I would like a low maintenance pet?

Hi!

Rabbits?

Gerbils?

Guinea Pigs?

Hamsters?

Rabbits~Pros;Can be house trained & kept,are very loving! May lick you in affection & follow you round the house or garden. Come in many Colours & Sizes(Breeds). Cons: Can scratch hard,if rarely handled,Can be very destructive. Also they are best neutered.

Gerbils~Pros; Are normally very friendly,are very low cost,to buy & own,make great pets. Cons; Chew like mad,destructive. Gerbils don't really like to be handled.

Guinea Pigs~Pros;Can become very tame & loving,do not require too much space(although bigger the better),can be kept in the house. Sweet & come in many colours/coat textures. Cons: Cannot be house trained,can be very nervous,need extra Vitamin C,in their diet.

Hamsters~Pros; Can be very friendly & happy to be handled,are cheap to buy & own/keep,great pets to keep in your bed-room! Some like to snuggle up to you & nap! Cons: Syrian Hamsters are Nocturnal,Dwarf can be nervous/shy,the both can bite hard,don't live for more than 18 months-3 years(Typically Dwarf hamsters live longer lives.)

Rabbits lifespan:6-8yrs,on average,although 12-14yrs is not uncommon.

Gerbils lifespan: 2-3yrs.

Guinea Pigs lifespan: 5-7yrs,can go onto 9-12yrs.

Hamsters lifespan: 18 months-3 years.

Hope this helps,xxx

The reason is because they are lazy and really do not want to be bothered with the daily upkeep of a pet but how would they be able to look cool and follow the new fads like some of the actors and actresses (you know like Paris Hilton). A stuffed animal is the only animal that should be available to those seeking a low maintenance pet. Personally I would love to see the popularity of the pet rock or Chia pet surge.

Rats make wonderful pets. They are low-maintenance, extremely intelligent, clean, do not bite, and do not smell. You can even teach them tricks! However, they do need a relatively large (rabbit, or ferret, multi-level wire) cage, and should always be kept in at least same-sex pairs, because they are social. My rat use to come with me when I went shopping or running around, he would just snuggle up in the hood of my hoodie and sleep. They are also pretty cuddly, give them 2 weeks to be tame and warm up to you handling them and they will be great.

Rats are relatively cheap to buy, the cages are a little more expensive and can run you over $100. However, you can look at ebay for used cages that are just as great.

In my experience hamsters are smelly and tend to bite! Their size is also too small for me, they are pretty squirmish. The same goes with gerbils.

I've heard guinea pigs make good pets as well.

Chinchillas can make good pets, but are pretty expensive. Just the pet itself will run you $100+, and then you need a big cage. Also, they aren't very cuddly, if that's what you are looking for.

If your parents dont want cats because they destroy your floor, chinchillas, rabbits and rats are definitely out, they chew walls, floors, furniture. Hamsters, guinea pigs and gerbils are less destructive and lower maintenance.

Or, if you want something unusual, try an African Pygmy Hedgehog:

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04/HedgehogBNPS_...

Very cute, fairly easy to care for, just needs a big rabbit cage, good quality cat food (and treats of dried mealworms and crickets and fruit) and a temperature around 80 degrees C...if your house falls below that you can get a reptile heat pad for £15 ($25-ish dollars). They do need handling to be tame pets.

Rodents (rats, mice, hamsters) make good pets. They are low maintenance and surprisingly affectionate and playful. Some other small animals you could consider are rabbits or guinea pigs or hedgehogs.

Birds are great to have also. They are perky and pleasant and make beautiful sounds. I wanted to get birds but I can't because of my cats. :(

Do some research on all the animals you might consider, and see what kind of care they require and how they interact with people and find one that best fits your criteria.

It sounds like your are leaning towards choosing a mammal. Remember mammals are smelly and need very regular cleaning. I would suggest a pygmy hedgehog. Pet stores can be a bit pricey, so a good inexpensive alternative would be to find a nearby hedgehog rescue.

Due to their spikey coat they might lose a few points on cuddle factor, but should get extra in the cute department. They will definitely love you back.

Googled hedgehog rescue search:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hedgehog+resc...

Video of a pet hedgehog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPhpsIK7pDc

As far as petting and holding Guinea pigs are great as long as you keep their cage clean, they don't need a lot of exercise and are sweet timid creatures. Very cute and make cute noises.

Photo of a Guinea Pig:

http://media.independent.com/img/photos/2007/12/06...

My opinion of the best cute low maintenance pet is the Leopard Gecko. I know you said no reptiles, but they are small cute and harmless, you only have to feed them a few times a week. They can stay in a 20 gallon long aquarium with sand and to clean up after them just find where they went and spoon it. No special lighting is required as they are nocturnal, but they do need a heat lamp so they can digest their food. They are very gently and sweet creatures that can be held and they have a life span of up to 30 years.

Leopard Gecko Photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottkinmartin/293555...

I hope my answer helps you in your quest for the perfect pet, I gave you three good suggestions, all cute, all low maintenance, and one a little outside what your looking for but hopefully might open your mind to the cuter side of the reptile world.

Whatever you choose just be sure to do your research and learn to give your pet everything it needs.

Good luck in finding your perfect pet!

A Beta fish is very low maintenance. You can get them at Walmart or any pet store.

Rats make excellent pets and are easy to take care of. They do need to be taken out of their cage everyday to play, even if they have a playmate. Females tend to be more active and curious, while males are just the opposite. But I do have a laid-back female.

a male beta fish,they are elegant but tuff.My mom says she doesnt have to change the water for the fish bowl that much for them.The reason is that in the wild they can live in shallow mud puddles.If you get one do not put it with another male because they will fight to the death.But they cant bite you really,it might try but its mouth touches you and you feel nothing at all.You can buy one probably at any store that sells pets.They dont cost much and live 2 to 3 years.You have to feed it everyday.

Chinchillas and rabbits are both great pets. Chinchillas are friendly and social and they're super cute! I love chinchillas, I've never owned one but I've had friends with them and they make great pets. Very cute, they don't shed much or trigger allergies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla

Chinchilla info page