Pets for the kids

elisebutt65

Well I have resisted valiantly for many, many years but have finally given in and have agreed to consider a pet of some kind. Kids are now 6 and 11 so getting more responsible.

I've firmly discounted anything with fur as these are too time intensive really and then u have all the fun of getting them looked after when you're away, like I do for my neighbours cat.

I thought about birds but can't stand cheeping - the only ones I like are owls and you probably need a special licence as it's a bird of prey and it seems a bit cruel caging an owl, unless it was a titchy pigmy one - but still seems a bit cruel.

Then there's fish - blehhh - no way - cleaning tanks etc and I'd end up doing it and probably kill them all.

So we're down to reptiles - snakes, lizards or tortoises.

I quite fancy a snake and don't mind feeding it bugs, or depending on size, mice etc.

Zach kindly suggested SPIDERS!!!!(TARANTULAS) AAAAAAAAAAARGH!!! NEVER!!!!!!! NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what does everyone else think - my neighbour can pop in on whatever it is and feed it for me - still don't want furries tho, if I go away.

I can do icky stuff like cleaning poo and feeding dead things too - LOL

Tojo_Ralph

elisebutt65 wrote:

Pets For the Kids?

That Sounds Like A Fair Swop To Me ... I've a teenager to trade for anything suitable.

Tomthumb

Get a bearded dragon they are gorgeous and pretty robust, I almost got one but ended up with an African grey parrot instead - he doesn't cheep, but he shouts at the dog/kids, says goodnight, see you later, whassssuuuuup, who's the daddy, you b*gger and has whole telephone conversations with himself....... lol

abbecer

My niece has a lizard and once all set up it doesn't take much to look after.

Rebecca x

abdulinyourface

seriously

dont give in!

you'll regret it. if you have had one since they were young then its different but if youre getting them one cuz theyre older and are whinging about it then you'll regret it cuz you will have to do it all in the end.

elisebutt65

Tomthumb wrote:

Get a bearded dragon they are gorgeous and pretty robust, I almost got one but ended up with an African grey parrot instead - he doesn't cheep, but he shouts at the dog/kids, says goodnight, see you later, whassssuuuuup, who's the daddy, you b*gger and has whole telephone conversations with himself....... lol

Ooooh a Parrot - now that appeals. Do you need a humoungous cage for one??? Have got quite a biggish house but a bit cluttered and don't want to cramp him - and is it still legal to buy them??? I had some vague idea that you couldn't get hold of them any more for some reason.

Tojo_Ralph

Tomthumb wrote:

Get a bearded dragon.

Aye... I've one of them to trade as well!!!

elisebutt65

abdulinyourface wrote:

seriously

dont give in!

you'll regret it. if you have had one since they were young then its different but if youre getting them one cuz theyre older and are whinging about it then you'll regret it cuz you will have to do it all in the end.

Aww i don't really mind looking after a pet - which is why I want it to be one that I like mainly. Just so fed up of looking after the darned tamagotchis and want something real to look after instead - LOL

abdulinyourface

elisebutt65 wrote:

Aww i don't really mind looking after a pet - which is why I want it to be one that I like mainly. Just so fed up of looking after the darned tamagotchis and want something real to look after instead - LOL

find one that doesnt need feeding or cleaning or poo's or makes noises..........oh wait that is a tamagotchi! :doh:

OddjobKIA

elisebutt65 wrote:

So we're down to reptiles - snakes, lizards or tortoises.

I quite fancy a snake and don't mind feeding it bugs, or depending on size, mice etc.

- LOL

These are probably the most difficult PET to look after

If the tank is to hot by a few degrees you will cook them
and to cold you will chill them to death.

If your wanting a pet for your kids to grow to love then you can't beat a dog
but only if your willing to spend as much time with it as you do a child.

One thing that worked on my kids 8-4 they wanted a dog so I said fine if they took it for a walk every morning, they said they would

I said we would practice first

I got them up at 6am in the pooring rain to take our futre dog for a walk they were fed up with the idea after 200 yards.

Never asked for a pet again.

alanalea

Ok, maybe a bit furry but how about a rat?

They make lovely pets, very loving (don't bite as much as hamsters and gerbils), not a huge life expectancy like parrots, can be handled easy, not tooooo noisy.

There again when I was a kid we had Giant African Landsnails. No noise, only eat greens/veg and cuttlefish, live in a tank and cost about 50p each to buy. They do grow to the size of a dinner plate, but they're lovely