What type of pet should I get?

Question

I really REALLY want a pet. I am 23 so I am responsible enough to care for an animal by myself. Because of my living situation, I am not able to have a cat or a dog right now and I don't want a bunny. I need something that can be in a cage most of the time but I would prefer something that I can pet and play with sometimes too. I would be ok with a lizard or reptile of some sort, but I would like one that is vegetarian (Ive had cricket-eating lizards before and it's a pain to feed the crickets and gut-load them and all that stuff). I don't have a lot of time so I'd like a pet that is fairly low-maintenence. Also, I don't want an animal that is really smelly. Cost isn't really an issue. I was thinking maybe a chinchilla or a guniea pig. Any thoughts or ideas?

Answer 1

Rats are fabulous pets. They're fairly low maintenance, but you need to read about them before you get one. There are tons of sites about rat care.

They need a little play time every day and their cage should be cleaned once a week, but that's true of almost any caged creature. They're social animals, so you'll need at least two, which will make them less dependent on you for social time. Of course they need to be single sex groups, and if you want ones that are more cuddly I'd go with males, my females never sit still which is common for females.

Rats themselves don't smell, they groom themselves more than cats, but their soiled litter smells, so if you don't want smell, just clean the cage.

But rats are super sweet and super social. Sometimes when my girls are sitting on my shoulder they'll groom my hair and pretty much every time I handle them they groom my fingers.They're the most trainable of small rodents - they can learn their name and be litter box trained. I also had issues with how tiny mine were when I first got them, they were just too small to handle much, so I don't suggest mice, hamsters, or gerbils just because of that.

The biggest cost of getting rats is getting a cage, because they can be pretty pricey, especially getting one that's big enough. I found a 30x30x14 cage at a thrift store for $35 (it would normally be over $100) and it's the perfect size for my two girls, so maybe check around at thrift stores first?

If you don't want rats, I suggest a guinea pig. They still need fairly big cages, and ones without levels because they don't climb much, they just need a lot of open space. I don't know much about them though.

Well, here's some rat sites if you want to read more:
http://www.afrma.org/rmindex.htm
http://ratguide.com/
http://www.ratfanclub.org/index.html

Answer 2

All small animals are "smelly". What I mean is that their home will get smelly if not cleaned out daily. And bedding is expensive! Guinea pigs are sweet, but they don't poop in one corner of the cage - they poop everywhere, including in their food and beds! So it is a twice daily chore of cleaning poop, if you want to keep the cage smelling fresh. Also, they eat timothy hay, which has an odor - you should really smell some at a petstore before getting an animal that eats that as it's main diet. They also need BIG cages - what they sell in petstores are generally too small for them to be in 24/7 (unless you let them out all the time). No small animal is low maintenance. A couple of female mice wouldn't require alot of space, and there would be less cleanup - they also don't need much attention. Maybe a hamster? Rats are the best, but they require as much attention and playtime as a dog! Just do your research on the internet and good luck! http://www.rmca.org/Articles/mousefancy.htm

Answer 3

i had a guniea pig before there very cute i named it giny if you get a guniea pig get a glass cage because they will kick there back legs and there poop will fly out..I feed mine veggie and furits i feed them at less one of furits and veggies but they do need at least 1 bowl the most is 2 if they start to lose hair thats where the furits come in and veggies.they are very low maintence and they cost around 100 dollars the cage is around 30 dollars and the food sholud last you about a mouth and it cost around 25 dollars.Guniea pig only need love it dosen't need time to spend with you!!!!If you do get a giny pig and need more help here is my email [e-mail]!!!

Answer 4

I love my bettas. They are low maintaince in comparison to different pets. I have got to difference the water, feed them, ensure they are not in poor health and deal with the water if wanted. But I do not have got to stroll them, puppy them, difference the clutter field or allow them to external. The meals is approximately 3 greenbacks and lasts for years. Not ten greenbacks a minimum of a month. I love the little boys I have.

Answer 5

I would get a rat if I were you. They are intelligent and from what I've heard friendlier than hamsters and mice. Ferrets are also cool, they will need a larger cage and are happier with more time outside their cage, though.

Answer 6

Many of the small animals would be great. Guinea pigs, rats, hamsters...they'd all make good pets.
Chinchillas aren't really ''low-maintainence", so I wouldn't suggest them.

Answer 7

You should get a sugar glider there awesome littel thing that jump and glid around the house I have one and keep it in my room it hides and I always try to find it so yeah get a sugar glider if you want

Answer 8

its a shame you cant have a cat or dog at the moment but fair enough. Here ar

Reptiles are expensive at first but less so later on, but you dont want to feed mice or crickets to em then maybe not, otherwise interseting.

Parrots, budgies, finches ect are annoying i would know i have a budgie! every time you want to watch summit good on tv he squaurks but if you like them then fair enough (they are v.pretty tho). You can teach them to talk aswell!

I personly love rodents such as mice hamster gerbils and rats.

Mice have got to be 1 of the most interesting if i had the time i would sit and watch them play all day and night they are sweet n not that expensive at all they love little treats and runnining in a wheel. They do smell if you dont clean them out often enough though so be prepared.

Hamsters are cute too and love to explore and also not that expensive! They love to be taken out of their cage and run around in their ball.
Gerbils love to dig you would need to provide them with and and/or sawdust to dig in as love to burrow. its interesting to watch them make tunnels in it. They also look cute and innocent.

Rats however has to be the all time interesting pet. Loads of people think they are full of disease but Fancy rats are bred for pets so they are friendly and as clean as you keep their cage. They are like dogs but a smaller version of. You can take them for walks, teach em tricks, they even know their own name!!! Whenever you walk past their cage they will want to be taken out and give you kiss (yep they give you kisses!) They love lots of toys in their cage so even if you dont want them out then you can watch them play.

Hope you enjoy any pet you decide to get! Remember to research it before you buy your pet!

Answer 9

My son has a chinchilla and its really very easy to take care of . There is no odar and besides that you can pet it and hold it when you need companionship.

Answer 10

i say a small bird like a budgie or something... you can take it out when you feel like it, as long as your in an environment where you can catch it again... and as long as you keep the cage relatively clean like any other animal, it won't smell...