A thriving ant colony seen inside a formicarium enclosure. Hermit crabs sometimes move between shells at night, so buy several shells and let them choose their daily outfit. These lean dogs are low on grooming needs and don't require an enormous amount of care and upkeep. They should be kept in a clear terrarium, and you can house multiple snails together, with one to two inches of soil, says Anne Woods with Pets on Mom. The key to taking good care of a turtle is maintaining water temperature, keeping clean water, and feeding them consistentlywhich isn't a lot of work in terms of keeping pets. Since most chipmunks dont accumulate significant fat during the fall, they rely on these cached foods in the winter. 4 Low-Maintenance Rodent Pets 1. Their diet mostly consists of regular fish food, though theyre known to have a particular palate for frozen bloodworms. Owners can easily rest with complete nutritional assurance on every meal their piggy enjoys. Bearded dragon Your children can get the joy of a pet they can play with, but it doesn't take much money or work on the parents' part. Fish are often "seen as low-maintenance pets" until people realize just how much work needs to be put into 2 Pugs. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. Bearded dragon They need a lot of love, attention, and affection. Greyhounds can cost thousands of dollars to buy outright but many are now a popular rescue choice and can be adopted for free. } Garden snails have also been known to be low-maintenance pets. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings. However, hedgehogs get a little nervous and roll into a ball when threatened or picked up. According to the Entomologists' Society, the main requirements these critters need are a secure enclosure that can be maintained at an appropriate humidity and temperature of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Your email address will not be published. If you're not ready to give up your dreams of having a cat, consider a more low-maintenance cat breed like a British Shorthair. Rats are friendly, quiet, and intelligent animals. The glass test tube should be filled with sugar water capped with cotton wool. Fish are often "seen as low-maintenance pets" until people realize just how much work needs to be put into 2 Pugs. WebHermit crabs are one of those small pets that are not very common, but nevertheless quite well mannered, insanely cheap, and make for great pets. Hamsters aren't the only easy-to-care for rodents you can consider for your home. Both young and older children love them, they need virtually none of your time, and, unlike dogs, cats, and most of the other creatures on this list, don't require a pet-sitter when you leave town. That means sweet little piglets are friends for life. A hedgehog is not related to porcupines or not a rodent, they are in a sub-family known as insectivore. Goldfish: $1 to $40. Many snakes are hesitant to accept thawed frozen mice. A hermit crab will need a 10 gallon tank filled with plenty of sand to burrow in and other items to provide stimulation such as tree branches. Degus, which come from Chile and are a type of rodent similar to a guinea pig, make surprisingly easy pets when socialized from a young age. The fur is reddish-brown and is broken by five brownish brown stripes running down the length of the body. While showing your pet some love with occasional table scraps wont hurt them, owners need to maintain a high-quality, nutritious diet for their breakfast monsters. Owning a pet can be one of life's greatest joys and comforts but the cost of a furry companion can add up. These crabs can be kept in a humid, five gallon-terrarium. Rabbits are a suitable option for apartment living since they can be litter-box trained, groom themselves, and are relatively quiet. To accommodate their playful nature, provide them with a large cage. Hamsters Image Credit: Lichtpuenktchen, Pixabay Hamsters are one of the small pets that many people would think of immediately when asked to name a low-maintenance pet. The catch? Hissing cockroaches and some tarantulas make the starter insects pets because they lack rather modest and serious weapons such as stingers and terrifying venom. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. That works, too, as their care, cost, and temperament are similar. They need an aquarium with a half foot thick layer of sand and some stones on top for them to climb and play with. While they are skittish, they can be tamed if handled regularly and hand-fed. Examples of animals that you can have as pets include Bearded Dragons, Budgies, Asian Palm Civet, Chacoan Maras, and Garden Eels. The African dwarf frog may be the pet for you! However, it is important to consider commitment before jumping into piggy paternity. They are not too fussy when it comes to sharing space and can get along with your other little sea creatures. Temperatures of 80 to 85 degrees can be maintained using a tank heater or a heat lamp. 1. Physical Characteristics: Hairy bodies with long, hairy legs; two visible fangs; most are brown, although some varieties are cobalt blue, black with white stripes, or multicolored. Unlike other animals, scorpions need a hotter tankanywhere from 80 degrees Fahrenheit at the coolest to 90 degrees at the warmest. They can grow anywhere between eight to 24 inches, so they require a spacious tank or aquariumnot bowl. Similarly, pets like pot-bellied pigs might be naturally inclined to burrow and damage a rental property. 4 Low-Maintenance Rodent Pets 1. With an adult scorpion, you only have to feed it every other day, and their diet consists of insects like crickets, small mealworms, and wax worms. Length: 9 to 11 inches, plus a tail of 7 to 9 inches, Physical Characteristics: Slender bodied with a pointed head, large eyes, and prominent, thinly furred ears; colors variations include brown, black, tan, gray, white, Siamese, blue, silver black, silver fawn, lilac, cinnamon, black-eyed white, cinnamon pearl, lynx, silver agouti, silver lilac, and blaze. Their enclosures are also a manageable size. Behind this cotton will be the ant queen and her offspring. But what about the cost to buy this insect? From the initial purchase to the cost of food, vet bills, grooming and the ongoing expense of care, having a pet often puts a dent in your personal finances. Learn more about the anole 2. But if you do want to bring a precious pooch into your family, consider a more low-maintenance breed. They need a lot of love, attention, and affection. Among the most popular pets, cocktails are interesting, friendly, playful, active, and mimic speech. These low-maintenance pets are perfect for kids, working parents, and apartment dwellers. Hamsters are small and low-maintenance and can entertain themselves with a wheel or other toys. The most popular is probably the corn snake because it's a fairly docile snake, and they don't grow that largetwo to five feet in length at most. According to the pros at Pet Helpful, African dwarf frogs are aquatic amphibians which means they live underwater, so making sure theyre living in clean, filtered water is paramount. From perfect beaks to curly tails, tiny pot-bellied pigs have become a very favorite addition to the exotic pet scene. What makes guinea pigs the perfect low-maintenance pet is that they are plenty active without needing much from their owner. A classic easy first pet, a goldfish is an animal that adds life and beauty to the room without requiring much attention, time or maintenance from its owners. Rats require a wire cage, bedding and toys. Here's a list of economically friendly pets that won't break the bank. They are naturally calm, friendly, friendly, and intelligent as well as timid! Reptiles like smaller lizards and snakes are not as social as mammals, but they can be good for small spaces. You'll pay about $15-20 for the hamster, another $20-50 for a cage, $7-8 for an exercise ball, $10 for the first bag of food and another $10 for the first bag of shavings. While everyone knows what a porcupine is, many have not seen or heard of the funny-looking, tree-dwelling, 2. More of a hamster person? Hermit Crabs: $535. Betta Fish: $5 to $25. High Because of their high intelligence, pot-sand pigs respond very well to clicker training. They need an aquarium with a half foot thick layer of sand and some stones on top for them to climb and play with. Great for beginner pet parents. Your email address will not be published. They don't require much space, so a Betta tank in the five- to 10-gallon range is an appropriate size and can be decorated on the cheap with rocks and one good hiding place. if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { When moved to a larger enclosure, ants require a nest area made of gypsum or concrete with tunnels in it, covered by a glass slate to keep the nest dark. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. } ); Although the wallabies can be house trained, they need to be fenced off safely with plenty of space to roam, not supervised. Like praying mantises, scorpions eat live insects, so plan on spending about $100 per year on crickets. As a team, they are an environmentally versatile race. Learn more about the anole 2. They dont require too much spacea 15-to 20-gallon tank will do the trickand they feed on crickets, wax worms and meal worms. 4. "I must say I'm quite pleased with the rabbit. They are also quiet and require little space and attention. Axolotl: $1535. Hedgehogs. Browse through 12 types of exotic pets and why they are suitable for apartments, condominiums, and other small living spaces. They are also just as fun and loving as traditional pets like dogs and cats. If youre one of those cool, ballsy people without arachnophobia, treat yourself to a pet tarantula. This British Shorthair Cat can groom and wash itself and moults far less than other cats. Kids will love feeding them, but because goldfish have such short memories, they tend to overeat if youre not careful. Leopard geckos tend to be the most commonly available pet geckos, but house geckos Smith Collection/Gado /Getty Images 13. "And the truth is, we only walk him about 30 minutes a day, and play fetch or tug of war for about 10 minutes, and that's enough to keep him in shape." 1. African Dwarf Frogs However, they can entertain themselves when you are not around to play, leading to some mischief and problems if they are not supervised. Smith Collection/Gado /Getty Images 13. 3. Occasional vet visits run more than $50. Their small size and relatively easy care make them perfect for smallerhomes. In addition to mice, Dumerils Boas like to eat small rabbits and fowl. Like betta fish, goldfish are a sight for sore eyes and they come in many varieties so you'll be spoiled for choice. Leopard and house geckos are among the best choices for reptile pets, especially for beginners. As with other animals, it's important that you conduct thorough research and talk to appropriate experts before you adopt a low-maintenance pet because these little guys are just as worthy of all the love you can give. Many snakes are hesitant to accept thawed frozen mice. Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, should live alone and usually live for three to five years. The domesticated Budgerigar is the most popular of all pet bird species, according to BirdLife International. Although the axolotl is known as a 'walking fish', it is not a fish, but an amphibian. According to Vet Street, these cats are pretty easygoing. (Painted shells are controversial there's a risk of using a toxic material that will hurt the crab.) Good Pets for Kids-These Are the Best Pets for Kids at Each Age, How Much White Maltese Dog Hypoallergenic ! A Guinea Pig roams amongst the leaves at Grant's Farm in St. Louis, Missouri. Another low-key pet! Leopard geckos make a great pet for reptile enthusiasts. They like to chillax in a tropical habitat and love to eat crickets and worms. All you need is some fruit and vegetables to feed them and a tank that gets an adequate amount of moisture. While these little guys are low maintenance, they do have specific care requirements. In addition to mice, Dumerils Boas like to eat small rabbits and fowl. Although they may be a larger dog, they are a low energy breed and don't require excessive amounts of exercise or food requirements. Hermit crabs are a good choice for those who find themselves short on time to provide the care for a more high-maintenance pet. Being small creatures, crabs have low day-to-day food costs. They fill their cheekbones with seeds and nuts and take them to a borough where they are stored for later use. A classic easy first pet, a goldfish is an animal that adds life and beauty to the room without requiring much attention, time or Leopard Geckos: $20 to $70. Its no accident that their good names have become almost synonymous with eating something. Snake. Great for beginner pet parents. They appreciate out-of-cage time to socialize, explore, and play. Length: 1 inch to 24 inches (smaller lizard species); up to 6 feet (common pet snakes), Weight: 0.5 ounce to 1 pound (smaller lizards); 1 to 5 pounds (common pet snakes), Physical Characteristics: Cold-blooded; scales instead of skin; come in a variety of colors. All they need is a cage, fresh water (which can be distributed with a drinking bottle on the side of the cage), hamster food (alongside small pieces of fruits and veggies), and a hamster wheel for them to play and exercise on. Agouti. The 21 Most Low-Maintenance Pets You Can Own, I got a dwarf rabbit upon the insistent and repeated requests of my children to have an animal," he says. Adults grow to up to 12 inches. Some breeds like the brown house snake or the California king snake even go two weeks without eating and some become friendlier the more they get used to being handled. There are nearly 50 breeds of rabbits that people like to keep as a pet. Examples of animals that you can have as pets include Bearded Dragons, Budgies, Asian Palm Civet, Chacoan Maras, and Garden Eels. The quintessential low-maintenance "pet" if ever there was one. Top 13 Best Pets To Have At Home Or In An Apartment. They are social and do best when placed with other hermit crabs if their tank is spacious enough. Budgerigar: $1035. So whether you're looking for something that makes sense for your kids, for your working parent lifestyle, or for the limitations of your apartment, these are the low-maintenance pets you should consider taking home. Hermit crabsare alow-commitment pet. However, keeping ants is a cool, interesting way for young children to feel like they "own pets," without parents having to feel like they need to spend a lot of time "taking care" of said pets. Once you set them up with the appropriate heat, light and humidity, bearded dragons make for easy pets. Although most taxonomies chipmunks acknowledge a single lineage of Tamias, some species are separated into Tamiya, utopias, and species. 1. Ferret makes excellent pets for owners who take the time to bond with them. They are not as chatty as parrots, but they love human interactions and can be trained to do simple commands such as stepping on and off your hand. A drawback is that there are some parts of the U.S. where they are illegal or require permits; check yourstate laws on exotic pets before you adopt one. These bad boys only require that you keep them in a dark area of the house, away from any sunlightbecauseof course. If youre not committed to having a pet for the long haul, their lifespanfrom caterpillar to fully formed butterflyis only six to eight months. You can make your own home for them with things around the house or buy a butterfly kit. No, this isnt something out of Harry Potter, but actually a popular pet lizard. Their tank needs to have enough room for them to be able to swim around and come up for air when needed. Blacker says they can live off a "diet of blackberries, oak, rose, and ivy.". In fact, the American Kennel Club says the breed is "perfectly happy to lounge around the house all day". Agouti. 3. 12 Best Exotic Pets for Apartment Living. Lianne McLeod, DVM, is a small animal and exotic pet expert with over a decade of experience writing about veterinary care. Top 13 Best Pets To Have At Home Or In An Apartment. Examples of animals that you can have as pets include Bearded Dragons, Budgies, Asian Palm Civet, Chacoan Maras, and Garden Eels. Unlike dogs, you don't need to worry about giving a cat lots of exercise and because they are so independent, cats can be left alone for extended periods of time provided they are left with food and water. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine. They don't need much cage spacea 15- to 20-gallon tank should doso they're a good option if you don't have room for an elaborate vivarium setup. Know which species you can keep in your town or city before bringing them home. Physical Characteristics: Pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail; color variations include brown, black, tan, gray, and albino. They also don't mind being held and pet. Binturong. Adults grow to up to 12 inches. But please note, it is illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet in some jurisdictions in the U.S. such as New York City. Some pets need less grooming and attention; many are simply cheaper to own than some of the more high-maintenance options. Exotic pets are often compact, quiet, and don't require outdoor space, making them ideal pets for apartment living since they don't bother nearby neighbors or damage your home. Green Iguana: $1525. With gentle handling from a young age, they can bond closely with you. Primarily nocturnal, they will not mind if you are away during the day. 10 Cheap Exotic Pets - PetHelpful. Sea monkeys only need to be fed every five to seven days and outside of ensuring that their tank is in great conditions, you dont have to worry about them. Eastern chipmunk is an alternative with two gray-brown stripes and two white stripes. "Betta fish are stunning, really hardy, and you can have an awesome low-maintenance setup," Adams says. Their opportunistic nature means that many pet cubs will choose what they want to produce when they throw away the rest of the food. The vet expenditures are minimal, and she eats basically hay and stale bread with sometimes a carrot or an apple. Let's face it, dogs aren't ever really low-maintenance pets. Fruit can be given occasionally as a treat. 4. As omnivorous, wild food consists of roots, vegetables, nuts, seeds, berries, eggs, and small insects. WebHermit crabs are one of those small pets that are not very common, but nevertheless quite well mannered, insanely cheap, and make for great pets. Goldfish are active all day and make the perfect viewing shelf pet that is absolutely low maintenance for any pet owner. Goldfish are active all day and make the perfect viewing shelf pet that is absolutely low maintenance for any pet owner. However, the Budgerigar is a social bird and often requires company as well as a supply of new toys, branches, or other items to chew. You will need to bunny-proof your home by making sure there are no exposed cords and only allowing the rabbit to roam in carpet or rug-free rooms. Kids are always mesmerized by Sea-Monkeys, making them the perfect pet; they'll just sit and stare at them for hours. Agouti. They can live longer depending on goldfish type, the size of the tank, and how often their water is The domesticated Budgerigar is the most popular of all pet bird species, according to BirdLife International. Just pour a packet containing salt, conditioner, and brine shrimp eggs into a tank of water, and wait a few days for the little crustaceans to hatch. Fish are often "seen as low-maintenance pets" until people realize just how much work needs to be put into 2 Pugs. Excluding the costs of a cage, toys (canaries can get bored and require entertainment), and unforeseen veterinary visits, you can expect to pay about $120 per year for food and miscellaneous supplies. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Learn more about the anole 2. These strange-looking creatures are relatively inexpensive and can be maintained in an aquarium that does not require any heating or specific filtration. } else { Thanks to their day-to-day ease of care and, among male canaries, their trademark singing, canaries have been one of the most popular types of pets for more than 500 years not nearly as long as dogs, but 500 years is pretty impressive. Amazon Tree Boa The Amazon tree boa is a stunning snake with a need to climb! In terms of diet, corn snakes primarily eat rodents and can also find a tasty treat within a quail egg. Anoles can live more than five years and grow up to 8 inches long. They only require 30% to 40% humidity, but as diurnal reptiles, they need at least 12 hours of sunlight and a heated basking area set at Their cage needs are not too demanding: about 2 cubic feet per rat. Not only are they colorful and beautiful to look at, but they are also perfect for smaller spaces since they dont require large aquariums. They need an aquarium with a half foot thick layer of sand and some stones on top for them to climb and play with. Their vision is surprisingly sharp and allows them to distinguish between people it will eventually learn who you are, so don't be surprised if a day comes when your fish swims over to ask for food when you're nearby. You'll pay about $15-20 for the hamster, another $20-50 for a cage, $7-8 for an exercise ball, $10 for the first bag of food and another $10 for the first bag of shavings. Goldfish: $1 to $40. If you're not against keeping spiders as pets, a tarantula might be a good addition to your family. There are plenty of types of turtles out there to consider for a petapproximately 270 to be exact, according to PetMD. Anole This cool lizard boasts a colorful neck pouch and is a great choice for novice reptile pet parents. Also, be careful not to move the ant farm once ants have built their tunnels, as it might cause a collapse, which could kill or injure the ants. These crabs can be kept in a humid, five gallon-terrarium. The 21 Most Low-Maintenance Pets You Can Own 1 Betta fish. Butterflies are one of the few pets you canorder from Amazon(well, in caterpillar form at least; and talk about low maintenance you don't even have to leave the house to bring one home). Male, The teeth of male pigs grow throughout their lives, much like hamster teeth, and require regular shaping by their veterinarian to keep them in top shape. Kids can learn a lot from their metamorphosis since they are born as caterpillars, and they only have a complete lifespanincluding the metamorphosisof six to eight months. 40 Rare and Unique Exotic Pets. The little creatures need lighting in their enclosure, a moist shelter for shedding and a warm place to call home. They don't need much cage spacea 15- to 20-gallon tank should doso they're a good option if you don't have room for an elaborate vivarium setup. Much like turtles, tortoises are mostly noise-free and stay out of the way. These rodents cost between $25 and $50, and a proper habitat adds about $75 to the initial cost. Exotic pets are often compact, quiet, and don't require outdoor space, making them ideal pets for apartment living since they don't bother nearby neighbors or damage your home. Just make sure you teach your kids not to jostle them around as they dont fancy too much human interaction. These small rodents typically live for five or six years and only need the basics to survive: a cage, bedding, food, and water. From Spay. It 2. This crawly creature only grows three to eight inches long and lives anywhere from two to six years, according to the pros at Petco. Gerbil. A decorated tank setup costs $20 to $35 and yearly food costs can be as low as $25. If the lifespan of a turtle intimidates you, go with a hermit crab instead! If you still want something cute and cuddly you can hold, get a guinea pig. Although the venom of a pet tarantula is only mildly toxic (similar to a bee sting), you should not handle it. If turtles and hermit crabs aren't your vibe, consider an even more low-maintenance aquatic animal: Sea-Monkeys! They are also low-maintenance pets, only eating a few times a week. Their tank should be equipped with a hygrometer to ensure adequate humidity levels of at least 75 percent. They like the thrill of the chase and constricting their prey on their own. Males and females are less picky than goldfish, and aside from a need to change the water in the bowl and daily feeding, these make for lo- maintenance pets that don't interfere with your time. Added bonus: You only need sticks for them to move around on and they feed on common plants. But at the same time, she is quite funny, curious, and very interested when something new happens at home. However, if you choose to get a tortoise you must be diligent about their diets as some species require a fair amount of vegetables, while certain breeds of turtles eat meat. Physical Characteristics: Large, black eyes and bushy tails; luxuriously soft; silver, yellow-gray, bluish-gray, white, beige and black fur. They are most active at night but will wake for interaction during the day.