4. A decorated tank setup costs $20 to $35 and yearly food costs can be as low as $25. All you need in terms of a home is a terrarium with at least five gallons of space that is out of direct sunlight, lined with "two to three inches of washed aquarium gravel or fine reptile bark bedding." Pigs are opportunistic omnivores which means they like snacks! They cheat along the ground but are also expert mountaineers. Although mini-pot-bellied pigs are much smaller than their corral, a small pig could easily weigh more than 100 pounds! 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. She has worked with airlines and the Centers for Disease Control to improve pet travel through veterinary oversight. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 1. Although most taxonomies chipmunks acknowledge a single lineage of Tamias, some species are separated into Tamiya, utopias, and species. The quintessential low-maintenance "pet" if ever there was one. A handle, Tame Hedgehog will unroll fairly quickly and reduce its quills for some quality bonding time. Hedgehogs are not social. Lives 5 to 8 years. Speaking of which, food is the only catch with this strange pet: Praying mantises eat live insects, which can cost about $100 per year, while the creatures themselvestypically cost around $25 each, and you can buy eggs and nymphs for much less. Let's face it, dogs aren't ever really low-maintenance pets. They require a cage with soft bedding. Goldfish: $1 to $40. Their cage needs are not too demanding: about 2 cubic feet per rat. Assassin snails, for example are not the best standalone pets, but they can add some diversity to your aquarium if you invest in fish or sea monkeys. 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. That doesn't mean you don't deserve to bring an animal into your homeyou just have to find the right one. They eat live insects, which you can purchase at a pet store, as well as limited portions of fruits, vegetables and greens. Pet ownership is wonderful, but many people don't have the space or budget for a larger, more expensive furry friend. Cheap Exotic Pets-Legal Cheapest Top 10 Affordable List. 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. 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. The traditionally small goldfish fishbowl doesn't provide enough oxygen and has been banned in several countries. Their diet consists of small bits of apples, carrots, and cucumbers with chalk, egg shells, or cuttlefish bone for calcium to "strengthen your snails' shells." They need an aquarium with a half foot thick layer of sand and some stones on top for them to climb and play with. And since their hair isn't as long as other cats', they only need to be brushed two to three times a week to get rid of loose hair. Simple! They need human contact (especially when young), plenty of space, and various foods, including seeds, fruits, and vegetables. You can make your own home for them with things around the house or buy a butterfly kit. Juveniles need feedings three times a day, but adults can eat once daily. For the most part, hamsters do well on their own. But if you do want to bring a precious pooch into your family, consider a more low-maintenance breed. However, their curiosity sometimes leads to their mischief, and they can even be destructive. Goldfish tend to be messy, so make sure you're cleaning their living spaces frequently. Your content goes here. 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. Smith Collection/Gado /Getty Images 13. Greyhounds can cost thousands of dollars to buy outright but many are now a popular rescue choice and can be adopted for free. You don't have to settle on a tank-living, aquatic animal just because you want a low-maintenance pet, however. They are quiet, clean, low maintenance, and don't shed. Leopard geckos make a great pet for reptile enthusiasts. However, they are social animals are typically require the company of another guinea pig. Degu: $1020. On the contrary, pothole Pigs (PBPs) are intelligent, easy to train, affectionate, curious, playful, clean, odor-free, and allergen-free. Temperatures of 80 to 85 degrees can be maintained using a tank heater or a heat lamp. Although a slightly more niche option for insect enthusiasts, ants can be an intriguing pet to own. "We've never taken him into a dog groomer. Adults grow to up to 4 inches plus a 4-inch tail. Iguanas are some of the most prominent victims of inadequate care for their presence as cheap animals in chain pet stores. Hedgehogs are quiet and produce very little dander, making them the right pet for people with allergies. They like to chillax in a tropical habitat and love to eat crickets and worms. African Dwarf Frogs In addition to mice, Dumerils Boas like to eat small rabbits and fowl. Other than that, you just need to clean your snails' terrarium at least once a week, spraying the walls with water and paper towels to clear mucus trails. Water should be changed every week or two. Hermit Crabs: Less Than $10. Also, since they are natural predators, it may take some time to make friends with other animals in the house. Another reason many owners are surprised by the size. 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. Fruits, vegetables, and cat or dog food are young, healthy, in a good mood, and perfect. Venus fly traps are unique in that they have a special mechanism that's able to close rapidly on insects unlucky enough to land on their lobes. They can easily adapt to any environment but do need a yard. An iguana is the most popular pet lizard. The catch? In fact, the American Kennel Club says the breed is "perfectly happy to lounge around the house all day". 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. Agouti. Many snakes are hesitant to accept thawed frozen mice. Kids will love feeding them, but because goldfish have such short memories, they tend to overeat if youre not careful. Budgerigar: $1035. Although their average lifespan is 12 to 18 years, some senior pigs have reached their early 20s! However, they can entertain themselves when you are not around to play, leading to some mischief and problems if they are not supervised. And in terms of diet, they have a variety of foods they eat: fruit flies, smaller mantids, moths, house flies, and the occasional cricket or mealworm if your mantid is larger. Fruit can be given occasionally as a treat. 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. A rat doesn't seem like the most cuddly choice, but if handled from a young age they can make very affable companions. They live in an aquarium, where the water quality should be checked at least once a week and changed every two to four weeks. Forget the myth of pigs being dirty and dumb. They are nocturnal, so if you are not home during the day, they will not miss you much. At the minimum, these rodents need a cage that encompasses about 7-8 square feet. Goldfish: $1 to $40. The praying mantis is great for people who don't want to make a fuzzy, emotional connection with their new pet. 4. 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. Fish are often "seen as low-maintenance pets" until people realize just how much work needs to be put into 2 Pugs. Seeing as most praying mantises are taken from the yard outside the home and brought in, there's usually no cost at all! These tiny kangaroos from below create a unique pet. But when you have roommates, kids in the family or work long hours, caring for a pet is not easy. When it comes to fueling your pork adventures, its important to provide a healthy diet. Pet ants can be kept in a simple glass test tube until the colony is big enough to be moved to an enclosure with a nest and an "outdoor" compartment where the ants can feed, keepinginsects.com advises. In terms of diet, turtles are easy, as they "don't need to be fed every day." 3. With gentle handling from a young age, they can bond closely with you. They make good apartment dwellers since they are clean and relatively odor-free. They need a lot of love, attention, and affection. Much like turtles, tortoises are mostly noise-free and stay out of the way. The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is the largest deciduous forest in eastern North America. Whether you want to own an exotic animal or something more common, there are more pets available than ever before. Amazon Tree Boa The Amazon tree boa is a stunning snake with a need to climb! However, they can entertain themselves when you are not around to play, leading to some mischief and problems if they are not supervised. Most are social animals that want to keep you company. Ferrets, hands down, are the most sociable small pets. The call of the chipmunk is a sharp scream or chipping. Hamsters are small and low-maintenance and can entertain themselves with a wheel or other toys. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Science in Plant Biology from Ohio University. Hermit Crabs: $535. Pot-bellied pigs are highly intelligent animals whose silly and stylish personalities make for excellent pets. Height is not critical; they don't tend to climb, so it does not need to be taller than a foot or 18 inches. Snakes are not everybody's cup of tea, but they do make for an easy-to-care for pet. If you're not against keeping spiders as pets, a tarantula might be a good addition to your family. According to Laurie Hess, DVM, with Vet Street, they actually groom themselves and organize their food into neat piles, making them one of the neatest pets you can own. The small swimming critters are ideal for children who cannot take care for other live animals. Sea monkeys live up to two years and only need to be fed once a week. (Painted shells are controversial there's a risk of using a toxic material that will hurt the crab.) Rats require a wire cage, bedding and toys. Their tank needs to have enough room for them to be able to swim around and come up for air when needed. From Spay. [] Rabbits Eat Celery Leaves? Lives up to three years. Hedgehogs are very quiet and low-maintenance pets. 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. 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. Chickens are omnivores and eat anything from fruits, vegetables, grains and even food scraps. Goldfish can live for more than 20 years, have a memory span of at least three months, and can be taught to perform tricks. Binturong. 12 Best Exotic Pets for Apartment Living. 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. In most common species, the body length is 8 to 16 cm say (3.1 to 6.3 inches), and the tail length is 6 to 14 cm say (2.4 to 5.5 inches). Once they have all that, they don't need much else. Blacker says they can live off a "diet of blackberries, oak, rose, and ivy.". Owning a pet can be one of life's greatest joys and comforts but the cost of a furry companion can add up. Pull out these PG jokes anytime you need a wholesome laugh. Belly Robbs is the heart path of a pot-bellied pig. Physical Characteristics: Cone-shaped faces, short legs, bodies covered in spikey hair called spines (looks like porcupine quills), can roll into a ball. All that, alongside the small size of pugs, make them one of the most low-maintenance dog breeds. These lean dogs are low on grooming needs and don't require an enormous amount of care and upkeep. His short hair doesn't need any trimming," JP says. Also, the question about Can rabbits eat bok choy arises from another one as can, [] How Much Home Cooked Food to Feed Dog [], [] to give their animals wholesome food. Mama pigs even sing for their pigs! Hermit crabs are the quintessential low-maintenance pets since the sand at the bottom of their tanks only needs to be changed three times a yearweekly scooping is recommended, however. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. A hedgehog is not related to porcupines or not a rodent, they are in a sub-family known as insectivore. 3. Goldfish are active all day and make the perfect viewing shelf pet that is absolutely low maintenance for any pet owner. Budgerigar. These small rodents typically live for five or six years and only need the basics to survive: a cage, bedding, food, and water. According to Pet Smart, hermit crabs really only live for 10 years at most, and only grow up to 6 inches long. They are not too fussy when it comes to sharing space and can get along with your other little sea creatures. 4. Anole This cool lizard boasts a colorful neck pouch and is a great choice for novice reptile pet parents. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { 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. Some male frogs sing, so they'renot a completely quiet pet, but the sound is not loud enough to offend the neighbors. They are naturally calm, friendly, friendly, and intelligent as well as timid! Their diet is also quite diverse, and they eat everything from moths and fruit flies to instars and smaller mantes (eek). They can live longer depending on goldfish type, the size of the tank, and how often their water is Cool pets to have in California - IPS FAM, Natural Rat Control | Shield your Home from Rats, Professional Dog Grooming Equipment for Sale, How Much Home Cooked Food to Feed Dog Vets w/ Pets. Hedgehogs are amazing little animals that make interesting pets. That means sweet little piglets are friends for life. Parakeets must be fed daily, however. These animals, among the easiest of their species to own, live for about eight to 15 years and are relatively inexpensive compared with other popular pet birds such as parrots. However, that's usually because people pick the wrong kinds of fish. Examples of animals that you can have as pets include Bearded Dragons, Budgies, Asian Palm Civet, Chacoan Maras, and Garden Eels. Youll want to keep their habitat on the warmer side, along with a shallow saltwater dish where they can soak in. Leopard geckos are nocturnal meaning they're less active during the day and unlike other reptiles, don't require UV light bulbs, but do need an incandescent bulb and possibly a heat pad, depending on temperatures in your home or apartment. There's one catch: They do best in pairs because they're extremely social critters. Hamsters aren't the only easy-to-care for rodents you can consider for your home. They of course need and deserve the same amount of TLC youd give Fido, but these animals can be left to their own devices without (too many) worries. 4 Low-Maintenance Rodent Pets 1. Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine. , And you'll need to remember that pet hermit crabs need water to drink, bathe, and replenish their shell water. Spotted Genet. Lianne McLeod, DVM, is a small animal and exotic pet expert with over a decade of experience writing about veterinary care. They require hardly any maintenance, and only need to be fed growth food every five to seven days. Butterflies are a pretty sight to see outside, but they're also a good insect for inside your home. Norway rats are the most common species of pet rat, and they only live two to three years, and grow nine to eleven inches long. They are in the rodent family and eat an omnivorous diet. Ashley Peeling, regional marketing manager at property management company CLV Group, is a huge advocate for this tank-based household pet. Dont worry, if youre not into crawlies, theyll turn into beautiful butterflies in a week. Cute White Blue Gecko Lifespan, How Long Do Gerbils Live as Pets ! They spend most of their time sleeping or laying still and require infrequent feeding. Degu: $1020. Leopard geckos have a lifespan of about 20 years and can easily cohabitate with each other. More of a hamster person? Fruit can be given occasionally as a treat. Not for the faint of heart, but snakes can make for very easy pets to have around the house. Although the wallabies can be house trained, they need to be fenced off safely with plenty of space to roam, not supervised. They are also quiet and require little space and attention. In addition, cockatiels have a reputation as gentle and unpretentious birds who enjoy petting and keeping. The best age to dry and neutral pot-pigs in months. Most allergy sufferers can live comfortably with a hamster in the house. Hamsters are easy to tame with regular handling. Misleading name aside, hermit crabs actually enjoy company and will thank you if you provide them with a playmate. 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. 12 Best Exotic Pets for Apartment Living. If you want a pet that asserts their presence without taking too much out of you, parakeets are perfect. Male tarantulas grow from two to ten inches, and most species only live up to seven years long, according to the experts at Petco. However, domesticated and bottle-fed wallabies are gentle and humble animals that can be accompanied by great affection. The corn snake is fairly docile, only grows two to five feet in length and primarily eats small rodents. Hamsters are relatively small, being only 5 to 7 inches long. They are also quiet, fastidious self groomers, and they are relatively easy to care for. They dont require too much spacea 15-to 20-gallon tank will do the trickand they feed on crickets, wax worms and meal worms. 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. Cages should be large and airy and owners should expect to put up with some noise. 40 Rare and Unique Exotic Pets. Lifespan, Chinchillas as Pet How Long do Chinchillas Live as Good Pets, Crested Gecko Tank Size and Setup ! Leopard geckos have a lifespan of about 20 years and can easily cohabitate with each other. Primarily nocturnal, they will not mind if you are away during the day. Gallery:The Most Expensive Pets Money Can Buy, Note: Cheapism does not accept or publish guest blog posts. Although the axolotl is known as a 'walking fish', it is not a fish, but an amphibian. Hermit crabs sometimes move between shells at night, so buy several shells and let them choose their daily outfit. WebGuinea Pig. Like most rodents, they really just need a large, active cage lined with nesting. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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. Stephen Johnson contributed to this story. A plant qualifies as a pet if it hunts and eats animals, right? Juveniles need feedings three times a day, but adults can eat once daily. Ferrets love to play with humans and each other. If turtles and hermit crabs aren't your vibe, consider an even more low-maintenance aquatic animal: Sea-Monkeys! Browse through 12 types of exotic pets and why they are suitable for apartments, condominiums, and other small living spaces. However, when you're a busy person, it's just not possible to spend every waking moment looking after a pet. 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. In terms of food, their diet consists of bloodworms, brine shrimp, and frozen mysis shrimp. Their diet mostly consists of regular fish food, though theyre known to have a particular palate for frozen bloodworms. 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. WebGuinea Pig. 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. These fish will need a tank filled with water, fish pellets and decoration inside the tank. A 15- to 20-gallon tank can easily hold two to three leopard geckos, and they have a normal diet of crickets, wax worms, and mealworms. Kids are always mesmerized by Sea-Monkeys, making them the perfect pet; they'll just sit and stare at them for hours. Chinchillas are nocturnal animals, but they make beautiful pets because they are low maintenance, quiet and odorless, with beautiful soft fur. They appreciate out-of-cage time to socialize, explore, and play. 20 Baby Boomer Names That Are at Risk of Going Extinct, Nakhorn Yuangkratoke / EyeEm/ Getty Images, Alan Tunnicliffe Photography/Getty Images. So, while fruits, vegetables, and healthy treats are great for rewarding your pork cub for good work, a salad is provided because unruly eaters can only eat their favorite bites as a result of their main meal. (But they can also be left to their own devices.) Greyhounds can cost thousands of dollars to buy outright but many are now a popular rescue choice and can be adopted for free. Learn more about the anole 2. Another low-key pet! Lives 5 to 8 years. } else { 40 Rare and Unique Exotic Pets. Among the most popular pets, cocktails are interesting, friendly, playful, active, and mimic speech. Unlike many other lizards and reptiles, the leopard gecko is a friendly and sociable choice for a pet. To accommodate their playful nature, provide them with a large cage. The 21 Most Low-Maintenance Pets You Can Own 1 Betta fish. With an ant farm, the ants do most of the work. Pigs are highly social creatures with discipline and will quickly form lifelong bonds with their human mates. Marketed somewhat nonsensically as the worlds only instant pets, Sea-Monkeys is the brand name for a type of brine shrimp that issold in novelty kits, usually to children. 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. Juveniles need feedings three times a day, but adults can eat once daily. Green Iguana: $1525. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Owners can easily rest with complete nutritional assurance on every meal their piggy enjoys. Physical Characteristics: Large, black eyes and bushy tails; luxuriously soft; silver, yellow-gray, bluish-gray, white, beige and black fur. Top 13 Best Pets To Have At Home Or In An Apartment. A second small, popular, and inexpensive fish to consider, Bettas (also known as Siamese fighting fish) are aggressive by nature and need to be kept in isolation. Aquatic turtles may be okay to keep in an apartment as babies, but they can grow very large and may require a tank that is at least 120 gallons, which can be a drain on space. Most kids end up having hamsters as childhood pets because they're more low-maintenance than other animals. What makes guinea pigs the perfect low-maintenance pet is that they are plenty active without needing much from their owner. Goldfish are active all day and make the perfect viewing shelf pet that is absolutely low maintenance for any pet owner. They can live longer depending on goldfish type, the size of the tank, and how often their water is So, you have a fifth grader who is finally learning about metamorphosis, what better way to show them the process than to get some caterpillars for the home. These low-maintenance pets are perfect for kids, working parents, and apartment dwellers. In addition, they need a large terrarium with pure water, fruits, and vegetables every day. Goldfish are active all day and make the perfect viewing shelf pet that is absolutely low maintenance for any pet owner. 10 Cheap Exotic Pets - PetHelpful. A Hedgehog is seen at the San Francisco Zoo. But at the same time, she is quite funny, curious, and very interested when something new happens at home. 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. This is a characteristic children will love. A hedgehog is not related to porcupines or not a rodent, they are in a sub-family known as insectivore. Small, furry, adventurous, and cuddly, guinea pigs are an excellent match for preteens. Degus can be found for around $25 to $40 each from a shelter and around $80 to $100 each from a breeder. Dik Dik. Im About to Have My First GrandchildWhat Gear Do I Actually Need to Invest In So She Can Visit? Consider adding one of these small creatures to your home as your family's new (and easiest) pet. They need an aquarium with a half foot thick layer of sand and some stones on top for them to climb and play with. Scorpions only need to be fed every other day, and their diet consists of insects like crickets, small mealworms, and wax worms. The corn snake is fairly docile, only grows two to five feet in length and primarily eats small rodents. If youre a fan of spiders, a pet tarantula can be a fascinating addition to your home. 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. They require a wire cage, bedding, toys and eat a varied diet of fruit, vegetables and grains. These fuzzballs often whistle, purr, and squeal to express emotions, which makes them one of the best choices for people who like to know their pets are happy. According to John Virata with Reptiles magazine, good beginner pet snakes include the corn snake, California kingsnake, rosy boa, gopher snake, and ball python. You will need to make sure your home is ferret-proofed to prevent escapes or unsafe hiding spots (like in the oven). Evenly tempered, these guys get along with other cats, dogs and children. Like betta fish, goldfish are a sight for sore eyes and they come in many varieties so you'll be spoiled for choice. 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. Provided you have a backyard and space for a coop, chickens are a surprisingly easy choice.