TwilightACADEMY

Dear Academy,

Here's my situation: I'm 18 years old, starting college in the fall, but living at home. We live in an appartment, so we're not allowed to have dogs or cats, but I'd like to get an affordable friend I can keep in a cage or tank, just to have a buddy around. I'm currently unemployed (again), so a budget is necessary. Do you have any recommendations in terms of a pet for me? I was thinking along the lines of a guinea pig because I've heard and read that they are not nocturnal (a.k.a., it won't keep me up at night-- I've heard that gerbils and hamsters are nocturnal, and I value my sleep). Someone also suggested a rabbit to me, but I was just sort of turned off to that for whatever reason. I'm not opposed to fish or lizards, they're just not as cuddly as I'd primarily like. Feel free to give examples if you have any pet experiences of your own I can feed off of-- any advice at this point is good advice.

-Pet Dilema

Well, Pet Dilemma, definitely DON'T get a hamster; they're like tiny devils. I always kind of put hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs in the same category, but guinea pigs aren't really like the other two, are they? One might make a good pet. Fish are boring. A rabbit wouldn't be bad, but I know a couple people that had some and they complained about them.

That sucks that you can't even have a cat! A dog, I can understand, but a cat?

I've owned a gerbil, they are very cute, but the cage can smell, and personally i hate cleaning out cages. Just really depends on how much you want one.

I've never really had fury animals, because my siblings are allergic! so i've only owned fish. Fish are boring, as in the sense you can't pet them, but i've always loved aquatic animals. The pluses are is that its not hard to clean out tanks, keep them fed and happy if you pay attention to thier needs, PH, clean tank, food. Depending on the fish, it can be very cheep too, and pretty to look at. (sh.. if they die, you can always buy another one ) Anyways, u can always get different types of fish to match how difficult lvl, some fish like those fighting fish, u can just leave em there, feed like once a day or others, keep more of a cautious eye on them.

owning a small aquarium is fun, i've owned tiny little frogs at one point, turtles, newts, oh and even a puffer fish (so cute)

I'll suggest a fish - I have two! (Bert and Ernie). They are relatively easy to take car of - just make sure you clean their tank every two weeks (well, I do anyways) and change the water regualarly. I have goldfish, and they are quite harmless really. I prettyed up the tank (it's only a smallish one) with a castle and a diver and some weeds and pebbles and a Gandolf action figure!
If you do decide on a goldfish, remember don't tip it into the waterways. Goldfish are actually a menace to native fish, and are a big killer to them (I learnt that at the zoo!)

If you don't like fish, why not a hermit crab or two? They are absolutely gorgeous! no, really, they are. My mum had some in her classroom. They are easy to look after as well, just make sure you keep the tank clean.

Or what about an Axolotl? I know they are not the cutest looking of creatures, but I think they are cool!