Here’s my assessment:
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Ferrets are fun, high-energy “stinky slinkies”. They require all those mammalian things like frequent food and water and space and toys and companionship. They need fairly active babysitting if you’re away from home for more than a weekend.
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Parakeets are the most delicate creature here. They can’t be handled like the others and need a perch and cuttlebone, some temperature control, and even good quality air.
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Pigs are smart and though I’d love a little beer buddy, as others have said they never stay little. Older pigs can need a lot of space and simulation and companionship or they can become very irritable and destructive.
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Bearded dragons are pretty easy going and great pets. Like any lizard they need good temperature control but otherwise they don’t require a ton of space and not nearly as frequent food and stimulation as a mammal. But they’re easier to interact with and less delicate than birds. Clear winner.
For those who like this topic, check out Clint’s Reptiles on YouTube. He’s a biologist with episodes on “Is X the best pet for you?” and has already covered all of these (as well as far more exotic things like spiders and cobras).
Just a nitpick, that bird is not a parakeet. It’s a female eclectus parrot.
There are a number of parakeet species so referring to a bird as a parakeet isn’t specific. The most common parrot kept as pets are budgerigars, or budgies. Which is the one I think you were referring to.
Parrots being a special interest of mine I had to drop this on impulse.
Thanks! I thought I was using the correct family or clade term, my bad. I’d never heard of a eclectus parrot before, but she sure is pretty.
All parakeets are parrots but not all parrots are parakeets.
Eclectus are gorgeous. The males are emerald green with orange beaks. They have the most sexual dimorphism of any of the parrot family.
when you say cuttlebone, is it the same as from a cuttlefish? if so, is it like a chewtoy for the bird?
Yep, it’s the internal shell of a cuttlefish. It provides some calcium for the bits they eat, and helps the bird polish their beaks. Plus they get a little bit of stimulation and exercise pecking at it.
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Ferret, I choose you!
Pig all day every day.
I don’t care if it gets to be 200 pounds, those animals are smart and clean.
I have one. He’s a major pain in the booty. Part of the pain is because of his intelligence.
Dwarf pigs exist, like kunekune of League of Pigs fame.
I don’t think it is okay to call them that, even if they are police. AFAIK the preferred term is little people?
You got me I guess.
Hope you have a big yard.
I choose the bearded dragon. I’ve heard they need a terrarium with a heat lamp and sand floor, but they’re chill little dudes and you can give them the run of the house. Make sure they get plenty of variety of vegetables along with their food pellets and help with stuck shed from time to time and it’s all good.
Beardie is for sure best choice for the easiest pet. Parrots can outlive you and some need a lot of attention or bond with one person and hate everyone else…can be difficult behavior wise. Ferret is probably the 2nd easiest after beardie, I would think. I really want a pig but they don’t stay small, housing can be complicated…
Ferrets are exotic? They’re actually completely domesticated and easy to take care of. They’re also a great combination of playful and low maintenance (especially when you have two and they can play with each other). I recommend them highly to anyone who doesn’t have much of a sense of smell.
I actually really wanted a ferret but I was advised that you should get more than one so that they have each other for company.
If I had the space, I’d want the pig.
I have a cockatoo I inherited and it taught me birds should not be pets.
Amen, brother. I LOVE parrots. I WANT to have them as screaming, demanding, insanely destructive friends, but it feels cruel to force them to live with humans. They care about their mates and their flock and humans are bad, inattentive partners for parrots.
If a human insists on avian friends, I’d suggest a small set of chickens outside in the yard. They are very domesticated, not endangered, and can rely on one another for most their socializing needs. You can even put them in diapers for visits in the house. Before considering, beware that all kinds of predators want to eat your pet chickens.
Ducks and geese are probably fine but require a pond outdoors. And, you know, outdoors.
Some people nearby have a turkey, I guess that’s an option too.
I’ve done ducks. They are a lot of work. They’re very messy, but have big personalities. They are adorable as ducklings but once they are grown you are – at best – just another duck to them. They don’t want human affection if they have a flock. Geese, on the other hand will love you as MOM forever if you raise them from goslings. The lady here with domestic turkeys has some very affectionate examples, too, but I remember a book where the author raised wild turkeys and was attacked by one of the Toms once it was breeding age.
I’m curious. What happened?
Oh nothing. Hes a funny little guy. He spent over 30 years with my father in law and is a little curmudgeon just like he was. Its just how they are. Birds have a territory that should be counted in miles not feet. This is true for dogs and humans to a much larger degree with birds. This is why taking a dog out should not just be about going to the bathroom but for stimulation and excersise. Folks that do not own a dog should go for daily walks really. Keeping it in cage is just no but you will have furniture and walls and stuff bit up if you don’t. You can mitigate it a bit. I keep the walls around his cage covered in cardboard and we are lucky he is a bit cage bound so he generally does not roam to far (maybe because of the dog who is not mean to him but he basically yells at everything because curmudgeon.) They are messy with their food and poop and their dander is worse than dog and cat stuff. Definately need an air purifier for the house with them. Again though its just a feeling to me that these creatures really should not be bound to such a small area. I mean you can’t take one that has for so long and set it free despite poetic talk around that, but I would never get one except in the scenario we have one where it just needs to be taken care of and I would avoid being the one to take that up if there was any way to avoid it. We maybe get a lot of benefit from them as they are smart and definately provide company but they just should not be bound. Oh another downside is they can be too much company. Loud and demanding. Again in a way far beyond what you will see with cat/dog.
Usually I go for the fire starter pokemon but electric lizard looks pretty cool
If I could change the parrot to a duck that’d be great
Had top right. Her name was Kika. I adopted her out because with my work schedule she spent too much time alone.
behave or be bacon.
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Piglet! Pet and emergency rations in one package.
Pig. Cute now, food later.
Ferret. Not something you can get in my country and they are cute noodles
Plus just like me they are prone to horrible digestive issues!
