My kids want a pet. I realize that I will be the one caring for said animal, I just would like to introduce them to the idea of feeding, cleaning up after, and basically caring for a living critter.

We will not do a cat or dog mostly because we live in an apartment that requires both a non-refundable deposit of 500 and a $40 a month "pet rent" for each dog or cat. We figured we can get a dog or cat once we move in about 2 years (at which point we'll buy).

The options we've considered are rat, guinea pig, or snake. Obviously the snake would not be as "pet" like, but I thought it would be fun for them to watch and help feed. The guinea pig is larger, but more skittish. The rat is smaller, but seem to be smarter and nicer. The kids will NEVER be allowed alone with any of the animals, they will live in our room so the kids will always be supervised.

I refuse to get hamsters or mice. I had hamsters which killed and ate one another.

Kids are basically 2 and 3 years old.

Ideas?

Cannibal hamsters :O

I had a Guinea pig and he was badass. My mother did as well and loved hers.
They're sweet and big "enough" to be pet like, KWIM?

we had a snake for years, they are super easy to care for, and don't smell. at least ours didn't.


ETA: i had a roomate that had a rat once, and it always smelled lol. i dislike stinky animals though.

What about an aquarium with tropical fish?

Guinea pig

Rats. Hands down, no question. DD has had some in her room since she was 2, they sit on the couch and watch movies with us (with their own bowl of popcorn), and act like kittens all the time. The only problem with rats is they die too young.

Quoting Mummy-2-2-Monsters:" What about an aquarium with tropical fish?"

My fish always eat each other too.

Maybe I just suck with animals, haha. Actually, I really hate fish. At least with a snake they CAN touch it. I remember my step-sister used to reach in and pet her goldfish. . . . poor fish. haha

Quoting melindapple:" we had a snake for years, they are super easy to care for, and don't smell. at least ours didn't. ETA: ... [snip!] ... at least ours didn't. ETA: i had a roomate that had a rat once, and it always smelled lol. i dislike stinky animals though."

Smell *IS* a big concern of mine. My husband is REALLY sensitive to smells and claims taht every animal alive smells. Like, no matter what. "Lets get ants. "

"Ants smell."

haha

<blockquote><b>Quoting she nan igans:</b>" My fish always eat each other too. Maybe I just suck with animals, haha. Actually, I really hate fish. ... [snip!] ... At least with a snake they CAN touch it. I remember my step-sister used to reach in and pet her goldfish. . . . poor fish. haha"</blockquote>


Rats?

I want to get rats for my children. They are one of the cleanest pets you can get and super friendly.

Most people are going to tell you a guinea pig because rats are misunderstood and gross to most people.

I have two pet rats that I've had for about a year now. We absolutely LOVE them. Rats are great pets for smaller children and don't bite. They are very loving and social. I have them in a cage without a top on it and they usually hangout on the top of the cage.

Either way, you will have to get two of whatever you decide because they need companionship. Rats have been known to die when kept alone.

I had just about every kind of rodent when I was a kid, except guinea pigs. No idea why because my kids have always had guinea pigs and they're the best small pets.

When I was little my dad always had pet rats. I have always loved them. A lot of people say they are gross, but if you care for them properly they actually are very clean animals.

Quoting khigh:" Rats. Hands down, no question. DD has had some in her room since she was 2, they sit on the couch and ... [snip!] ... with us (with their own bowl of popcorn), and act like kittens all the time. The only problem with rats is they die too young."

See, I've heard really good things about rats. I hadn't ever considered them, but when I started researching they seem like great options. Guinea pigs are bigger, but it seems like rats are less frightened and more interesting to watch.

Honestly I'm between rats and snake. I like the idea of a snake, something they can watch that is in a closed tank. Also, they seem pretty dang easy to care for. But I really have a soft place for furry animals.

There are two cute little boy rats at the shelter and I really want to go down and see them and maybe adopt them.

Agree with the no hamster part! I wanted one when I was younger and thus...it needed a friend as well! The shelter we got them from said they were both either boys or both girls....

GUESS WHAT!

They were wrong....22 hamsters later...Luckily my school had show and tell and ended up giving alot of them away to classmates! But yes they will either their babies...

I vote on either a rabbit or a ferret. I've only ever owned a rabbit and it was a cuddle buddy!

Quoting Hairspray:" Most people are going to tell you a guinea pig because rats are misunderstood and gross to most people. ... [snip!] ... you will have to get two of whatever you decide because they need companionship. Rats have been known to die when kept alone."

I've heard that rats make wonderful pets. They're very smart. I had a rat when I was really young but, being a kid, I didn't pay enough attention to it and it got mean.