10 Best Low Maintenance Pets for Children
Owning a pet can be an enriching and exciting experience. There’s been a significant increase in pet owners, and we couldn’t be happier.
Are you in need of pets that are easy to maintain and care for? This article explores the exciting world of low maintenance pets. Let’s dive right in!
1. Aquarium Fish
Due to their resilience and ability to withstand harsh conditions, aquarium fish make great pets for beginners. Millions of families keep them as companions.
Common fish species bred in aquariums include Neon Tetra, Guppies, Betta Fish, and Goldfish. These freshwater species are extremely easy to care for and are ideal for people new to the pet-owning business.
They come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Neon Tetra is small, thin, blue-bodied with bright red stripes spread across their bodies. Are you an animal lover but finds tending to a cat or dog stressful?
A fish will likely be your perfect choice of pet. They’re not only cheaper and undemanding, their bright colors and calm environment also add beauty to any home. Aquarium fish makes an excellent pet for people with allergies and beginners.
2. African Dwarf Frog
Looking for that perfect amphibian as a pet? The African dwarf frog will be the right pet for you. They are popular and common in the pet trade worldwide. Due to their low maintenance features, they are highly desirable compared to other amphibians.
African dwarf frogs are erroneously assumed to be the same as African clawed frogs, which are larger and more aggressive than the dwarf.
Their average lifespan is five years, but they can live up to 20 years, growing up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long. These frogs are usually small, weighing just a few grams. They’re usually active and seldom sit still at any given period.
When inactive, they’re seen floating in a particular spot, with their limbs stretched on the surface of the water. This unique behavior is burbling, and it’s widely associated with them.
African dwarf frogs live peacefully with other animals of the same size. They feed on smaller animals like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and frozen Mysis shrimp.
These frogs can sleep for close to twelve hours a day once they feel safe in their environment. Being fragile, they should be handled with care, especially when considering them as a pet for children.
3. Hamsters
These furry animals are the cutest pet you can keep as pets. The fun-loving, vibrant creatures are of different breeds, sizes, and colors.
Chinese Hamsters, Dwarf Hamsters, and Syrian Hamsters are the most common breed. They are often nocturnal, keeping your company while you work late into the night.
With a daily intake of water and fresh food, hamsters are easy to maintain. The small animals can be placed on a diet consisting of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
There are readily available hamster cages with various games in pet stores and online for these low-maintenance animals.
Hamster wheels, tubes, and toys with good play space are ideal toys for these little cuties. So long they’re provided with the basic necessities, your pet will be happy playing with you.
4. Fancy Mice
Fancy mice are good-natured, loyal, independent, and make low-maintenance pets for children. With a cage, food, and some toys, they seem easy to care for. Most of them are sociable and live in groups.
Being intelligent, they can be trained to know their names and learn many tricks. As a fragile being, you should handle with care as mishandling can result in them getting injured.
Skittish mice should be held by the tail base and placed on the palm of your hand. In handling them, avoid squeezing their body; instead, scoop them with the cup of your hand. Fancy mice feed on pelleted food and fresh vegetables like broccoli, apple, carrot, cucumber, and banana.
In selecting your pet mice, ensure you choose a healthy one with wide-open bright eyes, dry noses, ears, pink and clean skin on their tails and ears,
5. Gerbils
Just like hamsters and guinea pigs, gerbils do not require much care; hence they make an ideal starter pet for kids. One good thing about this pet is that it does not require constant feeding.
They can be fed once in three days, provided their meal includes dried foods. Also, they’re good hoarders. Even if you forget to feed them for a day, they have food stored in their burrows. The gerbil’s size makes it easy to handle.
On average, they can grow up to 5 inches, so they’re not too big to care for. Having a lifespan of 3 to 4 years, you need not keep the pet forever.
6. Guinea Pigs
Are you thinking of keeping a sweet animal companion? Guinea pigs might be the ideal pet for you. Their adorable look and docile nature make them likable. The short-haired rodents are small, cuddly, and don’t need much space.
If you have a cramped space and intend to keep a pet, you should go for a guinea pig. The basic needs of guinea pigs include a roomy cage coated with safe bedding, foods comprising of hay, fresh vegetables, fresh, clean water, and Vitamin C supplement.
Though they’re less skittish and fragile as rabbits and other rodents, guinea pigs make lovely pets for older and younger children. No two guinea pigs behave alike. While some are shy, others may be bold and domineering.
Before you make your pick at the pet store, ensure you study and interact with them to know the personality that suits you. Guinea pigs are one of the easiest pets around. What’s more, they’re quite affordable, like hamsters.
7. Turtle
Turtles are less care-intensive compared to dogs and cats. With over 250 species, turtles are one of the exotic pets around. They can live for 25 years, growing up to 12 inches (20-30 cm) long.
The reptiles are presumed to have excellent night vision due to the numerous rod cells in their retinas. They have vocal and non-vocal ways of communicating.
Different species of fresh water and sea turtles produce numerous sounds, high or low-pitched, from an early age until adulthood. Compared to other furry animals and reptiles, turtles require less space and time to care for.
Their size makes them easy to handle and suitable for small apartments and homes. Looking to own a pet? It would be best if you went for small turtles as they’re low-maintenance, adorable, and cute.
8. Gecko
Known for their gentle nature and tolerability, geckos make beautiful pets for pet owners. Gecko species commonly bred include Leopard geckos, Tokay geckos, Day Geckos, Crested Geckos, African fat-tailed geckos, and Common house geckos.
Though there’s a vast range of geckos in the world, some of them display similar temperaments and behavior. While these small-sized lizards are pleasant and docile, they might be touchy, not wanting to be held by humans too frequently.
They chirp, bark, and click when marking their territory or attracting a mate; however, they are most times completely silent. Geckos rarely bite except for few species like Tokay species.
They’re often fed with insects like mealworms, crickets, worms, and waxworms. Some geckos are given a formulated diet with fruits to meet specific nutritional requirements.
Feeding regimens may vary according to age and species. When handling geckos, ensure you don’t hold them by the tail, as this is a defense mechanism against predators.
9. Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are gradually becoming popular pets among humans. The perfect cuddle balls need less effort to groom. With basic needs and care, hedgehogs will thrive, becoming loads of fun for handlers.
Among the various species of hedgehogs, the African pygmy hedgehog is best suited to be a pet. They’re the smallest and cutest of all.
Hedgies are quite expressive and produce various sounds based on their moods. You’ll need to understand what each sound means to provide better care for them. They hiss and snort when they’re grumpy.
While exploring their surroundings or when they’re engaged, they snuffle. Hedgehogs are naturally nervous around humans though it might take time to get accustomed to their owners and build trust.
If properly handled, they’ll learn to recognize you, your voice, and scent as time goes on. Hedgehogs are an energetic lot.
One minute they’re trying to climb up your sofa, and the next minute they’re dragging toys in their cage. It’s fun watching them! Are you allergic to cats and dogs but still want to keep a pet? Hedgehogs are your best option!
10. Canary Birds
Similar to finches, canary birds will prefer keeping to themselves than being handled by humans. Canaries are small birds, they weigh about 0.5 to 1 ounce and are about 5 to 8 inches long.
Their feathers are usually brightly yellow, red, orange, or white. There’s a wide range of canaries with distinct features to choose from. The average lifespan of canaries is 15 years.
Canaries are low maintenance pets and they don’t require very huge cages. Healthy, balanced food, fresh water and periodic cage cleaning are all that these beautiful birds need.
Wrapping Up
And that’s our list of 10 best low maintenance pets. If you’ve got a small space or can’t cope with the stress associated with keeping most pets, this article is definitely for you.
