What Type of Pet Suits My Lifestyle?
Maria Bustillos
Before you jump off with the decision of pet ownership you wanted to know if you could put up with a certain pet you fancy with the kind of lifestyle you have. We’ve already discussed in our previous article regarding the things you should consider if you wanted to go for a dog or a cat. So let me list down some animals that are being considered as pets by different people, more so if you are living in the big cities.
RABBITS
They’re unique, they’re fluffy, and they jump! Who doesn’t want a cuddle time with them? Of course most people do; it’s not every day that they can encounter a rabbit so a playtime would always be a bonus. Now, you might think they’re easy to work on since they only eat carrots and can be placed in a cage all the time. Those are common misconceptions, rabbits need various kind of vegetables and fruits that you can check online to complete the nutrients they should be getting. Like dogs and cats, rabbits should also be spayed or neutered to make them happier pets. Rabbits prefer quiet, gentle environment and so if your household is quite hectic everyday it’s not best to keep a rabbit as your pet or just make sure they’re in a room away from the busy buzz of the family members. If they’re not handled gently and often they may not like cuddle time with you or with other people. Their lifespan could reach from seven to ten years, so be ready for that kind of commitment.
BIRDS
Like any other pet their diet is supposed to be varied as well to keep up with the nutrients they need and you have to learn how to properly check if they are physically healthy. They can get really messy so check if your schedule could squeeze a cleaning time of their cage. Some birds require you to interact with them at least two hours every day. They’re not too sensitive with noise as well but could get lonely if they’re living in a cage alone; proper care for them requires you to have at least two of their kind and a big cage where they can spread their wings and fly to the other side with a smaller space inside to sleep. If you can’t afford to put up a large cage make sure they can fly in a closed room every day and that they can go back to their cage anytime. Their lifespan differ from bird to bird so make sure to also check that out.
FISHES
There are tons of different fishes in the pet store, before buying one research for the kind of fish that would suit your space and your finances. Their space could be as small as fishbowls to a large aquarium as some fishes need oxygen, balanced pH level, and the right temperature at all cost, some isn’t as sensitive. Their diet also vary from fish to fish. Unlike other pets fishes don’t require playtime for them to be happy and don’t require too much attention just make sure you check up on them to see if they are sick and maintain a clean tank to maintain their level of oxygen. Their lifespan varies from fish to fish as well.
TURTLES
Turtles or tortoises are high maintenance; from their space, diet, and health care. Your place should accommodate either a pond, a tub, or an aquarium making sure an unfiltered sunlight could reach the turtle when they bask and a shade if they don’t want too much sunlight. Without direct access from the sun you should provide UVA/UVB bulbs as alternatives. Make sure that their space is free from possible rodent visitors or even your dog or cat as they may get bitten or worse eaten by them. You don’t need to handle them all of the time, you just want to make sure that their healthy and there are no pus on their skin; but be warned reptiles like turtles carry diseases such as salmonella so you have to wash your hands thoroughly and if there are kids in the household remind them to wash their hands right after touching them. You wanted to make sure you got the right size for their space as they grow as well, different specie means different growth as well and every specie have bigger females than males so you have to make sure you get the size right before buying one. Most species are able to live a decade and can go up to 40 to 50 years.
HAMSTERS AND GUINEA PIGS
They both came from the rodent family but hamsters are more like cousins to mice and guinea pigs are like fourth cousins. They are both low maintenance after you set-up their space but they differ all-together. Hamsters are omnivores and guinea pigs are herbivores, both eat their own poop. If you plan to keep two same species in an enclosure, make sure you watch out if they don’t go well together; hamsters have tendencies to eat their male partner or their babies for survival instincts so, while guinea pigs rarely have trouble with their own kind and usually they get on well with other pets. Remember that they could have litter up to an average of 10 at once, you can make money out of it though but make sure their place is suitable to have babies. They can be as active as how their owners keep them active as well. Hamster’s lifespan can reach 2 to 3 years while guinea pigs can reach 4 to 5 years.
Remember that any type of pet leaves you an emotional baggage if your chosen pet dies earlier than expected, so make sure you research more about that certain pet you like after reading this article to make the most of their average lifespan and happy keeping!
photo from pixabay.com