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).
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
https://piped.video/@ClintsReptiles?si=90-4ztCzDmiO2SHs
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
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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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If I could change the parrot to a duck that’d be great
Birb, now someone tell me why I’m a monster for choosing.
Gotta be prepared and committed, many parrot species have lifespans as long as humans. This isn’t a 10 year pet like a dog or cat
I look after two of these adorable birs when I was a teenager. They are usually alright. I don’t remember anything bad about them or high maintenance care. You just need to be careful about handling them and their environment not to stress them to much. Only bad thing is their bite. They can rip your fingers off if you make them angry. I remember mines were breaking up the cage’s metal bars just because they were bored. Other than that they are very clever and fun pets to have.
There will never be enough meat on that baby to make a decent meal.
The birb is an Eclectus parrot. I’ve got a totally different perspective and opinion than some of the other comments you received. And that opinion is: They make terrible pets and are not really suited for the general public.
The basics of their care (food, water, shelter, medical treatment, cleaning, maintenance) are all pretty reasonable to accommodate.
Their psychological needs are a whole order of magnitude harder to provide, and can almost rival the time, attention, and energy needed for a young child. Depending on the age of the bird you adopt, you could be signing up for 20 - 30+ years of commitment to an animal that may ultimately not form a bond with you, is much more intelligent than a cat or dog in a lot of ways, and can pretty easily make your life nearly as miserable as its own. If they aren’t happy, they will make sure that you aren’t happy either, but keeping them happy can be a job in and of itself.
Now if you have experience with keeping similar birds in captivity, are well-educated on how much goes into their care, have lots of disposable income, and are fully prepared for the good and the bad, then you might do alright with one. But, if you’re looking at them to be a “pet”, then this is not a good option for you.
Usually I go for the fire starter pokemon but electric lizard looks pretty cool
If I had the space, I’d want the pig.
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Piglet! Pet and emergency rations in one package.
Ferret, I choose you!
I want the little weasel guy. Pigs grow up. I don’t like how birds sound or act, too fidgety.
I could do the lizard too, since I feel like all those weasels are super high maintenance? I guess lizards need high heat though.
But I want the weasel guy. I can easily watch him run around and climb things all day, and then take a nap.
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.
Ferrets are not completely domesticated, and are indeed classified as exotic. It’s extremely difficult to insure them (in many plaves impossible), it’s primarily exotic specialized vets that can help with them, and though they are extremely friendly and fun, they are at best “half” domesticated. They are also banned in many countries and states.
Source: I have four ferrets and love them, but I also know exactly how putting your hand near a young ferret plays out every single time, and it takes months of training to get them to stop wanting to draw blood <3
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.
I had one for a while and he seemed pretty happy, but I think he was even happier later with a friend. I think if you’re getting a ferret for the first time, you’re better off getting just one because it’s easier to re-home one rather than two if ferrets turn out not to be the right pet for you, but if you like the ferret then you might want to get a second one.
None. IMHO animals species that are not domesticated should stay in the wild.
For what it’s worth, ferrets are domesticated (from the European polecat) and generally speaking just die if they end up in the wild.
That piglet looks pretty domesticated.
Unfortunately there are no “small” pigs. They are babies. And they grow into giant hogs. Which is not an animal most people are prepared to keep. So I’d veto a pig on those grounds.
I know, that’s what I’m counting on.
It’s named Porkchop for a reason.
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.
gib dove instead
behave or be bacon.
Pig all day every day.
I don’t care if it gets to be 200 pounds, those animals are smart and clean.
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.
I have one. He’s a major pain in the booty. Part of the pain is because of his intelligence.
