Want to get a pet - ds is 4 (almost), dd is 2

[jofeb04]

So I am thinking either fish (!), or a hamster/gerbil.

I've got an old cage, not too sure if I can use that, but got nothing for the fish.

So, what would you all suggest? No-one is in the house for periods of time through the day, hence dogs etc being not an option.

TBH, we can't afford a lot, so food etc is something we need to consider. We want our dc to understand a bit about pets - looking after them etc - and how it is important.

Vet Bills is also something we would prefer not too have, unless obviously an emergency. Do hamsters etc need injections like rabbits do?

Confused over best option!

Thanks

I would think they're a bit young for a hamster. I had hamsters, mice and gerbils at various times throughout my childhood but not until I was 7 and my sister was 5. I think they'd be too little to handle them as carefully as they need handling, I have a 2 yr old dd who is very gentle with my dog, but wouldn't let her near a hamster. They don't need injections though and not much veterinary treatment generally, although you never know. My dd does like watching her uncles goldfish, which is very easy to look after but not very cuddly! I'd get a fish now, something easy like goldfish, or wait a few years and get a hamster.

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fish would be the best bet, since they are so young.

If you really want a rodent, get a rat. They are bigger and they don't bite. So they are easier for little ones to handle. They are more docile, laid back, don't tend to get lost behind furniture, easy to tame and teach a few tricks. You can even 'toilet' train them to go in their cage. You don't need vaccinations for hamsters or rats.

Hamsters are small, very quick, they bite, they make noise all night, chew up their cages and anything else they can get to. Hamsters are fascinating to watch, but not really a handling pet.

Another option, what about an african land snail? You clean them out once a week with fresh peat, feed them on fruit and veg. You simply need a small plastic pen for them, less than £10 from the pet shop. You can handle them, they are fascinating to watch, minimum hassle

Agree about the land snail ir fish.
We got 2 guinea pigs 6 months ago (kids are 6 and 3) but it's obviously me who cleans them out etc. They're lovely but tbh, I think we should have left it a bit longer.

Thanks for the advice.

Probably going to be looking at some fish for now!