What is the best pet to give to a 7 year old?

Question

I was thinking of a fish or turtle but I think turtles carry diseases. I don't want to get a dog yet because I don't think he's mature enough to handle the responsibility. What do you think?

Answer 1

Lemme list you off a few animals in order of responsibility:

1. Cat
2. Dog
3. Guinea pig
4. Parakeet/Cockatiel/Finch (unclipped)
5. small lizards-leopard geckos and crested geckos are fantastic
6. hermit crabs
7. fish
8. rabbits/mice/rats/etc

1. Cats
Why do cats top this list? Because to take care of a cat it needs food,water,an indoors-only home and it's litter box sifted through once a day. The majority of cats,while enjoying being played with,do NOT need human affection to be perfectly content. They enjoy it,as I said,but they're perfectly happy by themselves,too,if he gets bored. Don't bother declawing-it'll teach him that you MUST be gentle with animals and learn to respect them.

2. Dog
A dog needs food. It needs water. Most likely it needs a pooper scooper and some toys. Walks are wonderful... but personally? I have a great dane (whom I talk about far too much on here) and there's a six year old who lives here (my roommate's kid). Just he and his friends running away from my dog gives him the play and exercise he desires (though I still play with him anyway,of course). Notice I didn't say a PUPPY-Go find an older dog at the shelter. One that's housetrained or nearly house trained. While the kid will have to take the dog out when he gets home,you can always -tell- the kid the dog has to go out.

3. Guinea pig
Of all the animals I've had (and wow I've had a lot) I highly suggest guinea pigs to younger kids. They have a tendancy to be EXTREMELY docile and the only nibbling they do,in nearly all cases,is a curious chew on your fingers (which doesn't even pinch). They make a neat little noise,require their bedding to be changed here and there (if you get a hutch with a drop-down pan,I change mine weekly). You keep their hay racks full,their greens full and fresh,their food bowl fresh and their water bottle fresh. He'd also probably get a lesson in healthy eating,too. Guinea pigs also live for quite a long time-he'd be nearly fourteen or fifteen before it was old enough to die. Some live as long as ten years,even. Just get it's claws trimmed every now and then at the vet and make sure it's teeth are being worn down-they grown for the entirety of their life.

4. Small birds (parakeets/finches/cockatiels)
While more prone to nipping than a guinea pig,this is another cage critter that is...fairly relaxed. Once again. Food,water,clean shelter,a cuttlebone (to wear down it's beak) and a few toys and you have one happy little bird. I only list this as four becuase I'm a believer in not clipping a bird's wings... which can mean interesting results trying to get the birdy back in the cage. =)

5. Lizards
You have a boy-yes? I've never met a boy that didn't think lizards were 'cool!' or 'AWESOME!!!'. And to be completely honest,when I was 7 and the little tomboy I was,I loved lizards too. A lizard will teach him that animals can be far more complex than a food bowl,some water and some toys. A lizard will cost you a LOT as far as a beginner set up goes,seeing as a good set up for a pair of crested geckos is a 20 gallon long aquarium set on it's end ($30-ish),an under aquarium heating pad ($20),substrate/bedding ($5-$10),crickets and their supplies ($15-$30,depending on how fancy you get),and a humidity/temperature gauge ($4 at walmart,$10 or so at the pet stores around here). Of course,that doesn't include random silk plants for them to crawl on,a place for them to hide,or water bowls,either. They're also a more delicate animal... and he'd also learn more of the carnivorous side of the food chain at feeding time.

6. Hermit Crabs
While I won't flat out say no about these,let me put it this way. You more or less have to have every single thing I just listed for the lizards,for a hermit crab. Change a 20 gallon tank to a 10 gallon tank and add some water treatment,hermit crab cakes and several water bowls. While these are fairly low maintenance (aside making sure their humidity is high enough) I don't recommend them because... well. Last week on Thursday I picked one of my males up. I still have the bruise on the palm of my hand due to his claws.

7. Fish
Fish require a lot more responsibility than most people realize. You want to get him a fish,and that's sweet. Personally,the six year old here has a beautiful delta female betta. If you have no idea what I said except for 'female betta',I really suggest you read more into fish before acquiring one. He feeds her and he tells me when her tank needs to be cleaned (he IS only 6-I won't have him carrying 20 pounds of water and substrate to the kitchen to try to clean it.) and that's the majority of his responsibility. Frequently he talks to her and she wiggles up to the glass to listen... which makes him happy,of course.

However.

That female betta's water must be changed every third day since she's only in a two gallon tank. I watch her temperature like a hawk because they have to be kept at at LEAST 75 degrees,I watch for dropsy,sbd,columnaris,ich,and all the rest of the variety of fairly common fish illnesses. Why? Because of almost ALL animals out there,I would rate fish as the HARDEST to care for. The myth that putting a goldfish in a bowl and leaving it is fast disappearing (thank gods). Did you know a single goldfish will require a 20 gallon tank? And for each one after you'll have to upgrade 10 gallons of water? For 5 fish you'd have to have a 60 gallon tank! ...and I doubt you want a seven year old trying to syphon that!

A fish's filter must be cleaned once a week,you have to syphon the gravel at the bottom,change the water,be EXTREMELY careful with feeding,watch for spots/fluff and other signs of sickness (because once you've got a whole tank... oh boy! Fun!!!!),etc. In any tank smaller than 5 gallons you must dump the entirety of the tank out at least once a week,wash all of the gravel/marbles/etc and anything you've got in there,pour the substrate back in,refill the tank/dechlorinate it and then wrangle the fish into it. Keep in mind the weight of the water,too,in a filled tank. A ten gallon tank will weigh 100 pounds (or more) with it's substrate. If he's an active kid,there's a good chance he could pull it down on top of himself.

Some fish also don't live very long. A betta is typically a year old when it's sent to the store and considering some of the conditions these fish are kept in at said store,they might not last the night at your home (Bettas usually live a maximum of three years). Can your kid deal with death easily,right now? The six year old here has seen it with fish and rodents. He's seen what happens as they decay,and we monitored a lizard that drowned outside in it's decay. I don't find anything wrong with it and neither does his mom-it's part of life and he isn't freaked out by it... but some kids are. Keep in mind you can't just give them the 'it went to heaven' talk if Fluffy the neighborhood cat decides she wants a midnight snack and there's a head sitting on your porch the next morning.

8. Nippy rodents (rabbits/rats/mice/etc)
These guys are last because of the obvious nipping issues. Rats and mice are VERY fast,even when they're tamed. Corner them and they will bite the blood out of you in a moment. Rabbits kick and scratch and get a LOT larger than the cute little fluffball at the store-probably larger than a seven year old boy can hold properly. I highly don't recommend these little guys until he's much older (10-14) and he can deal with being bitten without screeching and flinging the animal into a wall.

And yes,turtles carry salmonella. ...and I wouldn't recommend them for a young child,anyway,since they can get -massive- and require a LOT of work.

Regardless. hopefully I've been some help. If you'd like to talk to me more,feel free to im or email me. =)

Answer 2

First you must consider whether he is mature enough to have a pet at all. Make sure he understands that a pet will have needs and feelings too. Ensure you are not left to look after the pet all the time.

Fish might be good idea, but are probably too "boring" and are not at all cuddly. The same kind of thing applies to a turtle: they're not ~furry~ !

As you say, a dog bears far to much responsibility at the moment. Wait until he has some experience with some other pet before you consider that.

A small(ish) animal like a syrian hamster or guinea pig is worth considering, because maintenance is relatively low and they are cute and cuddly. If he is prepared to at least help clean out the cage then it is definitely worth considering, but supervise playing and such like at all times.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

None.

A child rarely has the maturity to care for a pet before the age of ten or even older. Dogs take a great deal of care and yes turtles carry diseases.

Wait a few years and only get a pet if the child asks and can show they are wsilling to put in the time to care for it.

Answer 4

Nothing bets a good well trained dog. All kids love dogs....hamsters are ok but if you want a pet that will keep a kid from getting bored a dog breaks the ice....I recommend a trained lab they are wonderful dogs (when trained) they are great around kids. If you think a big dog is too much for a 7 year old child buy a smaller dog like a Yorki or a Border terrier. Border Terriers are great dogs I have a lab and a border terrier they are both alert and easy to train dogs and love children.

Answer 5

actually, i really like the bird idea.
Usually, i feel, that with children, the bigger the pet the better, that way they won't be inclined to pick the pet up, do it wrong, get bitten/scratched, drop pet, etc...
Absolutely no rabbits(which are not rodents by the way), they are prey animals and really don't handle running, shouting, poking prodding children very well.
I really enjoyed fish when i was younger, they didn't bore me, but i was facinated by all animals. It depends on your son.

I loved catching lizzards, frogs and toads!!!! They are free, and your son gets to go hunting for one, so he learns about their natural enviornment, make a terrerium(that was the most fun) and you can either buy food for them, or catch your own. Then he can watch them catch and devour a cricket, how cool(if your son is into bugs and frogs and such), and even better, when he gets bored with them, just let them go, no harm done. You can't do that with a dog or cat.
Tadpoles are great too, and a great learning experience.
Turtles are perfectly safe pets. He will just have to wash his hands after handling the turtle.

Answer 6

If your son doesn't really care for turtles or fish, he probably won't take good care of them. If he really loves dogs, maby you could ask a friend/family memeber who has one if you can borrow it for a while.
Tell your son that if he can take good care of it and show resoponsibility, then you will get him a dog. Of course, with any pet the child will sometimes forget to or simply not want to walk it/clean out it's cage and you will have to supervise and make sure he keeps taking care of the pet. What our(me and my siblings)dad did was say that he will feed the dog once(if we didn't), then give it away. It helped us realize how important it is to never forget to feed it.

Answer 7

A Fish is a Good Start But Buy it form a Store Not at The Fair.

Answer 8

Wolverine.
Just kidding. I had a pet turtle. They are easy to take care of and no one in the house was bothered by a disease.

Answer 9

I think you shoudl research turtles befor eyou eliminate them as an option. I know plenty of people who have turtles and children. A fish can only be so amusing.....htey just swim in circles all day....

Answer 10

Ok, this is what i got for my 5 year old who is now 11.....
Your gonna be grossed out but here goes.....

I bought my daughter a rat! YES a rat!!
They are the best pet for a child, very docile, don't poop or pee on you, smart as whips too!! They really are the sweetest animals....I have two....rats have been given a bad rapp too! If you keep the cage fairly clean, they don't carry disease....and they eat just about anything....cheerios especially!!

Answer 11

beta fish, you just need a little fish bowl, some rocks, and a little thig of beta food, and net. (with the beta buddy bowl tablets, that make your tap water safe for him) probably $25 at the most.

explain that he can NOT touch the fish, and that if he takes good care of it, then maybe you will get him a pet that needs more responsablity, later on.

have him help you to clean the bowl every other weekend, and make it his job to feed the fish (like 5-6 pellets) everyday.

make it his pet, and make him take care of it. if it lives for a while, then maybe next time, up grade to a gold fish. and then to like two little fish. some will need a better set up than the bowl that you can use for gold fish, and beta though.

good luck!