you filthy animal - pet - quick one

[nazali]

wanna get daughter a pet, upgrade from her fish (we keep going through Betta's) and after 4 years, I'm now done with tank cleaning, so she want's a dog I'm saying no (FTM)

but what does the forum think of either a hamster, guinea pig or a gerbil

anyone know for a 10yo, what betters, differences , other than being bigger versions of rats LOL

txs

[shoei]

Originally Posted by nazali

wanna get daughter a pet, upgrade from her fish (we keep going through Betta's) and after 4 years, I'm now done with tank cleaning, so she want's a dog I'm saying no (FTM)

but what does the forum think of either a hamster, guinea pig or a gerbil

anyone know for a 10yo, what betters, differences , other than being bigger versions of rats LOL

txs

@Sara - she's the person to ask.

[mapleleaf1773]

Well after fish it gets more rough. Whatever you get your kid. That pet will be yours. So cleaning up, feeding, playing etc....it will all be up to you my friend. Because after the newness wears off, it becomes your responsibility. Thats just the way it is.

[Joe T]

get her a cat. Very little maintenance, food water clean litter box.

I'm not a "cat guy" but over the years we've had a few, and kids love them. Keep it as an indoor cat and there's none of the bullshit vet bills from getting in fights, attacked my other animals, hit by cars. Have her clean the litterbox everyday and you'd never know the cat was there.

We've disappeared for a week or longer, made sure there was plenty of food and water and never a second thought.

We now have a cat and an 70# lab. I rush home from work to make sure she's been fed and walked and pay someone $150 a week to walk her 1/2 hour a day while we're at work.

[infinitekidM2C]

get the guinea pig and do experiments on it. Just kidding, it's bigger so more fun. might wanna look into a chinchilla as well.

[mapleleaf1773]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

get the guinea pig and do experiments on it. Just kidding, it's bigger so more fun. might wanna look into a chinchilla as well.

Personal id stay away from chinchillas. My sister had one. They are nocturnal and make noises all night. They also love to explore and chew wires. Guinea good to go lol

[IllSic_Design]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

get the guinea pig and do experiments on it. Just kidding, it's bigger so more fun. might wanna look into a chinchilla as well.

No on the Chinchilla, it will be a lot more work and they aren't really able to be played with per se like a guinea pig or other rodent

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by mapleleaf1773

Personal id stay away from chinchillas. My sister had one. They are nocturnal and make noises all night. They also love to explore and chew wires. Guinea good to go lol

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

No on the Chinchilla, it will be a lot more work and they aren't really able to be played with per se like a guinea pig or other rodent

aight aight, never had one meself.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by nazali

but what does the forum think of either a hamster, guinea pig or a gerbil

Per Sara:

[UncleWede]

My niece got her son a guinea pig when he was about 4. He sorta feeds it, the top of cage is open and Oink doesn't get out.

I can smell the dog, but not Oink. Nobody touches Oink

[IllSic_Design]

yeah I think a guinea pig would be the best choice. They're bigger so not as easy to squish as a gerbil or hamster, they like to be handled by people, not too dirty or hard to clean cages, cheap, etc.....

[obert]

Lol I am in the exact situation. Have a beta for a few years and I told her she can have a cat once he dies lol.

But I will be getting her a cat for Xmas this year. Low maintenance compared to a dog IMO. And yeah I know it will be mine just like the fish. Should have never go another after I killed the first one.

[F32Fleet]

A male Main Coon cat. Very dog like. In fact I have a 22lbs'er sitting on my chest as I type this.

[MsGoGoMoto]

Ferret.
The end

[Maynard]

And get that cat from the local adoption agency. Way too many unwanted cats out there, plus you will get a little more info on personality/style, and with most shelter groups if there are problems you can return them and try another.

[M5Rick]

Perhaps not a cat,a gerbil will please her running at a standstill on that silent spinner wheel.

[unluky]

Don't do it - no more pets for me - ever. Or at least until I retire.......and even then - maybe.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by unluky

Don't do it - no more pets for me - ever. Or at least until I retire.......and even then - maybe.

I grew up with a lot of animals, couple dogs, maybe 10 cats, 100 rabbits, few cows etc and they were great BUT we had 5 acres and the animals were never allowed in the house.

In the climate here, animals have to be inside and FMD what a colossal disaster. The house stinks, it just does. Walking a dog twice a day, cleaning up, taking it to the vet, jesus, it's a baby that never grows up honestly.

[Chihuahua]

I've had all sorts of rodents as pets, I'll never do it again. For the most part, they smell, cleaning the cage sucks, they bite, and they're not cuddly. If you won't do a dog then get her a cat. But seriously, bite the bullet and get her a dog.

[King Rudi]

In before Sara. Don't even argue it. Just buy a damn horse. I hear they are really cheap to own and maintain.

[DETRoadster]

Get whatever pet you want because as others have said, it will be yours. You already take care of cleaning the fish's cage so why would it be any different for any other pet. I've literally only seen 1 occasion where the kid stepped up and managed all care of the pet. 99% of the time its the parents that end up owning nearly all the responsibility. Since she already failed at the fish maintenance just pick some other arbitrary task and tell her she owns it for the next 6 months. If she can prove herself worthy, she's earned the pet. Just like the real world. You dont get the promotion at work then prove yourself. You have to prove yourself first, then get promoted. Teaching life skills here....

[erickonphoenix]

Personally I think taking care of animal is a great opportunity for learning responsibility and compassion. It can also be a good indicator if you start seeing personality problems develop in your child. I was responsible for taking care of all our animals period.

Dogs seem to be the best for that since you can monitor their condition the easiest. Also dogs(and cats) don't seem to keel over as quickly because of some random illness like rabbits and small rodents.