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Original poster

To get my 6-year-old a pet?

78 replies

LaughingWillowTree · 01/09/2025 10:55

DD really, really wants a pet of her own. We have two elderly cats already, but DD says she would love an axolotl, a terrapin, a snake or a fish.

I think DD is just about responsible enough to look after an animal (and I would supervise everything carefully anyway). We’re thinking that part of the deal/decision making process would be for her to take sole care of the cats for a month - food, water, litter trays - to see if she is committed and responsible enough. If she passes this test, we’ll agree on a pet and it will be her birthday present. We will research how to properly care for whichever animal we agree on.

I have reservations though. Is six too young? And should we steer her towards a goldfish, since they are likely to be easiest to care for? I’d like to develop her sense of responsibility but at the same time, fish aren’t the most rewarding of pets for children. Maybe we should wait for a couple of years?

OP posts:
Digidestined · 01/09/2025 11:05

Fish are more difficult to look after then you think, they aren't just drop them in a tank and feed them once a day pets.

Cleaning a fish tank is a labour intensive and messy task and you need to monitor your water quality and PH levels etc. to keep the fish healthy. Axolotls are even harder work and more delicate. I had both as a teenager and luckily my grandad was a fish enthusiast so knew how to do all that stuff and enjoyed doing it, even as a teenager I didn't understand how much work it would be until we got them and grandad did most of it anyway and they live a long time. The set up is also really expensive.

I wouldn't even consider it for a six year old unless you want to become fish hobbyists yourselves.

Bitzee · 01/09/2025 11:04

I’d go with a kitten if you think your older cats will tolerate. You’re a house of experienced cat owners, they don’t require loads of maintenance (which let’s face it a 6YO isn’t going to do) especially if they toilet outdoors when older and actually like being petted and handled by children so long as they’re reasonably sensible. Fish doesn’t seem fair in a house with cats and they are rubbish pets that do still require a fair amount of work with cleaning the tank. The other pets you mention seem possibly quite high maintenance so would require a lot of research, and obviously commitment from you as she’s only 6 and isn’t going to care for it herself no matter what she says.

KarmenPQZ · 01/09/2025 10:58

There’s not a chance she will look after it every single day.

that’s not to say don’t get her something but I think be realistic that you’ll end up looking after it most if not all of the time. It will still be a lesson in responsibility.

I wouldn’t bother with a goldfish tho….too low a return