I have been thinking about getting Drake a pet for some time now to help teach him about responsibility and caring for another living being. I know this might sound funny as we have 2 dogs and 3 cats already, but when I say pet I was thinking more along a tank pet.
This idea came to me when I was thinking about Drake’s birthday. Drake is a huge fan of animals and I thought about getting him a small tank pet to care for. I felt around a little asking Drake if he wanted to have a goldfish (like Elmo). Drake seemed enthused at the idea some days and not interested at all on others, so in the end I shelved the idea for a brief time. Drake is 4 so I realize caring for any pet, even a goldfish, would still require some work and care on my part. I may wait a little while until Drake is 5 and broach the topic again.
Here are a few pets I am considering:
(goldfish | frog | turtle | hermit crab | hamster)
Goldfish – I think every kid loves goldfish because of Elmo and his pet goldfish Dorothy. Whenever Drake sees a goldfish anywhere, he says it’s Dorothy. As a pet goldfish are pretty easy to care for; all they really need is a bowl of water and some food. They don’t need much in the way of care besides the occasional bowl cleaning, which works well for a young child. I had many goldfish growing up and I remember being so excited to watch them swim around the tank and talk to them. The downside of goldfish is 1) we have cats, but I would keep the tank in Drake’s room and the door is always shut so the cats wouldn’t be able to get in unsupervised, and 2) goldfish die quite easily. They are cheap and easy to replace, but it means explaining death to a 4 year old, which I’m not sure I want to do just yet.
Turtle/Frog – Drake knows a lot of facts about turtles and frogs, and they would be more fun than a goldfish for a boy. If kept properly, these animals are much hardier too. The downside of course is needing more care, a larger tank, and more frequent cleanings. You also have to be careful when handling these animals because of the possibility of contracting salmonella. Drake’s aunt and uncle actually had a funny incident recently with a toad that lived in their potting soil bag, and ended up in their new home with them. They trapped it in a little plastic container and let Drake come and see it for a few days, which he enjoyed. I was almost ready to take the container home and let the little guy join the family until I was told he dined on live crickets. The bug eating thing is a big issue for me.
Hermit Crab – Living so close to the beach, there are always hermit crabs for sale as pets on the Boardwalk. I had 2 growing up and they were neat and fun to watch. They also just need a small tank and food. The fun part of hermit crabs is their pretty shells and picking new ones for them when they outgrow their current ones. For the most part it’s easy not to get pinched when picking them up by the shell, and if you place them in a tub or sink you can watch them move around up close instead of inside a tank. I also don’t think our cats would be as interested in them, even though the tank would still be kept in Drake’s room in case.
Hamster – Hamsters can be a lot of fun. I had several in college with Mr. Chocolate and of all the animals listed here, these are the most fuzzy and warm when thinking of a pet. I had so much fun picking the ones we had out at the store, so I know Drake would love that part a lot. There are some really child appealing tanks and toys for hamsters, and it’s fun to watch them move around and exercise in their homes. After having hamsters myself not that long ago, I know the pros and cons fairly well. Tank cleaning can get old very fast and handling them can be hard, especially with young hands. While I do think this might be the most fun for Drake (and Juliet), I might have to wait several more years until both Drake and Juliet are older as hamsters can nip and are fragile little animals.
Other popular pets for young children include mice, gerbils, guinea pigs, small birds, betta fish, and ant farms.
What do you think is a good first pet for a child? What pets did you have as a child growing up?
squash / 13208 posts
My DS has been begging me for a guinea pig – I told him when he is 8yrs old and can take care of it alone he can get one – they freak me out so there is no way I am cleaning the cage or anything!
Growing up we had at various times: dog, fish, rabbit, mice, snake, ferret, bird
grapefruit / 4441 posts
I had hamsters, fish, a turtle, guinea pig, bird, and dog growing up. My vote would be the guinea pig or the hamster. Probably the guinea pig. Turtles are great but one consideration is that they live a looooong time. I had to re-home mine to a school science teacher (to be a classroom pet) when I went off to college and I got it when I was 8. Goldfish really should have more than just a bowl…they create a lot of waste, so they do much better in a large space with filtration… with a bowl, unless you get an exceptionally hardy one, I think you will be going through a lot of them. Betas do better in a bowl than goldfish do, though they like bubbles, so a little beta tank with a bubbler would be good. Hamsters and guinea pigs are fun because you can hold them (assuming you get a nice one that doesn’t bite) and watch them go on a wheel, etc.! I am sure Drake will love whatever pet you get him though!
grapefruit / 4089 posts
Also good to keep in mind that some animals do much better in pairs (guinea pigs, rats, etc.) – a happy animal makes a much better pet! It’s a good idea to do lots of your own research because in my experience, many pet store employees will tell you what you want to hear to make a sale.
grapefruit / 4120 posts
I would like to do something like this but I am so worried about the life spans of all these little animals. I think I will wait until my kids are a little older and can understand when their pets kick the bucket.
guest
At one point growing up I had 3 or 4 goldfish in a Little Mermaid tank that I kept in my room. One day my brother scooped them all out by hand and put them into a toy tool box and carried them around for the morning before my mom figured out he had something in there. When I got home from school my mom told me the fish were gone and asked if I wanted to go pick out some more. I said “nah”! hahaha I guess the thrill of having my own pet was gone by then…
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
I had a rabbit when I was 3 or 4. I don’t remember it and anyway it died. My friend had gerbils and they had babies. The dad ate the babies, and then a paperweight fell on the parents. So those died. I won gold fish at a fair and bought a tank and extra goldfish. Those all died within a week.
When it comes to pets a recurring theme is death.
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I had guinea pigs growing up and loved the way they squeaked. I learned how to clean their cage and how to feed them. I’m pretty sure it will be a pet in our house once the girls are a little bigger
pomelo / 5257 posts
We always had cats growing up. We also had hamsters, hermit crabs, and I had a goldfish that lived for 10 years! That was pretty crazy, haha.
grapefruit / 4049 posts
Husband had a pretty neat freshwater aquarium when when lived in NYC and our 4 yr old loved it then… We had lots of fancy guppies and some shrimp too. We had to give them away when we moved cross-country though. Two years later now, however and DD1 doesn’t remember them much…
Now we have hermit crabs and our 6 year old and 3 year old love them. So easy to maintain too! We added a 3rd hermit crab when #3 was born. Great pets!
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I had turtles and gold fish. I didn’t like the fish b/c I’d stick my hands in there all the time trying to pet them and they all died! I really loved my turtles since I could pluck them outta the tank all the time and “play” with them and the ones I had were pretty sturdy.
I eventually had birds and then a rabbit in HS but they are def way more work!