I want to get a pet

So as you may have guessed from the title, I want to get a pet. I have been wanting a dog since I was about 3, never got one. I don't think its a good idea to get a dog right now because I have a full time job, and I don't have tons of time.

Right now I have a fish that I paid over $100 for. Don't get me wrong, hes a cool fish. He just literally sits in the same spot all day, hes a hairy puffer.

So I'm looking for a cool pet that doesn't require tons of maintenance and that I can just like hang out with.

No insects or anything like a bearded dragon or anything.


Thanks

Get a hamster. They don't take up much room, not hard to care for, and they are pretty cute. Not smart at all, but cute.

I categorically advise against getting a dog... not unless you're ready for huge commitment and are capable of devoting tons of money and time to it. Cats are a easier, but will also wreak havoc for a while.

I'm thinking maybe a hedgehog.

FlutterPie said:

I'm thinking maybe a hedgehog.

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That'd be awesome. At one point I wanted a chinchilla, until I learned about how much of a pain they are.

I have a hedgehog. Not very friendly to be honest.

The hamster idea isn't bad, but really if you were to get a small rodent, a would highly recommend getting a rat. They are so much more intelligent and interactive than hamsters, not to mention friendlier and more robust.

Hedgehogs are fun enough, or at least novel, but no idea about having one as a pet.

Rats are much more intelligent no question about that, my uncle used to have one. Just not a fan of that tail personally.

How about a guinea pig? Or a skunk... with the glands removed obviously.

don't get a parrot. they need time and devotion. saddens me when people get expensive parrots as status symbols, decorations. they are very intelligent and need stimulation. self destructive behavior like feather plucking can result from boredom and neglect

The cutest pet ever is a duckling, pass it on when it grows up or sell it and get another duckling, there so cute. A little brown or yellow one!

Ok, I'm just gonna leave this here... Just saw this on the internetz. I'M SCREAMING - Imgur

^OMG so cute!

Why not a Beardy? I have one...not expensive, easy to care for and LOVE being around people.

I have snakes also.

What's a beardy?

Blarg King said:

I have a hedgehog. Not very friendly to be honest.

The hamster idea isn't bad, but really if you were to get a small rodent, a would highly recommend getting a rat. They are so much more intelligent and interactive than hamsters, not to mention friendlier and more robust.

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That kinda sucks about the hedgehog.

Shakenawake said:

don't get a parrot. they need time and devotion. saddens me when people get expensive parrots as status symbols, decorations. they are very intelligent and need stimulation. self destructive behavior like feather plucking can result from boredom and neglect

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I agree with what you are saying, but I actually was considering some type of bird...

I know some birds can be very intelligent and without the right care they are left to suffer basically. I know someone who has a cockatoo and its most defiantly not living ideal conditions.

From what I see the cage isn't big enough for it. Its not let out of the cage nearly enough. It gets very stressed out and pulls out its own feathers like you mentioned. And it basically hates anyone who doesn't live in the house. When I come over for example it screams at me and is very annoying.

I really was considering some type of bird though. After work today I went to petsmart just to take a look at some types of birds. They were selling a green cheek contue I think it was, and that seemed like a pretty cool bird.

But I was also thinking maybe a cockatiel?

InfinitusEquitas said:

Hedgehogs are fun enough, or at least novel, but no idea about having one as a pet.

Rats are much more intelligent no question about that, my uncle used to have one. Just not a fan of that tail personally.

How about a guinea pig? Or a skunk... with the glands removed obviously.

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Not bad ideas I suppose. As for the guinea pigs, I hear they are very messy and smelly.

ped said:

Why not a Beardy? I have one...not expensive, easy to care for and LOVE being around people.

I have snakes also.

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Don't get my wrong, I'm sure they are super cool pets. If I remember correctly they just get a little too big for what I am currently looking for.

InfinitusEquitas said:

What's a beardy?

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This is a beardy

I had a hamster once. He was the most clumsy pet I have ever owned. He would trip over his feet and do back flips on his wheel and land upside down.

Hamster was fun but yes, they do seem to be a bit too "ordinary" or "typical" as pets.

I thought of buying a rat and removing its tail before but I had no idea how you could remove it without causing a lot of pain.
And I had no idea that a rat's tail was necessary to cool down a rat's body in warmer conditions.
I was perfectly fine with buying a rat but most of my family hates rats. Especially with the tail.

Edit: a skunk would actually be a really cool pet.... as long as it still didn't smell even without the glands.

A corn snake would be cool too but I know a lot of people probably wouldn't want to come to your house any more.
Corn snakes are harmless too
Most say snakes are really dumb reptiles. I personally think most of them are pretty smart. I've heard some stories of people's pet snakes playing pranks on others before. And at the pet store, I have noticed that the snakes are the only pets that are sticking their tongue at the metal lock to the cage.
Oh yea, and snakes have a tendency to find ways to escape from their cage a lot.
So..... Maybe you shouldn't get a pet snake

I think I narrowed it down to a couple pets I would like (all birds).

1. Cockatiel
2. Lovebird
3. Parrotlet

I think they would all be pretty cool just to hang out with. I have to do more research on each of them though. I will have time everyday to take care whatever I decide to get, I just cant have my life revolve around it.