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Tips For Choosing a Small Pet

So you want to take the plunge and become a pet owner, but the idea of a cat or dog is too daunting, expensive, or you simply do not have the space or time. You decide you want to go "small". Perhaps a gerbil or a guinea pig. Or maybe even a snake! But which would be best for you?

Here are some basic things you need to consider:

A) How much time do you have to dedicate to a pet?

B) How much work are you willing to do to take care of a pet?
C) How much interaction/affection do you want from a pet?
D) Do you want your pet to be a day person or a night person?
E) What's your budget? How much can you afford? Not just in start up costs, but care for the rest of the pet's life.
F) Another thing to consider is the animal's lifespan. Are you able to commit to the animal for its entire life? Keep in mind this is a living creature you are taking responsibility for.

To help you decide here are some approximate life spans:

1) Mammals live anywhere from 2 yrs (mouse) to 15 yrs (sugar glider).

2) Reptiles' life spans generally range between 4 (anoles) to 25 years (some snakes).
-Caution! - Please be aware of two things; some reptiles grow to be very large, (green iguanas up to six feet), and also some lizards have been known to be carriers of Salmonella, a dangerous bacterium that will harm small children and pregnant women if they are infected.

3) Arachnids can live up to 15+ years (tarantulas).

4) Frogs range between 4 to 15 years.

5) Small birds (Referring solely to parakeets/budgies, though there are finches and canaries if you are interested) can live from 8 to 12 years.

Start up costs (animal, food, housing) varies from store to store. It also depends on how elaborate you want to be. In other words do you want just a basic hamster cage or a series of tubes and tunnels running through out your living room? A simple hamster or mouse set-up can cost you between $30 and $50. Guinea pig and parakeet set-ups range from $50-$200. A pet with greater needs, such as temperature and humidity control for certain types of lizards, or an animal that is expensive just by itself, such as a chinchilla or sugar glider, could reach $200 and up.

Some animals require more work than others in the sense of keeping their cage clean, attending to needs such as dust baths for chinchillas, and also regarding how much attention and companionship they need to be happy. Sugar gliders, chinchillas and guinea pigs are very social and need a lot of interaction, where as a lizard or a tarantula need far less. Other animals that are demonstrative towards their owners include rats, parakeets, and, some folks insist, snakes.

Some pets are active during the night (Nocturnal), some active during the day. But even a few of the nocturnal pets who also are very social really don't mind being woken up to play or as in the case of sugar gliders, enjoy being close to their owner while they sleep in little pouches made just for that purpose.

Whichever pet interests you, please do research on that animal before you buy, so you can be aware of the various needs each of these animals require. To buy a pet, look not only in pet stores, but try out your local Humane Society, ASPC, or animal shelter, to see if they have any small animals up for adoption. Some final tips:
1) Choose a healthy animal. If you do not know what signs to look for, please read up on it.
2) Young animals are easier to bond with, but older animals can be wonderful too.
3) If you can, handle the animal and get to know it a bit, see how it reacts to you.

Being a pet owner is rewarding and worth all the work and effort. Having a small creature bond with you is very endearing, and good for your heart and soul.

Learn more about this author, Lynn Schwalbe-Larson.
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