A group of pets. Which is the best for you? (Eric Isselee)
From tiny to large, and slimy to furry, there are many pets that can make wonderful companions! But don’t forget pets are living creatures too. They need lots of love, care and attention. Here are some of the best and most unique pets to welcome into your family.
Cold-blooded animals regulate their body temperature with their surroundings. This means they need a little extra help with things like heat lamps and thermometers to make sure their environment is comfortable.
Guppies
Level of difficulty: Easy
Life span: 2 years
Diet: Fish flakes
Baby name: Fry
For beginners, guppies are a great first pet. Their tank needs filtration, routine cleaning and water changes. You can add fun aquatic plants and decorations to their environment like a treasure chest or castle. It’s fun to watch them swim. They are easy to feed with just a couple of pinches of fish food per day.
Gecko
Level of difficulty: Medium
Lifespan: up to 15 years.
Diet: Crickets, worms, mealworms, fruit flies, moths, mice
Baby name: Hatchling
Geckos are such a cool pet! They can be held, and you can set up interactive environments for them. Because they are from tropical areas, they need a cage that stays warm. A heat lamp can help! There should be some moisture in the cage, too. You will need to prepare live meals for them.
Corn Snake
Level of difficulty: Medium
Lifespan: Up to 20 years
Diet: Whole, thawed frozen rodents like mice.
Baby name: Snaklelet
Snakes are pretty neat! They shed their skins and grow a lot in their lifespan. You will need to upgrade their enclosures from time to time as they get 4-6 feet long. They don’t mind being handled but don’t love to be touched when shedding. They need moss, plants and heat and humidity, as well as a nice hideaway.
Axolotl
Level of difficulty: Hard
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet: Insect larvae, worms, crustaceans
Baby name: Larvae or pup
Axolotls are a very cute member of the salamander family. For them, the bigger their water tank with lots of neat places they can hide, the better. Maintaining their temperature is very important. They are most comfortable kept in water between 15-20˚C (60-68˚F). They need weekly water changes. Their excrement needs to cleaned daily from the tank with a turkey baster since they are prone to diseases. Tip: Use soft-tipped tongs to wiggle Axolotl’s food so they have more desire to eat it.
Warm-blooded animals can maintain their body temperature. They have ways to help them adapt to colder or warmer environments and don’t need as much help to cool down or warm up.
Parakeets
Level of difficulty: Easy
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet: Good-quality seed, leafy green veggies, carrots, fruits
Baby name: Chick
Parakeets are known as “love birds” because it’s best if they are kept in pairs. They enjoy daily handling. You can even teach them commands. Many can learn to speak a few simple words. They need a large, open enclosure with plenty of perches, a bird bath and toys.
Rat
Level of difficulty: Easy
Lifespan: 2-4 years
Diet: Fruit, seeds, mealworms, vegetables and rice
Baby name: Pup, Pinkie, Kitten
Rats are extremely affectionate animals and intelligent. They are pretty robust and make great companions, especially for kids. You can set up mazes and foraging toys by hiding treats in toilet paper tubes for them.
Dog
Level of difficulty: Medium
Life Span: 10-13 years
Diet: High quality kibble mixed with wet, protein-rich food is best.
Baby name: Puppy
Dogs are very loyal best buds. They often match their owner’s energy and will take naps with you or play chase for hours. Different breeds have different temperaments, so do your research before picking one. It is very important that dogs go for daily walks to support their hips and joints.
Cat
Level of difficulty: Medium
Lifespan: 13-20 years
Diet: A mixture of high-quality, protein-rich wet food and dry kibble is best.
Baby name: Kitten
Cats are soft and cuddly, and very fun to play with. They love kicker toys and will chase plush mice. They can be high energy, but also sleep a lot. Getting them a scratching post helps them maintain their claws. They need fresh water daily and they can have treats. If they are an indoor cat you will need to scoop the litter box daily as well.
Horses
Level of Difficulty: Hard
Lifespan: 25-30 years
Diet: Pasture grass, hay, grains, salt concentrate, vegetables
Baby name: Colt
Horses have special bonds with their owners and can live for a long time. They need proper grooming and a lot of land to gallop. They need a feeding schedule and thrive with routine and exercise, so make sure you are riding them. It’s beneficial for horses to have at least one other horse for companionship. For the active kid, horses are great! You can even do competitions together!
Service animals are usually dogs and are a very special type of pet. They provide comfort and aid to kids and people who have mental and physical disabilities. They are highly trained working animals and can alert for things like anxiety attacks, seizures and low blood sugar. They may help guide the blind or make social settings easier for people with autism. They can brace people who struggle with mobility issues like arthritis. Hearing dogs can alert and lead their owners to a noise.
Other animals make great service animals too! In Boston, Capuchin monkeys are trained to be the hands of people who have limited mobility. Pot belly pigs, known for their intelligence and gentle nature, can be trained to help children with autism and people struggling with mental health. Parrots are used for treating psychiatric disorders. They can de-escalate stressful situations and be taught to repeat helpful phrases like “It’s ok, I’m here for you.” Ferrets have been trained to alert their owners to take medications and to detect seizures. They burrow close to their owner to provide extra comfort and support.
