Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

What is the easiest pet to look after?

66 replies

juicychops · 05/03/2007 14:12

I really want a pet for me and ds (2.2) but nothing that smells and is too much hard work

I would really love a hamster as i had loads when i was young but they arn't very toddler friendly!

So i was thinkin a fish as ds loves watching them.

Is that easy enough?

OP posts:
mamama · 05/03/2007 18:53

Rats do wee a lot but they are great pets. They don't smell (unless not cleaned out frequently).

They are very sociable. I wouldn't keep 2 males in the same cage - we had 2 brothers and they used to fight. One of them shredded the other one's testicles . It wasn't pretty.

mytwopenceworth · 05/03/2007 18:56

yeah, but tbh, whenever i have had rats i havent really noticed a big wee problem. you keep them in a cage and only get them out to play with them, so its not like they are going to the loo all over, its easy to clean up. it doesnt smell terrible like mouse wee - i have kept mice too and they STINK!!

mytwopenceworth · 05/03/2007 18:58

oh, i had a male pair - they were so funny. they used to squabble more than fight and every time they fell out, one of them would take half the bedding over the the top floor of the cage and they would sleep apart and not look at each other for a bit! it was hillarious to see him stalking up the ladder with a gob full of bedding!!

hunkermunker · 05/03/2007 18:58

A pebble with a face painted on it.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 05/03/2007 18:59

Girl rats are meant to be better than boy rats when it comes to not peeing on you. Am gettign 2 next month...

GhostOfMumsnet · 05/03/2007 19:00

a cat that does the toilet outside and doesn't need a litter tray!

hunkermunker · 05/03/2007 19:01

One of these...

Mhamai · 05/03/2007 19:06

Hamster, providing it doesent end up in a casserole.

Mhamai · 05/03/2007 19:09

Sorry didn't see your op, psml at hunker's pebble, you could always adopt cod?

Kbear · 05/03/2007 20:34

to danceswithnewboots - fish boring? they are relaaaaxxxing. They don't bite you, they don't smell, they don't require exercise, they don't bark, they don't scratch, they don't cover the room in sawdust/feathers/poo, they don't damage furniture. Perfect pet, IMHO!

LieselVentouse · 05/03/2007 21:01

my gorgeous boys

Wallace · 05/03/2007 21:17

Oooh nice tank!

Stick Insects! That's what you need. Ours has just had babies and we need to get rid of them

tinkerbellie · 05/03/2007 21:56

what do you do to look after stick insects then

dh wanted to get a lizard, a gecko but i draw the line at having to feed a pet live crickets!! not nice otherwise that would have been fine

tinkerbellie · 05/03/2007 21:57

what about a tortoise or a turtle (is there a difference)

MrsMuddle · 05/03/2007 22:37

Hijack alert - sorry!
Wallace, what are you doing with your extra stick insects. 6 months ago we had 1. Now we have about 40. And no other mum is daft enough to let their children take some from us. I'm scared to set them free in the garden in case they eat all the plants. I'm tempted to hoover some up "accidentally..."

wotzsaname · 05/03/2007 22:43

Easiest pet to look after, in my expereince is a dead one.
Bad bad taste I know, but after many pets dying on us over the years, I know it to be true!

Aero · 05/03/2007 22:46

Seamonkeys are fab - virtually no maintenance! Ours lived for over two years!

Our cats are pretty cool too though.

treacletart · 05/03/2007 22:47

DS had giant african land snails in his nursery class last year - they seemed pretty easy.

treacletart · 05/03/2007 22:49

How to look after a snail

pointydog · 05/03/2007 22:53

come spring, gather snails in the garden. Make them a home - we used a propagator.

Cheap, easy. This kept dd1 busy and happy for two years on the trot. We even saw one snail having babies. You get good kids' books on it.

bramblina · 05/03/2007 22:57

We have a dog, cats fish and a tortoise and by far the tortoise is the easiest. (Tinkerbellie, a tortoise lives on land and a turtle lives in water).
He doesn't make a noise, doesn't smell, doesn't complain, eats ordinary vegetables, takes minimal care re bathing and cleaning, and hibernates for months at a time! He's only 4 so hibernates for 8-12 weeks at this age but fully grown he'll be in there for 5 months! And he'll live to 100 so you really get your money's worth!

hillary · 05/03/2007 22:58

I'd say a rabbit, we have a giant rabbit and she's the best pet ever, doesn't get under gaps in the fence, so placid & very clean & keeps the grass very short.

Hate goldfish they smell and die! tried it many a time & always remembered why we got rid.

Wouldn't have a cat as we are allergic and you get fur everywhere, I hate cats (they crap on my lawn).

brimfull · 05/03/2007 23:01

stick insect

MiaWallace · 05/03/2007 23:04

I would love a tortoise, but isn't it illegal to buy them now?

MissTFied · 05/03/2007 23:45

I think as long as the pet shop has a license to sell a tortoise, or that if it is from a licensed breeder, then it ok.