The moment you bring a pet into your house can be thrilling, whether it’s a child’s dream come true or an adult looking for a caring friend. While having a pet can be a lot of fun, taking care of one can also be expensive and require a lot of labor. Therefore, even though an attractive puppy could be your first choice when considering a pet, especially if you have a hectic schedule, you might want to choose a more manageable animal that requires less upkeep for your first pet.
Fortunately, there are lots of low-maintenance, adorable, and fascinating pets that you can get along with. You may choose the ideal partner for your lifestyle, from cuddly furry friends to apartment-friendly varieties. Regardless of whether you’re more of a fan of reptiles like turtles, leopard geckos, and snakes, or fuzzy pals like hamsters and Guinea Pigs.
Some of the easiest-to-maintain animals that also make wonderful pets are listed here. However, keep in mind that a low-maintenance pet still requires regular care, including access to ample food, water, veterinary attention, and other necessities.
Hamster
A wonderful first pet for your kids would be a hamster! After you have set up their home, taking care of these furry friends is simple. A water bottle, food bowl, and of course a hamster wheel are essential components of a happy hamster home because hamsters enjoy exercising! These guys eat mostly pelleted food and dark green vegetables every other day.
Betta Fish
Compared to saltwater fish, keeping a freshwater fish—such as a Betta Fish—can be more simpler. Because male Betta fish are territorial, each one should be kept alone in a gallon of water with enough room left over at the top for your fish to be able to breathe. A Betta’s life can be extended by providing regular water changes and keeping appropriate water quality.
Guinea Pig
Another kid-favorite! Animals that like everyday interaction are guinea pigs. They get along well with other Guinea pigs as a result. You won’t have to worry about grooming these tiny fellows. They don’t usually require frequent showers because they want to keep themselves tidy. Just make sure you have food, drink, bedding, and a cage.
Chinchilla
Their fur is incredibly soft, and they are gentle. Because of their hypoallergenic coat, Chinchillas may be a wonderful choice for those who have allergies. A well-ventilated cage, bedding, hiding places, toys, food, and water are all part of a Chinchilla’s habitat.
They are low-maintenance because, despite their gregarious nature and love of hanging out with other Chinchillas, they would rather not be held frequently. To keep their fur clean, they do need weekly dust baths and special Chinchilla diet.
Turtle
Numerous species of turtles exist, with differences in lifespan, size, and daily maintenance. The Painted Turtle is a well-liked species that can reach lengths of 4 to 12 inches. You won’t need to bother about daily feedings because these can be housed in a terrarium and fed a few times a week. The most crucial element in maintaining their health is offering a cozy aquatic home with carefully regulated temperature and hygiene.
Snake
If you are uncomfortable around reptiles, having these sly buddies may be a little unnerving. However, as long as you keep them in a tank that is the right size, keep the tank at a reasonable temperature, and give them their favorite foods—which might vary depending on the snake—they are quite easy to care for. Typically, they consume mice, rats, or eggs.
Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos are excellent pets for novices. These geckos are housed in 15–20 gallon tanks that don’t require frequent, thorough cleaning. Rather, make sure to disinfect the tank twice a month and spot clean it every day to remove any feces. These geckos enjoy eating mealworms occasionally as well as crickets and waxworms. It’s not always easy to handle their food, but you won’t have to bother about feeding your adult gecko every day.
Bird
Have you ever thought of owning a colorful bird as a pet? Depending on the species you choose, birds can be low-maintenance pets that don’t need a lot of human interaction. But you can also have a bird that enjoys interacting with people and spending time with the family. Make sure the cage you build is big enough for the particular bird you own in order to create a happy cage. Select a cage with bars that are closely spaced between and that is twice as wide as your bird’s wingspan. They also take pleasure in consuming a wide range of meals, such as fruit, green vegetables, pellets, seeds, and nuts.
Hermit Crab
One more discreet pet! You may keep these crabs in a five-gallon, humid terrarium. You should maintain a shallow saltwater dish for them to soak in and a warmer habitat for them. Of course, it’s crucial to provide them with three to five empty shells in their habitat that they can squeeze into. Because they are smaller animals, cleaning up after them is minimal, and feeding them is also rather simple. They mostly consume pellet food and eat quite slowly.
Sea Monkey
It’s likely that you haven’t heard of these pets before because they were only developed in the previous century. They come in hatching kits and are a hybrid breed of brine shrimp. These tiny fellas only need to be fed every five days once their water tank is set up, and their tank should be kept well-oxygenated.
