Are you a busy individual who desires a pet? These low-maintenance pets are perfect for you!
Pets are adorable. No matter if you get a dog, a cat, a parrot, a turtle, a Guinea pig, or even a fish. Speaking from my experience, getting a pet is an easy way to change the way your home feels, but what can you do when you have roommates, kids, or work long hours and taking care of a little fellow doesn’t fit in your schedule?
You don’t know which pet you should adopt? No worries! With the help of experts, we’ve compiled a list of low-maintenance pets to make your home happier! Are you ready to find your ideal pet match? I bet it’s going to be fun!
Parakeets
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love parakeets. From the tiniest species to the big ones like Ara, these birds can brighten your day so much. These birds can live up to 12 years, making them the most popular pets.
Although they are not as talkative as parrots (but they can learn how to reproduce sounds or even talk if you have the necessary patience to teach them), they enjoy interacting with people and can be taught basic commands like stepping on and off your hand.
You can keep food and water in their cages, but you must clean each recipient every day to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Canary
Among all the low-maintenance pets that are suitable for busy people, there is the cute canary. You may keep them alone or with other birds, like parakeets, depending on their disposition and social requirements.
To stay active and entertained, canaries require a roomy cage furnished with toys, perches, and ladders. Additionally, they need a steady supply of fresh water because they can perish if they are without it for longer than twenty-four hours. To help them sleep better, it’s super important to cover their cage at night so they can enjoy the darkness they need.
TIP: As a former owner of two canaries, I strongly recommend keeping the bird in another room apart from your bedroom because they can be quite noisy, especially during the morning.
Cockatiel
Cockatiels are generally well-tempered birds known for their peaceful, energetic, and playful nature. They are frequently trained to whistle songs, which enhances their allure as companions, and they can develop close relationships with their owners.
Consider adding a cozy night light to the room! It can create a comforting atmosphere, helping them sleep soundly and keeping them calm during the nighttime. To help them grow in a happy environment, regular interaction and mental stimulation are essential. Make sure their cage is roomy and has lots of toys and perches for them to play with during the day.
Betta fish
If you’re looking for low-maintenance pets that don’t shed and are pretty resilient as well, what do you think about a betta fish? Because they can be territorial, these hardy little fish are best kept alone or with other fish species that are not aggressive.
When the water is stable and there is little to no current, betta fish do very well. To keep them healthy, you only need to feed the fish once a day and change the water every two to four weeks, but you must check the water temperature every day and change it every week.
Guppies
There are many kinds of these sociable fish, including tequila sunrise guppies, lyretail guppies, and pinktail guppies. When it comes to sharing space, guppies aren’t picky; in fact, they need company and get along with your other small aquatic animals. Regular fish food makes up the majority of their diet. You should clean the aquarium every two to four weeks, just like you do with betta fish.
Terrapin
Terrapins are relatively easy to care for, but because they can live up to 40 years, they need sustained attention. Because they are unable to control their body temperature and do not clean up after themselves, their habitats also need to be maintained on a regular basis; I recommend every week.
Because of their gentle nature and relative timidity, terrapins make peaceful and tranquil companions. Given their size and requirement for room to move around, they will require a sizable fish tank, perhaps 100 gallons. To help control their body temperature, a heat lamp is also necessary.
However, if you’re not sure what lamp you need, it’s better to ask your vet. On Amazon, there are a couple to choose from; this one from DaToo is pretty affordable and easy to use since it has a clip.
Guinea pig
We’ve seen fish and birds but no furry low-maintenance pets, right? What do you say about Guinea pigs? They are genuinely family-friendly; younger kids can still engage with the guinea pig inside its cage, while older kids can play with it outside.
While they can be quite outgoing, they also need solitude and thrive when they have a structured schedule for feeding, playing, and sleeping. Their nails need to be trimmed once a month, but if you don’t want to do it on your own, you can ask for the help of your vet.
Tip: If you decide to adopt a guinea pig, please make sure whenever you’re not home the cage is well closed. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if you find all your phone chargers bitten or worse, destroyed. Guinea pigs are among the low-maintenance pets that are cute and easy to keep happy, but if they get bored…they might have a harmful behavior.
Gerbil
Gerbils are lively, social, and intelligent animals that thrive when they are adopted in pairs or in small groups of individuals of the same gender. Digging, burrowing, and exploring are all activities that these low-maintenance pets enjoy doing, which makes them entertaining and interactive companions.
To keep them happy, make sure that their cage is regularly cleaned of leftover food and offer an entertaining setting with lots of toys and food scattered about to promote natural foraging behavior.
Cats
Despite their well-known independence, cats likely require more care than many of the other pets on the list above. A short-haired breed, such as the British Shorthair, is a low-maintenance choice because it needs less grooming.
As long as the litterbox is changed and the kibble bowl is full, cats are generally peaceful. Provide them with a scratching post to satisfy their natural urge and to also avoid scratched furniture.
Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons are easy pets once you provide the right amount of heat, light, and humidity. They consume small amounts of fruits, vegetables, and greens in addition to live insects, which you can buy at a pet store.
If you’re comfortable with some curious looks from passersby, you can actually put these reptiles on a leash and take them for a stroll! They’re known for being quite friendly and well-tempered, making for a fun walking buddy.
Leopard Gecko
When it comes to low-maintenance pets who are also able to show affection to their owner, leopard geckos are pretty high on the top. These can live up to 20 years, and females get along well with one another. (The male geckos enjoy starting arguments.) Check the temperature once a day because these reptiles require warm environments, ideally between 75 and 90 degrees.
For the humidity to remain below 50%, a hygrometer is also necessary. In terms of upkeep, feeding, and cleaning, you will need to schedule time each day to clean the food and water bowls and to gather food scraps.
Do you have any pets? I’d be happy to discuss them with you in the comments below. Until next time!
Related article: First-Time Dog Owner? These 8 Breeds are the Perfect Choice.
