Looking for a good beginners pet thats small, friendly and can be kept indoors?

Question

Im looking to find a pet that i can keep indoors for the most part. i've had cats and dogs aren't my thing. I was looking into a small turtle but they seem like they would be definatley hard to keep indoors and i've heard they smell:P im not a snake or spider person either. (i know im not leaving much for options, sorry!)

i really think unusual animals are cool like hedgehogs (note the turtle)

BASICALLY:

something thats fairly low maintance

can be kept indoors

is small

and not like a snake or spider (some reptiles are okay though)

Answer 1

You could get an iguana. They're small at first but can actually grow to be the size of a cat if you care for one well. Once they're of a size to be easily kept an eye on, you can actually let them out of their cages to wander the house. Just put them in a tub full of water, they will deficate, and then they're set for the day. How cool is that?

If you don't want a reptile, consider a guinea pig. They're friendly, have personalities, social, can be kept in same s*x pairs, and can actually grow to like you. A guinea pig recognizes you when you're around and most enjoy some affection. Which is all MUCH more satisfying than a mouse.

Guinea pigs do have special dietary needs like Vitamin C which makes feeding them a little more work. But if you train your piggie to nibble a little supplement and feed it fresh veggies, you shouldn't have any trouble. Having a pet that enjoys being given treats is always entertaining.

A guinea pig does need a decent size cage to be healthy. Usually pig people recommend a cage that is a little larger than the ones you can buy in a pet store. Directions for constructing these cages can be found online and are extremely simple. They're even a little less expensive than a store bought cage in some cases. An aquarium is not a good home for a piggie.

I've owned most small animals and guinea pigs have been the most rewarding for me so far. I haven't had a chinchilla or hedgehog, but piggies are more social than either of those animals and much less shy.

Take a look at the various options for small animal pets. There are pages devoted to the care of just about every small animal. You can learn all about feeding, care, housing etc on the pets you're considering. This way you can compare your interests versus the amount of work and money you can really invest in your new pet.

Once you choose a pet, you may want to look into local shelters to see if they have any of the pet you're interested in up for adoption.

Answer 2

Get a rat!!  I had a rat, and she was the coolest pet.  They are very smart and a lot of fun to watch.  You can train them, and they are actually pretty clean animals.  If you get the right kind of cage, it's simple to clean.  

I have only had female rats, though--if you do get a male, be aware they may have an odor.  I've heard they do, and it's because of their hormones or something, but I don't know.  It may be something to look into....

**Edited to say "if you do get a male" instead of "if you do get one"

Answer 3

I totally would suggest a rabbit. I breed rabbits, therefore I guess my answer is a little biased (not sure if that is spelled right.) As for a hedgehog, I have 2, going on three tomorrow. When we got our first, we neglected to handle him a lot. So.. He's not very friendly, but the one we just bought, she's a complete sweetheart. hedgehogs are very low maintenance, but they do take a little work, depending on where you get them. Also, another factor would be the age of it when you get it.

Answer 4

Rats are great pets for beginners. That's why so many pre- schools have them. Plus they're really smart so you can train them to do all sorts of things(like use a litter box, or walk on a harness) . Also they only live a couple of years so you're not in for 15 years like a dog or cat.  Clean up is super easy if you get a cage with a slide out pan. You can also get a feeder that drops the pellets as they eat so you don't have to fill a bowl every day, and they have a drip water bottle. They are cheap and actually really full of personality. We loved our little Spot so much. He was a great first pet for our family.

Answer 5

frogs

Answer 6

If you want a smart, friendly, low maintenance animal that does not bite, try a rat.

Answer 7

a gecko

Answer 8

RATS I'm telling you they are smart and loyal and known ti never bite!!! they don't smell(as long as you clean the cage regularly. i know this is quite long but believe me its worth it to read it all! Rats are clean, intelligent, affectionate animals which bond to their human companions in much the same way that dogs do, and with the right care should provide a comparable level of companionship. They are the same species as the wild brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, but have been selectively bred for looks and temperament for at least the last century and are now quite different in temperament from their ancestors. They are far less aggressive towards humans and rival rats, and display a number of behavioural differences from wild rats, which have been noted by researchers.

Rats become very attached to their owners, make playful, sensitive pets, and can be taught to come by name and learn a variety of tricks. Unlike many other rodents, however, rats are a fairly high maintenance pet. They need at least an hour's playtime outside their cage every day. Because they are much more intelligent than many other small animals, rats can suffer greatly if not given enough attention, free-range time, and environmental stimulation. While rats are extremely rewarding pets and will repay any attention and affection you give them a thousand fold, they may not be suitable for everyone; if you cannot guarantee to give your rats at least an hour of quality time every day, then perhaps a lower maintenance pet would be more suitable. It is best to buy your rats direct from a responsible breeder, for many reasons. A breeder who has only a few litters of baby rats (called 'kittens') at a time should have handled them from an early age, so that they are well socialized. The rats will have been spared the traumatic upheaval of moving to a busy shop at a young age, and so will have suffered less stress. They have had fewer opportunities to catch diseases from other animals. You will be able to meet the parents and relatives of the baby rats, and to check that they are healthy and friendly. A good breeder will be able to give advice after you have taken the rats home, and will usually take her rats back if you have any problems with them.

The best way to find a responsible rat breeder is to contact your local/national rat club and, ideally, ask around before you buy. For example, the UK's National Fancy Rat Society keeps a 'Kitten Register' of baby rats which are well socialized and suitable as pets - send an SAE to NFRS Kitten Register, c/o NFRS, PO Box 24207, London SE9 5ZF for a list.

Buying rats from a pet shop is more of a gamble than buying direct from a breeder. Some pet shops have knowledgeable staff, who handle their rats daily and treat them well. Others may see small livestock as just another commodity to be piled high and sold cheap. Advice from pet shop staff can be unreliable; no qualifications, or even experience, are needed to sell pets or to advise people on their care. Incidentally, the size of a store is no guide to the quality of its advice; some of the large chain 'pet superstores' are notorious for their poor animal care. If you buy rats from a pet shop, look around before choosing a store. Find out where they get their rats from. The best options are stores which take in small numbers of rats at a time from local breeders, or which breed small numbers of their own rats, and give them lots of attention. However, many pet shops purchase their small livestock from pet wholesalers, and this is the worst possible start for an animal. These rats are bred in huge numbers, then transferred to the wholesaler, who sells them on to pet shops. They can suffer great stress, and have lots of opportunities to pick up diseases. In order for the rats to reach the pet shops while they are still small and 'cute', they are often taken from their mothers far too young.

Before you buy from either a breeder or a pet shop, consider whether they meet up to the following standards. Good rat breeders and good pet shops put a lot of time and effort into breeding and socialising pet rats; they will only breed from good quality, healthy, friendly animals and will allow the mother to rest between litters. The babies will have been regularly handled from a young age - before their eyes have opened - and should be confident in human company by the time they are ready to leave home, not hiding away or urinating in fear when they are picked up. They will usually be over six weeks old, and certainly no younger than five weeks; the breeder or pet shop should be able to tell you their date of birth. They will have no problem telling the sexes apart - rats can be easily sexed from a few days' old, with a little practise. They will have kept male and female rats separate from the age of five weeks, because females can become pregnant even at this age. Good breeders and good pet shops will certainly care about the welfare of their animals, and will want to make sure that you have suitable housing and know how to keep rats, before they will let you buy any from them. If they were not concerned that you would look after the rats properly, it might indicate that they did not care about the animals themselves. Rescue organisations sometimes have rats which need good homes, and your national rat club will be able to put you in touch with members who deal with rescued rats. In the UK, the National Fancy Rat Society is not a rescue organization, but many members take in homeless rats. One of the nice aspects of the rat world is that it does not polarize into those who breed and show, and those who keep rescues - most rat breeders find room for a few homeless rats amongst their prize winners. 'Rescued' rats may have been dumped by owners who did not look after them properly - often by people who bought a breeding pair and then could not cope with the babies. Sometimes they have been seized by animal welfare organizations, either from individuals or from pet shops. If you adopt an adult rat, you will be able to get a rough idea of its health and temperament straight away. Initial shyness may subside as the rat gets used to you. Baby rescued rats are more of a gamble, as it may be hard to find out about the health and temperament of both parents. It can be very rewarding to give a home to an animal which truly needs one, and many rescued rats make great pets. However, we recommend that you do not take on rescued rats until you have kept a couple of friendly, well-socialized rats, after which the rescued rats can benefit from your experience.

and for this info and more visit http://www.petrat.info/ i hope this helps you much!!!

Answer 9

Hedgehogs certainly aren't low maintenance. If you don't like smell, their cage will need cleaning twice a week. However, they can be kept indoors (but mine also likes to stroll around  the garden!), and is sort of small, I guess. About the size of a guinea pig..

So hedgehogs are overall great pets! Unless you're squirmish around bugs; they need mealworms or crickets.