Ferret, I choose you!
Birb, now someone tell me why I’m a monster for choosing.
Gotta be prepared and committed, many parrot species have lifespans as long as humans. This isn’t a 10 year pet like a dog or cat
I look after two of these adorable birs when I was a teenager. They are usually alright. I don’t remember anything bad about them or high maintenance care. You just need to be careful about handling them and their environment not to stress them to much. Only bad thing is their bite. They can rip your fingers off if you make them angry. I remember mines were breaking up the cage’s metal bars just because they were bored. Other than that they are very clever and fun pets to have.
There will never be enough meat on that baby to make a decent meal.
None. IMHO animals species that are not domesticated should stay in the wild.
Usually I go for the fire starter pokemon but electric lizard looks pretty cool
I want the little weasel guy. Pigs grow up. I just don’t like how birds sound or act, too fidgety.
I could do the lizard too, since I feel like all those weasels are super high maintenance? I guess lizards need high heat though.
But I want the weasel guy.
Piglet! Pet and emergency rations in one package.
behave or be bacon.
I love my beardie dragon Lizzy, she is one of the best companions i’ve ever kept super easy to take care of.
Pig. Cute now, food later.
Ferrets are exotic? They’re actually completely domesticated and easy to take care of. They’re also a great combination of playful and low maintenance (especially when you have two and they can play with each other). I recommend them highly to anyone who doesn’t have much of a sense of smell.
Ferrets are not completely domesticated, and are indeed classified as exotic. It’s extremely difficult to insure them (in many plaves impossible), it’s primarily exotic specialized vets that can help with them, and though they are extremely friendly and fun, they are at best “half” domesticated. They are also banned in many countries and states.
Source: I have four ferrets and love them, but I also know exactly how putting your hand near a young ferret plays out every single time, and it takes months of training to get them to stop wanting to draw blood <3
I actually really wanted a ferret but I was advised that you should get more than one so that they have each other for company.
I have a cockatoo I inherited and it taught me birds should not be pets.
I’m curious. What happened?
Oh nothing. Hes a funny little guy. He spent over 30 years with my father in law and is a little curmudgeon just like he was. Its just how they are. Birds have a territory that should be counted in miles not feet. This is true for dogs and humans to a much larger degree with birds. This is why taking a dog out should not just be about going to the bathroom but for stimulation and excersise. Folks that do not own a dog should go for daily walks really. Keeping it in cage is just no but you will have furniture and walls and stuff bit up if you don’t. You can mitigate it a bit. I keep the walls around his cage covered in cardboard and we are lucky he is a bit cage bound so he generally does not roam to far (maybe because of the dog who is not mean to him but he basically yells at everything because curmudgeon.) They are messy with their food and poop and their dander is worse than dog and cat stuff. Definately need an air purifier for the house with them. Again though its just a feeling to me that these creatures really should not be bound to such a small area. I mean you can’t take one that has for so long and set it free despite poetic talk around that, but I would never get one except in the scenario we have one where it just needs to be taken care of and I would avoid being the one to take that up if there was any way to avoid it. We maybe get a lot of benefit from them as they are smart and definately provide company but they just should not be bound. Oh another downside is they can be too much company. Loud and demanding. Again in a way far beyond what you will see with cat/dog.
Amen, brother. I LOVE parrots. I WANT to have them as screaming, demanding, insanely destructive friends, but it feels cruel to force them to live with humans. They care about their mates and their flock and humans are bad, inattentive partners for parrots.
If a human insists on avian friends, I’d suggest a small set of chickens outside in the yard. They are very domesticated, not endangered, and can rely on one another for most their socializing needs. You can even put them in diapers for visits in the house. Before considering, beware that all kinds of predators want to eat your pet chickens.
Here’s my assessment:
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Ferrets are fun, high-energy “stinky slinkies”. They require all those mammalian things like frequent food and water and space and toys and companionship. They need fairly active babysitting if you’re away from home for more than a weekend.
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Parakeets are the most delicate creature here. They can’t be handled like the others and need a perch and cuttlebone, some temperature control, and even good quality air.
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Pigs are smart and though I’d love a little beer buddy, as others have said they never stay little. Older pigs can need a lot of space and simulation and companionship or they can become very irritable and destructive.
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Bearded dragons are pretty easy going and great pets. Like any lizard they need good temperature control but otherwise they don’t require a ton of space and not nearly as frequent food and stimulation as a mammal. But they’re easier to interact with and less delicate than birds. Clear winner.
For those who like this topic, check out Clint’s Reptiles on YouTube. He’s a biologist with episodes on “Is X the best pet for you?” and has already covered all of these (as well as far more exotic things like spiders and cobras).
Just a nitpick, that bird is not a parakeet. It’s a female eclectus parrot.
There are a number of parakeet species so referring to a bird as a parakeet isn’t specific. The most common parrot kept as pets are budgerigars, or budgies. Which is the one I think you were referring to.
Parrots being a special interest of mine I had to drop this on impulse.
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