you are willing to continue to take care of them as they grow. When small they can be kept in a low type fish bowl, as long as there is some kind of rock in the center so they can get up out of the water.

Fish would be the easiest, tho. A pretty fantail goldfish would work. Something simple to take care of, so he can learn the responsibility of caring for another little creature.

Answer 5

You can look at a fish 1 of 2 ways... # 1, if it dies, so what... you can replace it cheaply... # 2, if it dies, how will your 5 year old take it?? If this is going to be like "his" first pet to take care of on his own, I would suggest something a little more hearty... if he wants a turtle, go for that... maybe a lizard? Something that isn't as easy to kill as a fish.

Answer 6

Get a pair of rats. Contrary to popular belief, they are excellent pets, docile and intelligent and they love to be held. They can be trained to do simple tricks (like climb a small ladder, walk on a tightrope, etc). I recommend checking around town or on the web to see if there are any breeders near you. I do NOT recommend getting a rat from a pet store, as these rats are intended for snake food and do not usually make good pets. A rat from a breeder usually costs around five bucks. Keep them in pairs as they are very social creatures and will get lonely. Males and females are equally good, males do tend to have a musky odor though. Rats are easy to keep, don't require much time or space, and live about two to three years.
Check out afrma.org (American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association) for lots of mice and rat info. Good luck!

Answer 7

A fish would probably be your best bet. They're very simple to take care of and it'll teach your 5 year old responsibility. A turtle might be too much to handle because of the extra care it needs.

Answer 8

Turtles can be very good easy pets, along with fish.

Answer 9

a goldfish is always a good pet to start with. A rabbit would be a good first pet too. They can be house trained but make sure you keep them away from cats and dogs

Answer 10

I would say a fish - in my house, when we turned 10 - then we could get a hamster. I think 5 is too young for a hamster - since you know you would get stuck cleaning the cage and such.