6 Super Low Maintenance Pets
Adding a pet to the family doesn’t have to mean that you’re dedicating your entire life to it. If you’re new to pet ownership, or if you’re just not ready to make a larger, pet-related commitment, there are plenty of unique, low-maintenance pets out there to consider.
If you’re willing to be a little flexible and look into some less traditional pet options, you can add a pet to the family without having to dedicate all of your time to it. Ready?
#1) Fish
You really can’t get much more low maintenance than fish.
However, they do come with a few caveats. When it comes to low-maintenance fish, you’ll need to get a freshwater tank and freshwater fish and stay far away from anything saltwater-related.
That’s because saltwater tanks are notoriously difficult to take care of and are certainly not great for beginners with no experience managing them. Ask any saltwater fish owner if their pets are low maintenance, and they’ll probably burst out in maniacal laughter even as they’re fiddling with the chemistry of their saltwater setup. Stick to freshwater fish for your low-maintenance needs.
The hardest part of owning fish is getting the tank set up in the first place. Once you can get it set up, it requires very little maintenance.
Tanks come in sizes from small bowls to larger, multi-gallon aquariums. Certain fish do better with certain sizes of aquariums, too. That’s why you see beta fish living happily in small, non-filtered bowls and others, like tetras, mollies, and goldfish, prefer larger tanks where they have more room to move.
If you want to just “test the waters,” try a beta fish. They’re great as solo pets, especially because two male bettas in the same bowl will literally fight to the death, hence the nickname Siamese fighting fish. You can even bump them up to a larger bowl, which will extend the time needed between maintenance. Try a five-gallon tank with a filter, and feed them just a pellet or two a time. The filter will take care of the cleaning, for the most part, and all you’ll need to do is change the water occasionally. But don’t forget to feed them too!
#2) Guinea Pigs
If you’d rather have a low-maintenance pet that is a bit more cuddly and sociable than a fish, consider a guinea pig! Guinea pigs are great because they don’t require a ton of maintenance, but they have their own unique, special personalities, and you can actually play with them. Plus, guinea pigs are excellent pets for families with small children, especially those who are trying to learn more about being responsible.
First off, guinea pigs are very social. It’s actually considered fairly cruel to keep a guinea pig on its own; most experts recommend having at least two of them. Just make sure that you either have them spayed or neutered or pick two of the same gender. Be careful, though, because male guinea pigs have a tendency to fight each other if they’re unneutered.
Guinea pigs live anywhere from five to seven years. So, even though they’re low maintenance, they are still a long-term commitment. They do better in larger cages and require daily feeding and watering. They’ll also need litter changes (much like cats) and some enrichment. While they may not seem like it at first, guinea pigs are very playful and love to spend time with their people. They also make a unique noise when they’re happy, sometimes referred to as “wheeking.” They also purr, which is a sign your critter feels safe and content!
#3) Turtles
If a guinea pig sounds like too much of a commitment, but you want something a little more exciting than a fish, how about a turtle?
Turtles are much easier to take care of than many other pets out there. They are laid back but still have their own personalities. Most turtles don’t get that big, either, so they can be kept in relatively small enclosures without impacting their quality of life. Turtles don’t even need to be fed every day, so it’s super easy to spend a weekend away on vacation without overwhelming a pet sitter.
Most turtles will do fine in a terrarium, which can be expensive to set up but doesn’t require much maintenance after that. Just change the water and clean it every once in a while, and you’ll be good to go! Plus, turtles are definitely a conversation starter.
If you’re not sure where to start, red-eared sliders are a great option. Not only are they the most popular turtle to have as a pet, but they are also known for being one of the easiest. Just keep in mind that red-eared sliders can live up to 20 to 30 years, so they are a long-term commitment that you should take seriously, even if they are super low-maintenance.
#4) Hamsters
Similar to guinea pigs but in need of far less socializing, hamsters are the top pick for families with young children and elementary school teachers everywhere. They’re known for being incredibly easy to take care of and great for people that don’t always have the time to be social with their pets.
One of the best things about hamsters is how affordable they are. They can usually be found for around $20 at any pet store and, other than the cost of setting up a suitable living environment for them, don’t require hardly anything in terms of maintenance costs other than food and bedding.
Hamsters also have a reputation for being fun! Plenty of pet stores have hamster racing events, where these adorable cuties are put in a ball and allowed to “run” down a track. You can also purchase cages that let you add on to them with tubes, hamster wheels, and all kinds of fun toys. These cages can get as elaborate as you want, but hamsters are also fine in a standard cage. Just make sure that you change their bedding and give them fresh food every few days to meet their nutritional needs.
Hamsters should also be kept as solo animals. They can be prolific breeders, as well as having a tendency to fight with and even kill other hamsters (and their own children, but that’s another story).
Popular hamster breeds include the Syrian, the Roborovkski, the Chinese, the Campbell’s Dwarf, and the White Winter Russian Dwarf. Of those, the Syrian, which is also known as the Teddy Bear hamster for obvious, fluffy reasons, is by far the most docile and most popular. If you’ve seen a hamster, you’ve likely seen a Syrian.
#5) Birds
Ok, not all birds. But there are plenty of birds out there that make great, easy, super low-maintenance pets that even a beginner pet owner can feel comfortable owning.
Parakeets are one of those birds. If you’re looking for a pet that you don’t have to handle but that makes its presence known in your home, this is the right pet for you. That’s not to say that you can’t handle them, though.
Parakeets are known for being trainable, at least for smaller tricks. They also have beautiful voices and use them fairly frequently. There are actually 115 different types of parakeets, and you may be surprised to find that they are actually members of the much more talkative parrot family!
Most of the parakeets kept today are “budgies,” or Australian Budgerigars. They come in a huge variety of different colors and patterns – from pure white to vibrant yellows and greens.
#6) Cats
Stay with us here. While you may not think of cats as being super low-maintenance, they actually require far less work than you think!
Cats, by nature, are mostly solitary creatures. Anyone who has owned a cat can tell you that cats want attention when they want attention and will drop you like a hot potato the minute they are done with you! They are happy just laying around and sleeping most of the day if they are left to their own devices. They also don’t need to be walked daily, like dogs do, and their diet won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
If you really want to get a cat but you’re worried about all that playful kitten energy, strongly consider adopting an older cat from a shelter. There are plenty of cats out there that could really use a home, and adopting an older cat not only can save its life but also means you get to bring home a cat that is out of that frantic, destructive — albeit adorable — kitten stage.
If you want a pet that will greet you excitedly at the door at the end of a long workday, cats aren’t for you. But if your idea of a perfect evening is sitting on the couch with a warm, purring cat on your lap, vegging out together with Netflix, a cat could be the pet for you.
In Summary
Super low-maintenance pets do exist! Whether you want to try something new or just are the type of person who doesn’t have the desire or energy to take care of a pet that needs to be walked and played with multiple times a day, you still have options. Just remember, even though they may not always need to be held or petted, owning any pet is a commitment that you should take seriously no matter how low-maintenance your new critter is!
Sources:
What to Know Before Getting a Pet Guinea Pig (thesprucepets.com)
Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) (texas.gov)
Budgerigar (australian.museum)
Why Do Hamsters Sometimes Eat Their Babies? (thesprucepets.com)
