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Have you ever craved a pet but shrugged off from getting one because you believed you didn’t have the time to care for them, or thought you weren’t up for handling the responsibilities involved? With low maintenance pets, you’ll find that all your worries melt away. This article outlines several subjects like the defining characteristics of low maintenance pets and the kind of care required by them. We’ve also included the top ten low maintenance pets that we reviewed. Reading this guide before you purchase a pet can help you make an informed choice.
Frequently Asked Questions on Low Maintenance Pets
Explained here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about low maintenance pets.
1. What Should I Look for in a Pet?
One of the first things you should consider when you’re interested in low maintenance pets is whether the pet matches your lifestyle. Pets come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. Not all pets behave the same way; some are energetic, some need lots of space, and some require high levels of interaction. Before making the decision to get a pet for yourself, do some research on the most common types or breeds of the pet you have set your eyes on. Also, focus on getting a pet that you like and would be interested in raising. Another factor to consider when you are looking for a pet is the kind of environment that it grows best in. Analyze whether the environment in your home matches the requirements of the pet you are considering.
2. What Kinds of Care Do Pets Require?
Low maintenance pets are easy to care for. As a general rule of thumb, you should keep the following in mind. Healthcare is the most important aspect that you, as an owner, can provide your pet. Taking your pet to the vet at regular intervals ensures that your pet stays hale and healthy throughout its life. Grooming your pet helps it stay clean and fresh and prevents infections and infestations. Providing your pet with proper and nutritious food is important for it to grow into a healthy and active adult. No matter how independent a pet is, it still likes to enjoy a level of interaction with humans. Making sure to provide the interaction it needs ensures that the pet stays happy and isn’t lonely.
3. Can I Have a Pet If I Have a Busy Schedule?
One of the upsides of low maintenance pets is that you can have one even with a tight schedule. As different pets require different levels of attention, make sure to look for a pet that you can fit into your hectic lifestyle. Pets that are independent and can look after themselves should rank higher in your pet preference list. Those kinds of pets, although happy to receive your attention, do not crave for it all day. Also, establishing a daily routine amidst your schedule can keep your pets more relaxed and at ease. For instance, taking your pet out every day for a walk in the mornings before you leave for work and spending some time everyday playing with your pet after a long day of work can surely work wonders.
4. What Are the Attributes of Low Maintenance Pets?
Low maintenance pets are so categorized because they do not incur a lot of avoidable expenses for their owner. One such example is healthcare-related expenses. A pet that has low immunity is prone to getting sick very often, which can quickly add up in vet bills. Another example is the expense of feeding the pet. Some pets require large quantities of very specific and exotic foods which can burn a big hole in the pocket. Also, the expense of setting up and maintaining a housing environment with the necessary accessories for the pet should not be ruled out. Low maintenance pets check all the right boxes when it comes to avoiding these expenses.
How We Reviewed
We combed through a lot of information on various low maintenance pets and evaluated them based on several parameters like their primary features, the pros and cons of owning them, and their average budget. Depending on our findings, we’ve picked the top ten low maintenance pets from among several more.
What We Reviewed
The top ten low maintenance pets that we reviewed are as follows.
- Hamster
- Betta Fish
- Gecko
- Cat
- Guinea Pig
- Dwarf Frog
- Snake
- Canary
- Snail
- Hissing Cockroach
Hamster
Features
Hamsters belong to the rodent family and are typically four to seven inches long. They have short tails, stubby legs, small ears, and large cheek pouches. They come in a wide variety of colors ranging from black and gray to white and yellow. The diet of a hamster consists of seeds, grains, nuts, and occasionally small insects.
Pros
- Hamsters are gentle and easy to take care of
- Feeding hamsters is not hard due to their small appetites
- They like being handled, making them the perfect pets for children
Cons
- Hamsters are nocturnal; they sleep during the day and are active at night
- They don’t like to be paired with others of the same gender as they get very aggressive
- They have a very short lifespan of around 2-3 years
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Betta Fish
Features
Also known as the Siamese fighting fish, the betta fish comes in vibrant colors and patterns. The highlight of the fish is its long, flared tail. The betta fish possesses unique tail shapes such as veil tail, half-moon tail, double tail, and crown tail, among others.
Pros
- The fish can survive above water for short periods of time as they can breathe air
- Bettas are intelligent and can perform tricks
- Feeding them is as easy as dropping food pellets onto the surface of the water
Cons
- True to their name, the fish is aggressive and will attack other bettas
- They are not the best travel companions as it is not practical to take them along with you
- Regularly cleaning the tank can get cumbersome
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Gecko
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Features
Geckos are also low maintenance pets that belong to the reptile family and are highly adaptable. They come in different sizes ranging from 0.6 inches to 24 inches long. Geckos communicate with each other by barking, chirping, and clicking. Their sticky toes help them stick even to the slickest of surfaces.
Pros
- Geckos have a long lifespan of 10-20 years
- Some species of geckos can change color to blend with the environment
- Geckos are less prone to biting or attacking humans
Cons
- They have extensive housing and lighting needs
- Feeding geckos can get a little expensive and time consuming due to specific requirements
- Finding adequate healthcare for reptiles can be tough
Cat
Features
Cats are one of the most well-known pets out there. When it comes to the choices of cats, they are aplenty, with almost 40 distinct breeds available. They’re very sensitive creatures and have exceptional sense of hearing, sight, and balance. Cats are friendly, inquisitive, and playful making them perfect for kids and adults alike.
Pros
- Cats are very loving, affectionate, and entertaining
- They’re very independent and can take care of themselves
- Cats don’t need too much space to move around and are happy being indoors
Cons
- They tend to shed a lot of hair, making cleaning harder
- Cats tend to scratch things like furniture, carpets, clothes, and humans a lot
- Cleaning the cat’s litter box can be a tiring job
Guinea Pig
Features
Another mammal from the rodent family, the guinea pig is similar to the hamster but is much larger, ranging from 8 to 16 inches long. Unlike hamsters, guinea pigs have large eyes and do not possess a tail. They are extremely docile and can get startled pretty easily.
Pros
- They are highly sociable and enjoy living together in groups
- Guinea pigs are clean animals and actively groom themselves
- They are hypoallergenic
Cons
- Guinea pigs need a lot of space to move around
- They can get pretty loud and unruly
- Food expenses tend to add up pretty quickly as they require vegetables, hay, and vitamin C supplements
Dwarf Frog
Features
Dwarf frogs, as the name implies, are small frogs that grow up to just 3 inches long. They are low maintenance pets that spend their entire lives under water. Despite this, they possess lungs and not gills, thereby requiring them to rise up to the surface to breathe.
Pros
- Dwarf frogs are entertaining as they are very active
- They can live happily in a small aquarium
- They are non-aggressive and prefer to be with a partner or two
Cons
- They need to be spot-fed as they neither compete nor look for food
- Dwarf frogs need a heater in the aquarium to keep the water tropical
- They are not the best travel companions
Snake
Features
Contrary to popular opinion, snakes make good pets. They come in various sizes and colors. They are limbless and therefore, very agile. Except the occasional hisses, snakes tend to be very quiet. They are independent, solitary, and do not require frequent human interaction.
Pros
- Snakes are quite docile and easy to care for as they are clean and odorless
- They are inexpensive to feed as they do not each too much
- They have a very long life-span, ranging from 15 to 30 years
Cons
- They need specific housing requirements such as appropriate lighting and heating
- Snakes are purely carnivorous and need to be fed dead insects and rodents
- They tend to scare a lot of people and do not elicit a level of comfort
Canary
Features
Canaries are small songbirds that are primarily suited for the indoors. There are various species of canaries like the roller canary, American singer canary, and red factor canary among others. Canaries are bred according to three categories: color, type, and song.
Pros
- Their size makes them easy to handle
- They’re highly sociable and enjoy attention
- Canaries are also highly entertaining as they sing and whistle
Cons
- Canaries can be noisy and loud
- They need a lot of space as they dislike being crammed into small or tight cages
- They tend to make a mess by flinging seeds and food everywhere
Snail
Features
Snails are great low maintenance pets because they’re slow, easy to care for, and entertaining to observe. Also, most snails are hermaphrodites, which means that they possess both the male and the female sex organs. They like living in a damp environment and do not appreciate too much warmth.
Pros
- Snails require only a small enclosure or a container to live in
- Feeding them is easy and inexpensive
- Cleaning their housing environment is quick and straightforward
Cons
- Snails lay many eggs and reproduce very quickly, which can become overwhelming
- Snails excrete frequently, requiring you to clean regularly
- The food they eat often attracts a lot of fruit flies
Hissing Cockroach
Features
The hissing cockroach is one of the largest among the cockroach species, growing up to 2 to 3 inches long. Unlike the other species, the hissing cockroach cannot fly as they lack wings. However, they’re very good at climbing and can effortlessly scale up even the smoothest of surfaces.
Pros
- They are non-aggressive and merely makes a hissing noise when threatened
- Hissing cockroaches are quite clean
- They only require a small enclosure to live in
Cons
- They cannot survive in the cold and require warmth
- They are light averse and need dark hiding spots
- They may make guests feel uncomfortable
The Verdict
Although all the pets that we reviewed are technically low maintenance pets, some of them offer a better deal when compared to the others. The betta fish is ideal for beginners as feeding it is inexpensive and easy, and it does not require a high level of interaction. The guinea pig is perfect for kids as it is non-aggressive and loves being handled. The canary is one of the best low maintenance pets for professionals as it requires a higher level of understanding and patience with respect to the way it has to be raised.
